Extraction Wand with Latchable Cavity for Saliva Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic testing methods for body fluids, particularly saliva, face challenges due to the high viscosity and small volumes of salivary fluid, which hinder rapid and accurate detection of analytes like drugs of abuse, as mucins disrupt capillary flow and reduce the amount of target compounds that can travel through immunoassay strips, requiring elaborate pre-treatment procedures outside the test device.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an elongated wand with a latchable internal cavity to maximize fluid extraction, followed by treatment with a buffer solution that breaks down mucins, allowing for efficient sample preparation and introduction to an immunoassay test strip, enabling qualitative, quantitative, or semi-quantitative identification of analytes within a self-contained device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If saliva sample is tested directly without pre-treatment, then testing procedure is simple, but detection sensitivity is reduced due to high viscosity and mucins disrupting capillary flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pre-treatment chamber that automatically performs buffer mixing and mucin breakdown before the sample reaches the test strip. This preliminary action eliminates the need for separate manual pre-treatment steps while ensuring optimal sample preparation for sensitive detection, thus maintaining operational simplicity without sacrificing detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The device merges the sample collection, pre-treatment, and testing functions into a single integrated unit. The buffer solution and test strip are combined in one device, allowing automatic mixing and processing of the saliva sample without requiring separate external pre-treatment procedures, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving detection sensitivity.
2Measurement precision
If elaborate pre-treatment procedures are used outside the test device, then detection sensitivity is improved, but device complexity and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the pre-treatment chamber, buffer solution reservoir, and test strip into a single device. The buffer solution is pre-loaded in the device and automatically mixed with the sample in the pre-treatment chamber before analysis, eliminating the need for separate external pre-treatment procedures and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs self-service pre-treatment by automatically mixing the buffer solution with the saliva sample using capillary action and integrated mixing mechanisms. This eliminates the need for external equipment or complex manual procedures, achieving sensitive detection with a simple, self-contained device.
3Speed
If buffer solution is added to break down mucins, then capillary flow is improved, but sample preparation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer solution is pre-loaded in the device and positioned to automatically mix with the saliva sample as it enters the pre-treatment chamber. This preliminary positioning and automatic mixing mechanism minimizes the time required for buffer addition and mucin breakdown, maintaining rapid capillary flow without extending overall preparation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The device maintains continuous capillary flow throughout the pre-treatment process by designing the buffer solution delivery and mixing mechanism to operate seamlessly as the sample moves through the device. This continuous action eliminates interruptions and minimizes preparation time while ensuring thorough mucin breakdown for optimal flow rate.
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 approach enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of analyte detection by effectively reducing viscosity and removing interfering particles, allowing for quick, safe, and convenient testing of body fluids, including saliva, in various settings.
Implementation Method 1
treatment with a buffer solution that breaks down mucins
Implementation Method 2
the wand is placed in a locked position applying compression to the sponge so as to maximize the extraction of the body fluid from the sponge
Implementation Method 3
mucins disrupt capillary flow and reduce the amount of target compounds that can travel through immunoassay strips
Data Source
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AI summary
An extraction method and apparatus is provided for obtaining quick, safe and highly sensitive testing of any of a variety of body fluids including saliva, blood, urine or other fluids for drugs of abuse or other analytes. The apparatus includes a latchable extraction wand for obtaining body fluid samples from a subject which is adapted to maximize the portion of the body fluid sample that will go into a graduated bottle containing a buffer solution, and a testing device wherein the sample will be received and into which test strips can be inserted to determine levels of drugs of abuse or other analyte in the sample. In one of the methods of the invention, energy is imparted to the sample and buffer solution, such as by shaking, and this facilitates the reduction of sample viscosity, such as by promoting the breakdown of mucins when the sample is saliva.