Lateral Flow Stick Image Validation for Reliable Milk Dosing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Automated milk dosing and lateral flow systems fail to ensure accurate application of biomarkers in dairy farms, and existing systems fail to detect and quantify the presence of biomarkers in dairy farms, leading to unreliable biomarker measurements due to issues like clogged tubing, dysfunctional pumps, improper storage, and use of low-quality lateral flow sticks.

Innovation Solution

An arrangement that includes a camera to capture images of lateral flow sticks after sample application, a controller to process these images, and perform color or grayscale analysis to assess the functionality and reliability of the milk dosing and lateral flow systems, ensuring valid biomarker measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automated milk dosing and lateral flow systems are used, then productivity and automation level are improved, but reliability of biomarker measurements deteriorates due to undetected system failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation levelVSAvoidreliability of biomarker measurements

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a camera to capture images of the lateral flow stick and a controller to analyze these images, providing feedback on whether the test was performed correctly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect issues such as insufficient sample application, improper lateral flow stick storage, or clogged tubing, thereby maintaining reliability despite high automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated optical detection system. Instead of requiring human operators to visually assess the lateral flow stick, a camera and image processing system automatically detect the presence and quality of the biomarker signal, eliminating human error while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual inspection of lateral flow sticks is performed, then reliability of measurements is improved, but productivity and time efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of measurementsVSAvoidtime efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-inspection through automated image capture and analysis. The lateral flow stick system includes its own validation mechanism where the camera captures the test result and the controller automatically assesses whether the test was performed correctly, eliminating the need for manual inspection while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated optical detection system. A camera captures images of the lateral flow stick and a controller processes these images to determine test validity, eliminating the need for human operators to visually assess each test while maintaining high reliability and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If comprehensive validation of milk dosing and lateral flow systems is implemented, then reliability of biomarker measurements is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of biomarker measurementsVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera and controller system serves multiple functions: capturing images of the lateral flow stick, analyzing the biomarker signal, validating test performance, and detecting system failures. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate validation components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining comprehensive reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables rapid detection of system failures and ensures reliable biomarker measurements by automating the validation process, reducing manual intervention and enhancing the reliability of lateral flow tests.

Implementation Method 1

a porous membrane for receiving a capillary flow of the liquid sample from the conjugate pad

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS20250389704A1Arrangement for evaluating performance of a milk dosing arrangement and/or a lateral flow stick

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 DELAVAL HLDG AB

AI summary

Arrangement (100) evaluating performance of milk dosing arrangement (105)/lateral flow stick (110). The arrangement (100) comprises: the lateral flow stick (110) arranged to indicate a biomarker in a milk sample. The lateral flow stick (110) comprises sample pad (210), conjugate pad (230), indication zone (250) and porous membrane (240). The milk sample is applied to the sample pad (210). A camera (120) is directed to capture an image (300) of the lateral flow stick (110). A controller (130) is configured to instruct the camera (120), to capture the image (300); receive the captured image (300); define a first area (310) of the image (300) of the lateral flow stick (110), substantially depicting a subsection of the porous membrane (240) upstream the indication zone (250) in the flow direction; apply image processing on the first area (310); evaluate performance of the milk dosing arrangement (105) based on the image processing.