Lateral Flow Strip Reader Using Line Laser for Simultaneous Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for accurate and inexpensive lateral flow test strip readers and cartridges that are easy to operate, specifically designed for reading upconverting nanoparticle signals on lateral flow test strips, which are currently not adequately addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
The development of a lateral flow test strip reader with a housing that includes a receptacle for the test strip, a light source for generating an excitation light beam, and an optical detector to simultaneously impinge and detect emission signals from both the test and control regions, using a line laser and cylindrical or Powell lenses to focus the light, and a signal analyzer to determine the presence or absence of a target in the sample.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a laser light source and optical lenses are used to excite and detect UCNPs on the lateral flow test strip, then the detection sensitivity and accuracy are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into functional modules: a light source module for excitation, an optical detection module for signal detection, and a processing module for data analysis. Each module can be independently optimized and manufactured, reducing overall complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy through specialized components
Solution Approach 2:
Optical lenses and filters serve as intermediaries between the laser light source and the test strip, and between the test strip and the detector. These intermediary components enable efficient light transmission and signal separation, improving detection accuracy without requiring direct complex interactions between all system components
2Loss of time
If the excitation light beam is expanded to simultaneously cover both test and control regions, then the testing time is reduced, but the light source power requirements and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The excitation light beam is expanded from a point source to a line source configuration, allowing simultaneous illumination of multiple regions along the lateral flow test strip. This dimensional change enables parallel detection of test and control lines, significantly reducing testing time while the linear geometry distributes energy consumption more efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The expanded light beam maintains continuous illumination across the entire test and control regions without interruption. This continuous excitation allows simultaneous detection of multiple zones, eliminating the need for sequential scanning and reducing total testing time while maintaining steady, manageable energy consumption
3Measurement precision
If upconverting nanoparticles are used as labels in the lateral flow assay, then the detection sensitivity is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects UCNPs by measuring changes in optical parameters (intensity, wavelength) of the emitted light signals. By converting the detection task into standard optical parameter measurements, the system simplifies the measurement process while maintaining high sensitivity to the nanoparticle signals
Solution Approach 2:
The complex task of detecting nanoparticle signals is replaced with standard optical detection techniques using photodetectors and spectral analysis. This substitution transforms the measurement problem into a well-established field, reducing the difficulty of signal detection while preserving the high sensitivity provided by UCNPs
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 solution enables accurate and efficient detection of target analytes in samples, providing a cost-effective and user-friendly method for reading lateral flow assays, with the ability to determine the amount of a target analyte and predict the viability of in vitro embryos, while maintaining high sensitivity and specificity.
Implementation Method 1
Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are nanoscale particles (e.g., having a diameter of 1-100 nm) that exhibit photon upconversion in which two or more incident photons of relatively low energy are absorbed and converted into one emitted photon with a higher energy than either of the incident photons
Implementation Method 2
an optical detector configured to simultaneously detect an image comprising emission signals from the test region and the control region
Data Source
AI summary
A lateral flow test strip reader for reading an output of a lateral flow assay to determine a presence or absence of a target in a sample includes: a housing having a lateral flow test strip receptacle for receiving a lateral flow test strip therein, the lateral flow test strip receptacle defining a test region and a control region for a lateral flow test strip; a light source that generates an excitation light beam; at least one lens for optically expanding the excitation light beam in a direction across the test region and the control region such that the excitation light beam is configured to simultaneously impinge and excite both the test region and the control region; and an optical detector configured to simultaneously detect an image comprising emission signals from the test region and the control region, wherein the detected emission signals indicate a presence or absence of a target in the sample.