Hydrogel Test Strip Coating via Film Lamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of conventional test strips is complex and prone to inaccuracies due to the need for accurately dripping and drying an enzyme solution, leading to variations in product quality.
Innovation Solution
A test strip is created using a hydrogel with a reactive enzyme, coated by a wind-type film coater, which eliminates the need for a drip enzyme solution and drying step, ensuring accurate alignment and a fixed amount of enzyme application, and is cured using UV light, piezoelectricity, or high-pressure oxygen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If enzyme solution is dripped and dried on test strip, then enzyme can react with analyte, but manufacturing process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the enzyme from solution form and embeds it directly into a hydrogel matrix, eliminating the need for separate dripping and drying steps. The hydrogel-enzyme composite is applied as a unified structure that maintains enzyme functionality without requiring solvent evaporation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the enzyme from dissolved in liquid solution to immobilized within a solid hydrogel matrix. This parameter change from liquid to solid phase eliminates the drying step while preserving enzymatic activity, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process.
2Reliability
If enzyme solution is dripped manually, then enzyme can be applied to test strip, but alignment accuracy decreases and product quality varies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical dripping process with a automated lamination system using a wind-type film coater. This substitution introduces precise mechanical control for positioning and application, ensuring consistent alignment and eliminating human error in enzyme placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares the enzyme-loaded hydrogel as a pre-formed laminate structure before application to the test strip. This preliminary preparation ensures that the enzyme is already positioned and contained in the correct form, allowing for precise alignment during the lamination process without requiring manual adjustment.
3Reliability
If drying step is performed on enzyme solution, then enzyme can be fixed on test strip, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fixation mechanism from solvent evaporation (drying) to physical adhesion and polymerization within the hydrogel matrix. This parameter change eliminates the time-consuming drying step while maintaining secure enzyme attachment to the test strip substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the drying step from the manufacturing process by using a pre-formed hydrogel structure that provides inherent fixation through its gel matrix, removing the need for thermal or evaporative drying operations.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional enzyme solution method is used, then test strip can be manufactured, but alignment and amount control become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin film hydrogel laminate structure to contain and deliver the enzyme. This film form factor provides precise control over enzyme quantity and positioning, as the thin film can be accurately measured, cut, and laminated onto the test strip with consistent alignment and dosage.
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 method allows for rapid production of test strips with precise enzyme application, improving alignment and convenience, reducing production time from 8 minutes to 4-5 seconds while maintaining accurate results.
Implementation Method 1
it is cured using UV light, piezoelectricity, or high-pressure oxygen
Implementation Method 2
an accommodation space disposed at one side of the insulation layer for exposing a part of the electrode system to carry out an electrochemical reaction of an analyte
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to test strips and preparation method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a test strip comprising: (a) an insulating substrate; (b) an electrode system disposed on the insulating substrate; (c) an insulation layer disposed on the electrode system, in which an accommodation space is disposed at one side of the insulation layer for exposing a part of the electrode system to carry out an electrochemical reaction of an analyte; and (d) a gel, disposed in the accommodation space and formed by dissolving a reactive enzyme reacting with the analyte in a hydrogel and being cured.