Integrated Filtration Bioanalyzer for Rapid Microbe Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microbiological testing methods for detecting microorganisms in water samples are laborious, prone to contamination, and often require extensive laboratory equipment and skilled personnel, with limitations in speed, sensitivity, and ability to differentiate between viable and non-viable organisms.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained, portable filter apparatus integrated with an optical detection system that allows for the concentration and analysis of microorganisms using fluorescent and chromogenic substrates, enabling rapid detection and quantification of viable organisms without the need for extensive handling or laboratory equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional membrane filtration methods are used to concentrate microorganisms from large volume samples, then the ability to detect and quantify organisms is improved, but the analysis time increases to 24-48 hours and requires extensive laboratory equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines filtration, incubation, and detection functions into a single integrated device. The filter membrane is permanently mounted within a filter funnel that contains growth media and is sealed for incubation, eliminating the need to transfer the membrane to a separate culture plate. This integration maintains detection sensitivity while reducing analysis time to 4-24 hours.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is pre-filled with growth media and sealed before sample filtration. The filter membrane is pre-mounted in the funnel and the entire assembly is prepared for immediate incubation after sampling. This preliminary preparation eliminates time-consuming post-filtration handling steps and enables rapid analysis.
2Reliability
If manual handling of filter membranes is performed to transfer organisms to culture plates, then organism growth and identification are achieved, but the risk of contamination increases and operator skill requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter membrane is permanently integrated into the filter funnel housing, eliminating the need for manual transfer to separate culture plates. The entire assembly becomes a single disposable unit that is filtered, sealed, incubated, and analyzed without exposing the membrane to external contamination or requiring skilled manual handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter funnel assembly with integrated membrane and growth media is designed as a disposable unit. After a single use, the entire assembly is discarded, eliminating the need for sterilization and complex cleaning procedures while ensuring contamination-free results. This disposable nature simplifies operation and reduces skill requirements.
3Speed
If rapid detection methods such as lateral flow technology are used, then test speed is improved and field deployment is enabled, but the ability to differentiate viable from non-viable organisms is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Growth media containing selective nutrients and indicators is pre-loaded into the filter funnel before sampling. After filtration, the device is sealed and immediately incubated, allowing viable organisms to grow and produce detectable signals within 4-24 hours. This preliminary preparation enables rapid viability-based detection without requiring complex post-processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The growth media contains chromogenic substrates that change color when metabolized by viable microorganisms. This color change provides a visual and instrumental signal that specifically indicates the presence of living, metabolically active organisms, enabling viability differentiation with rapid results suitable for field deployment.
4Loss of time
If DNA technology methods are used for rapid microorganism detection, then analysis time is reduced, but the requirement for highly trained personnel and laboratory equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the microorganisms' own metabolic activity to generate the detection signal. Viable organisms metabolize substrates in the growth media, producing color changes or fluorescent signals that can be detected with simple optical components. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex DNA extraction, amplification, or sequencing equipment while providing rapid results.
Solution Approach 2:
Complex mechanical and biochemical DNA analysis systems are replaced with a simple optical detection system. The metabolically active organisms themselves serve as the detection mechanism through their interaction with chromogenic or fluorogenic substrates, requiring only basic optical components rather than sophisticated laboratory instrumentation.
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 system provides rapid, accurate, and sensitive detection of microorganisms, capable of differentiating between viable and non-viable cells, and can analyze samples of varying volumes, reducing contamination risks and operator involvement while providing results within hours.
Implementation Method 1
a large volume water sample is filtered through a filter membrane
Implementation Method 2
analysis in an optical detection system that allows for the concentration and analysis of microorganisms using fluorescent and chromogenic substrates
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an in vitro assay method and device that provides for detection and measurement of entities in a fluid sample that can be captured and concentrated in a unitized self-contained enclosed filter apparatus that is analyzed in an optical detection instrument for indications of the entity. It provides for analysis of biological material including cells, their enzymes, or other constituents thereof, that can be identified based on an indicator-generating means. The analysis provided for include detection of the presence of the entity, and changes in the entity over time, such as associated with growth and increasing metabolic activity with an expanding population of cells, or decreasing metabolic activity, for example, due to presence of inhibitory or toxic agents.