Integrated Erythrocyte and LDL Cholesterol Filtering Layer for Blood Test Strips

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing test strips for measuring biomedical data, particularly LDL cholesterol, suffer from measurement errors due to the complexity of multi-layered structures that can lead to uneven blood flow and incomplete separation of erythrocytes and LDL cholesterol, resulting in inaccurate results.

Innovation Solution

A test strip with an integrated erythrocyte and LDL cholesterol-filtering layer using a hematogglutinating agent and phosphotungstic acid, which filters off erythrocytes and LDL cholesterol in a single layer, allowing for a slim design that requires a low blood volume and reduces measurement errors by ensuring complete separation before reacting with reagents to detect HDL cholesterol.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a multi-layered structure with multiple pads is used to filter erythrocytes and LDL cholesterol separately, then the separation function is improved, but the device complexity and measurement precision deteriorate due to uneven blood flow and incomplete separation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation functionVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the erythrocyte filtering function and LDL cholesterol precipitation function into a single integrated filtering layer. This layer contains both hemagglutinating agents (for erythrocyte aggregation) and phosphotungstic acid (for LDL precipitation), eliminating the need for separate multi-layer structures and ensuring complete separation of both components from the blood sample

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If multiple pads or thicker pads are used in dry biochemical strips, then the filtering capacity is improved, but the manufacturing precision and measurement accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering capacityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple filtering functions into a single pad structure, eliminating the need for multiple stacked pads. This integrated approach maintains sufficient filtering capacity while avoiding the manufacturing and measurement errors associated with multi-layer alignment and uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a multi-layered stacked structure is used, then the separation capability is improved, but the device complexity increases leading to uneven blood flow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation capabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates erythrocyte filtering and LDL cholesterol precipitation into a single filtering layer, dramatically simplifying the overall device structure. This single-layer design ensures uniform blood flow distribution while maintaining complete separation capability for both erythrocytes and LDL cholesterol

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enhances reproducibility and accuracy by minimizing measurement errors associated with multi-layered structures, achieving a lower coefficient of variation and improved reproducibility in HDL cholesterol detection.

Implementation Method 1

a hematogglutinating agent selected from a group consisting of lectin, a cationic polymer, a saccharide and a combination thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAgglutination: Coagulation

Implementation Method 2

phosphotungstic acid (PTA) as an LDL cholesterol-precipitating agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Data Source

PatentEP2438856B1HDL-cholesterol-measuring strip and method for measuring cholesterol using same
Publication Date: 2017.09.06 OSANG HEALTHCARE CO LTD
  • EP2438856B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2438856B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2438856B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed are a test strip and a method for measuring biomedical data. The test strip comprises an upper cover having one or more application holes; a lower support having one or more detected parts at positions corresponding to detecting units of the measuring apparatus; an erythrocyte and LDL cholesterol-filtering layer designed to filter off both of erythrocytes and LDL cholesterol from an applied blood sample by agglutinating erythrocytes and precipitating LDL cholesterol; and a reaction layer in which the blood sample free of erythrocytes and LDL cholesterol is reacted with an reagent, the filtering layer and the reaction layer being stacked between the lower support and the upper cover. Structured to filter off erythrocytes and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from a blood sample in a single layer, the test strip of the present invention can be made to be slim and allows a low volume of blood to be analyzed.