Porous Membrane IgE Test Chip for Faster Multi-Allergen Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing immunological testing methods using porous membrane materials face challenges in achieving high sensitivity, rapidity, simplicity, and stable repeatability, particularly when detecting multiple analytes, due to inefficient immune reactions, complex operations, and limited label amplification, leading to inaccurate results and increased sample sizes.
Innovation Solution
A chip element with a testing area and liquid absorption area utilizing a porous membrane with controlled capillary action for unidirectional lateral diffusion, allowing multiple analytes to be tested simultaneously with controlled liquid diffusion and immobilized receptors, and incorporating liquid blocking elements to enhance reaction time and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If porous membrane materials are used for immobilizing antigens or antibodies, then the device can simultaneously detect multiple analytes, but the immune reaction efficiency is low requiring long incubation times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the porous membrane into multiple independent testing areas, each dedicated to detecting a specific analyte. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple analytes simultaneously, eliminating the need for sequential testing and significantly reducing total detection time while maintaining the multi-analyte capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-immobilizes specific antigens or antibodies on different testing areas of the membrane before use. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the sample is applied, immune reactions can occur immediately without delay for reagent preparation or mixing, thus reducing incubation time while enabling simultaneous detection of multiple analytes.
2Ease of operation
If conventional lateral flow methods are used, then the operation is simple, but the label amplification is limited reducing detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the label parameters by using enzyme labels with high catalytic activity instead of conventional labels like colloidal gold. This parameter change in label type enables signal amplification through enzymatic reactions, significantly improving detection sensitivity while maintaining the simplicity of the lateral flow operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces enzyme labels as intermediaries between the immune complex formation and the detectable signal. These enzymes act as mediators that amplify the signal through catalytic reactions, bridging the gap between simple lateral flow operation and high detection sensitivity by converting minimal immune complex formation into detectable signal amplification.
3Quantity of substance
If membrane materials with small pore sizes are used to increase label density, then more labels can be immobilized, but the liquid flow rate decreases affecting reaction uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different pore size characteristics to different functional areas of the membrane. The testing areas have optimized pore sizes for high label density and immune reaction efficiency, while the control area has different pore characteristics for proper liquid flow control. This local differentiation allows high label density in testing zones without compromising overall liquid flow rate and reaction uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls liquid flow through the membrane by utilizing the thickness dimension and creating a controlled flow path. By managing liquid flow in the thickness dimension of the membrane and introducing a liquid blocking element, the system achieves uniform distribution of liquid across testing areas, ensuring consistent immune reactions across all testing zones while maintaining appropriate flow rates.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple testing indicators are measured using existing methods, then comprehensive analysis is achieved, but the operation complexity and sample size requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple testing indicators into a single integrated membrane device with multiple testing areas on one membrane. This merging allows all indicators to be detected simultaneously using a single sample application and a unified操作流程, dramatically reducing operation complexity and sample size requirements compared to using separate tests for each indicator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal testing platform where a single membrane device can detect multiple different analytes through its multiple specialized testing areas. This multi-functional design allows the same device structure and操作流程 to handle various detection tasks, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices and simplifying the overall detection process while maintaining comprehensive analytical capability.
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 solution enables rapid, simple, and highly sensitive detection of multiple analytes with improved repeatability, suitable for both manual and automatic analysis, reducing sample size and operation complexity while maintaining accurate results.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a porous membrane with controlled capillary action for unidirectional lateral diffusion
Implementation Method 2
a liquid absorption area downstream of the testing area and used to absorb the liquid from the testing area
Implementation Method 3
Based on the principle of specific binding of antigens and antibodies, multiple substances in a same sample can be simultaneously tested
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4A
AI summary
The present invention provides a device for testing an allergen antibody (IgE) in a liquid sample comprising a testing area and a water absorption area, where the testing area is used to contact with liquid, and the water absorption area is located downstream of the testing area and used to absorb the liquid from the testing area; a plurality of first receptors immobilized onto the testing area, and each of the first receptors is capable to specifically bind to a plurality of different allergen antibodies in the liquid sample. Such a device can be used to once test the presence or absence or level of a plurality of allergen antibodies in the liquid sample, thereby achieving an efficient and convenient testing effect.