Fluidic Chamber Particle Gradient for Sample Characterization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current portable optical devices for biological sample analysis face challenges in achieving precise and sensitive analysis due to non-uniform distribution of analysis reagents in fluidic chambers, which affects the accuracy and sensitivity of particle agglutination and coagulation observations.
Innovation Solution
The method utilizes a particle concentration gradient and velocity gradient to position regions of interest within the fluidic chamber, allowing for the formation of enriched and depleted areas where analysis reagents can diffuse and interact uniformly with the sample, enabling precise image analysis and characterization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the analysis reagent is introduced into the fluidic chamber beforehand in the form of a lyophilisate to achieve homogeneous spatial distribution, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the sensitivity and precision of particle agglutination detection deteriorates due to non-uniform interaction with the sample
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent is pre-introduced into the fluidic chamber in dry or gel form before the sample is added. This preliminary action allows the reagent to be positioned in advance, and upon sample introduction, it dissolves or disperses to create a uniform concentration throughout the chamber, ensuring both manufacturing precision and measurement precision are achieved
Solution Approach 2:
The reagent is introduced in different physical states (dry powder or gel) that can be easily handled and positioned. Upon contact with the liquid sample, the reagent undergoes a parameter change from solid to dissolved/dispersed state, creating a uniform concentration distribution that optimizes both spatial arrangement and interaction uniformity
2Device complexity
If the fluidic chamber uses a compact design for portable devices, then the device complexity is reduced, but the diffusion time and interaction time between reagent and sample are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent is concentrated in specific zones or patterns within the fluidic chamber rather than uniformly distributed. This local concentration creates regions of high reagent activity that accelerate the interaction with particles, compensating for the limited diffusion time in compact chambers while maintaining portability
Solution Approach 2:
The reagent is pre-positioned in the chamber before sample introduction. This preliminary action ensures that when the sample is added, the reagent is already in optimal positions to interact with particles, reducing the required diffusion time and enabling faster analysis in compact portable devices
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
This approach enhances the sensitivity and precision of biological sample analysis by optimizing the distribution of reagents within the fluidic chamber, allowing for accurate detection of agglutination and coagulation processes, and enables the selection of specific regions for image analysis to characterize the sample effectively.
Implementation Method 1
the dispersion of the compound by the sample can be a dissolution when the compound is soluble in the sample
Implementation Method 2
the dispersion of the compound by the sample can be a suspension when the compound is not soluble in the sample
Implementation Method 3
a particle concentration gradient and/or a particle velocity gradient are established following the dispersion of the compound in the sample
Implementation Method 4
The sample is introduced into a fluid chamber... illuminated by the light source, and generate, at the level of the detector, an image representative of their state of agglutination
Implementation Method 5
an optical method... The fluid chamber is illuminated using a light source and an image of the fluid chamber is formed using an image sensor
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~3E
Figure 3F~5
AI summary
Under the effect of the dispersion effected by a liquid sample including particles, a gradient of a compound forms in a fluid chamber, which results in a portion of the fluid chamber that is enriched with particles and a portion of the fluid chamber that is depleted of particles and/or a portion of the fluid chamber, called the fast portion, in which the speed of the particles is high, as well as a portion of the fluid chamber, called the slow portion, in which the speed of the particles is low. The method comprises the acquisition of an image of the fluid chamber by an image sensor, as well as the selection, on the acquired image, of a region of interest corresponding to the enriched portion or to the depleted portion. The characterisation of the sample is performed according to the intensity of the pixels located in the selected region of interest.