Lateral Flow Assay Pre-Chamber Venting and Amylase Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lateral flow tests are prone to handling errors, cause user discomfort, and require slow absorption of saliva, making them inconvenient for mass testing.
Innovation Solution
A lateral flow test device with a housing containing a pre-chamber and ventilation openings, allowing for efficient sample intake and distribution through a sample pad, conjugate pad, tread, and absorbent pad, minimizing pressure buildup and ensuring complete sample utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If felt pads are used as absorbent material in lateral flow tests, then the tests can be produced cost-effectively and are easy to dispose of, but the absorbent material absorbs saliva only slowly and causes user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional sections: a pre-chamber for sample collection, a sample pad for initial absorption, a conjugate pad for reagent interaction, a test strip for detection, and an absorbent pad for final fluid capture. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall performance while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
A pre-chamber is introduced as an intermediary component between the sample inlet and the test elements. This pre-chamber serves as a buffer that collects and prepares the saliva sample before it reaches the test strip, improving absorption efficiency and user comfort without requiring changes to the disposable felt pad material.
2Productivity
If the lateral flow test is designed for quick testing, then productivity increases, but handling errors may increase due to reduced time for proper sample application
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-chamber performs preliminary sample collection and concentration before the saliva reaches the test elements. This preliminary action ensures that sufficient sample is captured and prepared, reducing handling errors and ensuring reliable results even when the overall test time is shortened for increased productivity.
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
The device reduces handling errors, enhances user comfort, and allows for quick, efficient testing with minimal discomfort, suitable for mass testing scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid sample is absorbed by the sample pad (5) and is transported at least partially through the conjugate pad (8), through the tread (11), to the absorbent pad (14) by further suction effects
Implementation Method 2
the housing has at least one ventilation opening (16) connected to the pre-chamber (4) in the region of the pre-chamber
Implementation Method 3
the absorbent pad comprises an amylase substrate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3e
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for a lateral flow test, comprising: a housing (2) having a sample inlet opening (3), a pre-chamber (4) adjacent to the sample inlet opening (3), a sample pad (5) connected to the pre-chamber (4), a conjugate pad (8) connected to the sample pad (5), a tread (11) connected to the conjugate pad (8) at one end of the tread (11), an absorbent pad (14) connected to the tread (11) at another end of the tread (11); wherein the absorbent pad has an amylase substrate, wherein the amylase substrate can be degraded by amylase.