Fibrous Absorbent Blood Collection Comb for Biomarker Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for collecting and analyzing small-volume blood serum samples require trained technicians and anticoagulants, making it difficult to obtain and store samples for personalized medicine applications, especially for untrained individuals like patients.
Innovation Solution
A biological fluid sample collection device with fibrous absorbent strips that allow blood to be absorbed and dried, enabling easy storage and transportation, followed by elution with a buffer for microarray analysis to determine protein biomarkers, which can be compared to a reference database for treatment recommendations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If venal insertion of needle and collection of blood in milliliter amounts is used, then sufficient blood sample is obtained for analysis, but the procedure requires trained technicians and is difficult for untrained individuals to perform
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the blood collection process into multiple separate capillary tubes, each collecting a small volume of blood independently. This segmentation allows untrained users to collect sufficient total blood volume through multiple simple piercings rather than requiring a single large-volume venous draw by a trained professional
Solution Approach 2:
Capillary action serves as the intermediary mechanism that automatically draws blood into the tubes without requiring manual manipulation or technical skill. The capillary tubes act as passive intermediaries that collect blood simply through contact with the skin, eliminating the need for trained technicians
2Stability of the object's composition
If anticoagulants are added to maintain liquid state, then blood remains fluid for analysis, but the sample requires specialized handling and cannot be easily stored or transported
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes the phase transition of blood from liquid to dried state. By allowing blood to dry naturally in the capillary tubes, the sample becomes stable for long-term storage and transport without requiring anticoagulants or specialized handling. The dried blood can be reconstituted later when needed for analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the anticoagulant requirement from the sample collection process entirely. By using capillary action and allowing natural drying, the system eliminates the need for chemical additives like anticoagulants, simplifying the overall sample management process
3Quantity of substance
If serum is obtained after centrifugation to remove cellular matter, then clean serum is obtained for analysis, but the process requires specialized equipment and trained personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts only the necessary serum components directly into the capillary tubes during the initial blood collection, leaving cellular matter behind at the piercing site. This selective extraction eliminates the need for centrifugation and other complex separation procedures that require specialized equipment and training
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables untrained individuals to collect and analyze blood samples without anticoagulants, maintaining biomarker integrity for up to two months at room temperature and indefinitely at -80°C, facilitating personalized medicine by identifying elevated or reduced biomarkers associated with pathological conditions.
Implementation Method 1
contacting blood from a subject animal or human with a fluid sample collecting comb, said comb consisting of a plurality of absorbent strips, wherein each absorbent strip consists of a fibrous absorbent wick
Implementation Method 2
allowing the blood samples absorbed by the fibrous absorbent wicks to dry
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are embodiments of a method for determining a serum protein biomarker profile of a subject patient comprising: wicking blood from a subject onto a fluid sample collecting comb consisting of absorbent strips, each absorbent strip consisting of a fibrous absorbent wick configured to absorb a predetermined volume of blood; drying the blood samples on the wicks and eluting serum proteins into an elution buffer; determining the identities and levels of the extracted proteins by microarray analysis; comparing by computer the identities and levels of the extracted proteins with a reference database generated from the blood samples from a plurality of subjects collected by a fluid sample collecting comb and producing a computer-generated report of the identities and levels of the biomarkers of the subject and adjusting the treatment based on the identities and amounts of the protein biomarkers of the blood sample of the subject.