Multi-chamber skin test device for infant formula allergy severity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current skin patch tests for diagnosing cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) in infants are inadequate as they cannot determine the severity of the allergic response, leading to a lengthy and costly process of identifying suitable infant formulas, with infants often experiencing uncomfortable symptoms during the trial period.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chamber skin test device with chambers housing different infant formulas and protein components, including negative control, extensively hydrolyzed, partially hydrolyzed, and intact casein and whey protein formulas, allowing for the determination of an infant's tolerance and allergic response severity, thereby facilitating the selection of a physiologically and cost-effective formula.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single-chamber skin patch test device is used to detect CMPA, then the detection capability is simple and the device is easy to use, but the device cannot determine the severity of the allergic response or differentiate between various levels of protein hydrolysis tolerance
Solution Approach 1:
The skin patch test device is divided into multiple independent chambers, each containing different test substances (intact protein formula, partially hydrolyzed formula, extensively hydrolyzed formula, and amino acid formula). This segmentation allows simultaneous testing of multiple protein hydrolysis levels in a single device, enabling determination of allergic response severity while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
2Loss of time
If traditional trial-and-error method is used to identify suitable infant formula, then the diagnostic process is lengthy and infants experience uncomfortable symptoms, but comprehensive allergy severity assessment cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The skin patch test device performs preliminary assessment of allergic response severity before actual formula feeding begins. By testing different protein hydrolysis levels in advance through skin contact, the device predicts which formula type the infant can tolerate, eliminating the need for lengthy trial-and-error feeding periods and preventing infant discomfort symptoms during the diagnostic process.
3Reliability
If amino acid-based formula is assigned to most CMPA patients to ensure positive results, then allergy symptoms are effectively managed, but the cost to consumers increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The skin patch test device enables differentiation of allergic response severity by testing multiple protein hydrolysis levels, allowing customization of formula assignment based on individual infant tolerance. Instead of universally assigning expensive amino acid-based formulas, the device identifies infants who can tolerate less hydrolyzed (cheaper) formulas, thereby reducing formula costs while maintaining effective allergy symptom management through personalized treatment.
Data Source
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AI summary
A skin test device for determining an infant's sensitization to different foods having different levels of allergic response. The skin test device may include a plurality of chambers, each chamber housing one of a negative control material, an infant formula and a protein component selected from the group consisting of an amino acid, a hydrolyzed protein, intact casein protein, intact whey protein, or combinations thereof.