Lateral Flow Immunoassay Membrane Pressure Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lateral flow immunoassay devices face challenges in achieving accurate diagnosis due to weak color development intensity, especially when detecting small amounts of target materials, and existing methods to enhance signal intensity, such as wax patterning and silver staining, are either non-uniform or require additional complex steps.
Innovation Solution
Applying pressure to the membrane between the test line and the control line to reduce pore size and flow rate, thereby increasing the binding time and intensity of the immunocomplex, enhancing detection signal intensity without the need for chemical treatments or additional materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the flow rate of sample is high, then the diagnostic speed is fast, but the binding time between immunocomplex and detection antibody is insufficient leading to weak signal intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pressure locally to a specific region of the membrane (between test and control lines) rather than uniformly across the entire membrane. This localized pressure application creates a pressure gradient that selectively reduces flow rate in the detection region while maintaining faster flow in other regions, thereby increasing binding time for signal intensity without sacrificing overall diagnostic speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the membrane by applying pressure to alter pore size and flow rate characteristics. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows optimization of flow conditions in different regions of the membrane to simultaneously achieve fast diagnostic speed and high signal intensity
2Measurement precision
If wax patterning is applied to increase signal intensity, then the detection signal intensity is enhanced, but the device complexity increases and uniformity is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical wax patterning process with a simpler pressure application mechanism. Instead of using wax ink printing technology and heating equipment to create patterns, the invention simply applies pressure to the membrane to achieve flow rate control and signal intensity enhancement, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the unnecessary wax patterning step from the LFA device. By eliminating the wax printing and heating components, the device becomes simpler while the pressure application method achieves the desired signal intensity enhancement without the complexity of patterned wax layers
3Measurement precision
If silver staining is introduced to increase signal intensity, then the detection sensitivity is improved, but additional staining steps are required making automation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the silver staining step entirely from the diagnostic process. By eliminating this additional chemical treatment step, the method achieves detection sensitivity improvement through pressure-controlled flow rate adjustment alone, making the process easier to automate without requiring complex staining equipment or protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical silver staining process with a mechanical pressure application method. Instead of using chemical reagents and staining equipment, the invention uses controlled pressure to manipulate flow rate and increase binding time, achieving enhanced detection sensitivity through a simpler mechanical means that is more amenable to automation
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 method significantly increases the sensitivity of the lateral flow immunoassay device, allowing for accurate detection of target materials even at low concentrations, with improved reproducibility and cost-effectiveness suitable for mass production.
Implementation Method 1
Applying pressure to the membrane between the test line and the control line to reduce pore size and flow rate
Implementation Method 2
a developing membrane (mainly, nitrocellulose) or strip on which the sample moves
Implementation Method 3
the analyte reacts with the detection antibody that is non-fixedly coated on the releasing pad (or conjugate pad) to be continuously developed in the form of an antigen-antibody conjugate
Implementation Method 4
While moving, the analyte reacts once more with a capture antibody fixed on the developing membrane to form a sandwich-type complex
Implementation Method 5
The detection antibody is bound to, for example, colloidal gold particles for indication. Since proteins are transparent to the naked eye, whether the complex is formed and the relative amount are determined by the color development intensity of the attached gold particles
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a lateral flow immunoassay device with an increased detection signal intensity by applying a pressure to a membrane, and the lateral flow immunoassay device manufactured by applying the pressure to the membrane according to the present disclosure shows significantly higher sensitivity than that of a lateral flow immunoassay device without applying a pressure to the membrane. Accordingly, the present disclosure, as an invention that increases the detection signal intensity by a very simple physical method without the need for chemical treatment, is suitable for mass production and may obtain an effect of reducing costs without requiring the use of additional materials. Therefore, the present disclosure can be usefully used for a lateral flow immunoassay device for detecting various target materials.