Lateral Flow Urine Volume Indicator for Hydration Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reagent strips lack an effective mechanism to determine urine volume, making it difficult and costly to accurately detect dehydration in individuals, particularly in vulnerable populations like the elderly and babies.
Innovation Solution
A lateral flow assay device with a chromatographic medium containing a volume indicator and a polyelectrolyte, which measures urine volume based on the distance traveled by the indicator and ionic strength based on pH indicator signals, providing a cost-effective and accurate method for hydration status assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional reagent strips are used, then the testing method is simple, but the ability to determine urine volume is lost and accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a volume indicator that changes color or position based on urine volume, allowing visual determination of urine volume without complex instrumentation. The indicator's color change provides a simple yet accurate method to assess hydration status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a volume indicator as an intermediary substance that interacts with urine to provide visual information about urine volume. This mediator enables accurate measurement while keeping the device structure simple and easy to use.
2Measurement precision
If conventional reagent strips are used, then the device structure is simple, but the cost becomes prohibitive when urine volume determination is required
Solution Approach 1:
The volume indicator utilizes color change properties to provide urine volume information without requiring expensive electronic components or complex manufacturing processes. This approach maintains cost-effectiveness while enabling accurate urine volume determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable reagent strip with integrated volume indicator that can be manufactured at low cost and discarded after single use, eliminating the need for expensive reusable equipment while providing accurate urine volume measurement capability.
3Measurement precision
If conventional reagent strips are used, then the testing method is straightforward, but dehydration detection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent strip is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: determining urine volume, assessing ionic strength, and detecting dehydration status. This multi-functionality is achieved through integrating multiple indicators on a single strip, allowing comprehensive hydration assessment without complicating the testing procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color-changing indicators to provide visual information about urine volume and ionic strength, enabling accurate dehydration detection through simple visual interpretation. The color changes make the results easily readable without requiring complex analysis procedures.
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 simple, user-friendly, and cost-effective measurement of urine volume and ionic strength, facilitating rapid hydration status evaluation and integration into absorbent articles for practical application.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the test sample with a fluidic medium of a lateral flow device having a volume indicator disposed thereon
Implementation Method 2
The polyelectrolyte is capable of an ion-exchange with the urine so as to add hydrogen ions into the urine
Implementation Method 3
the pH indicator capable of producing a signal corresponding to the hydrogen ion concentration in the urine
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for quantitatively or semi-quantitatively determining the volume of a test sample of urine is provided. The method includes contacting the test sample with a fluidic medium of a lateral flow device having a volume indicator disposed thereon and determining the volume of urine in the test sample based on the distance traveled by the volume indicator along the fluidic medium, the distance traveled by the volume indicator corresponding to the volume of urine in the test sample.