Lateral Flow Assay Removable Barrier for Conjugate Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lateral flow assays face challenges in achieving precise control over conjugate time and flow time due to variations in capillary flow rates, making it difficult to ensure adequate binding time for analytes and fluid flow, especially in handheld or portable devices.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a removable physical barrier or gap between the conjugate pad and the membrane, controlled by mechanisms like solenoids, electromagnets, or linear actuators, to regulate the flow of sample fluid, allowing for adjustable conjugate time before allowing fluid to flow through the membrane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a removable physical barrier is incorporated to control fluid flow, then conjugate time and flow time can be precisely controlled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A removable physical barrier is introduced as an intermediary element between the conjugate pad and membrane to control fluid flow. This barrier can be manually or automatically removed to regulate the timing of fluid movement, enabling precise control over conjugate time and flow time without requiring complex electronic control systems throughout the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral flow assay device is segmented into distinct functional zones (sample pad, conjugate pad, membrane with test/control lines, and wicking pad) with the removable barrier creating an additional controllable segment. This segmentation allows independent control of the conjugate formation phase and the flow phase, enabling precise timing control while maintaining simplicity in each individual segment.
2Reliability
If longer conjugate time is provided for adequate binding, then binding efficiency improves, but total test time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The removable barrier is positioned to allow the conjugate pad and membrane to remain in contact during the conjugate time period, enabling adequate binding to occur before fluid flow begins. This preliminary action ensures that immunocomplex formation is complete before the sample fluid starts moving through the membrane, optimizing binding efficiency without unnecessarily extending the total test time.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one by removing the physical barrier at the appropriate time. This dynamic change allows the system to adapt: during the conjugate phase, the barrier maintains contact between pads for binding; after the predetermined time, the barrier is removed to initiate controlled flow, thus optimizing both binding efficiency and total test time.
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 enables precise control over conjugate and flow times, ensuring sufficient binding time for analytes and efficient fluid flow, even in portable devices, by allowing the conjugate pad and membrane to contact only after a predetermined time, thus enhancing the accuracy and reliability of lateral flow assays.
Implementation Method 1
controlled by mechanisms like solenoids, electromagnets, or linear actuators
Implementation Method 2
controlled by mechanisms like solenoids, electromagnets, or linear actuators
Implementation Method 3
A lateral flow assay typically includes a series of capillary pads for transporting fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A lateral flow assay device comprising a conjugate pad for receiving a quantity of fluid; and a membrane comprising a test line for determining whether the fluid comprises a target analyte. In a first state of the lateral flow assay device, the lateral flow assay device is configured with a removable gap between the conjugate pad and the membrane which is substantially filled with air and prevents the fluid from flowing from the conjugate pad into the membrane. In a second state of the lateral flow assay device, the removable gap is removed from between the conjugate pad and the membrane causing the conjugate pad to come in contact with the membrane, allowing the fluid to flow from the conjugate pad into the membrane and the test line by capillary action.