Disposable Test Sensor With Funnel-Shaped Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glucose test sensors have small sampling entrances, making it difficult to fill the fluid chamber accurately, leading to incomplete or smeared blood samples, which can result in biased readings and potentially life-threatening errors, especially for diabetics with poor vision or trembling hands.
Innovation Solution
A disposable electrochemical test sensor with a funnel-like chamber and an extra wide sampling entrance, allowing blood to be drawn into the chamber through any part of the opening end, including side openings, to alleviate jamming and ensure complete filling, featuring multiple layers with conductive coatings and a hydrophilic surface for capillary action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the blood receiving chamber volume is reduced to minimize pain from finger piercing, then the sampling entrance size must also be reduced, but this makes it increasingly difficult to fill the fluid chamber with sample
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional small circular opening to a funnel-shaped chamber with a wide sampling entrance. This dimensional change in the opening geometry allows the entrance area to be significantly enlarged while maintaining a compact chamber volume, enabling easy sampling of small blood volumes without increasing chamber size
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling entrance is segmented into multiple functional zones: the wide funnel-shaped opening for sample acquisition, the tapered transition zone for smooth flow, and the compact chamber for minimal blood volume containment. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its function independently
2Quantity of substance
If the sampling entrance is made small to reduce blood volume, then less blood is needed, but users may abuse the sensor by jamming the tip into the finger resulting in incomplete or non-continuous filling
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel-shaped chamber provides a wide sampling entrance that can accommodate various sampling techniques including proper lancet insertion. The enlarged opening ensures that even if users jam the tip into the finger, there is sufficient space for complete and continuous blood filling, preventing incomplete sampling errors
Solution Approach 2:
The wide funnel-shaped chamber acts as a cushioning design that anticipates and compensates for improper sampling techniques. The extra space and wide opening provide a margin of error that prevents sampling failures even when users apply excessive force or insert the lancet at incorrect angles
3Quantity of substance
If the fluid chamber volume is decreased to reduce sample size, then smaller blood volumes are used, but it becomes difficult to position the fluid sample within the channel entrance opening
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel-shaped chamber with its wide opening and tapered sides creates a large target area for sample positioning. This dimensional change in the chamber geometry makes it extremely difficult to fail to position the sample correctly, as the wide entrance accommodates various sample application methods and positions
4Quantity of substance
If the sampling entrance is small, then blood sample volume is reduced, but blood samples turn to smear around the finger tip making it difficult to draw into the sensor chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The wide funnel-shaped sampling entrance provides a large opening that can easily capture smeared blood samples on the finger tip. The enlarged entrance area and tapered geometry facilitate the drawing of smeared samples into the chamber, eliminating the difficulty associated with small openings
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
The design facilitates easy targeting and collection of small volume samples, reducing inaccurate readings and user errors, ensuring reliable insulin dosage administration by allowing blood to enter from various points, including sides, thus improving sampling efficiency and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The upper layer with a hydrophilic surface facing to the chamber... sample fluid can be drawn into the funnel-like chamber through capillary action
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to disposable test sensors having improved sample application and measuring properties and their uses for detection, preferably, quantitative measurement, of analyte in a liquid sample like blood. In particular, the invention provides for an electrochemical biosensor which has a thin-layer fluid chamber having funnel-like shape with a novel extra wide opening as sampling entrance and a vent opening at the tip of the chamber for air escape. The thin-layer fluid chamber provides a reservoir from which a sample fluid can be drawn into it through capillary action. The extra wide sampling entrance provided by the present invention can draw blood into the chamber through any part of the opening, thus it allows easy targeting the samples with small volume, picking up smeared samples and it is more tolerant to users who jam the tip of the sensor into users' finger.