Magnetic Cap for Isolating Target Analytes in Blood Suspensions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting and isolating target analytes in suspensions, such as circulating tumor cells in blood, are inefficient and costly due to the low numbers of these cells in a vast background of other cells, making it difficult to accurately analyze them.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a tube, float, and magnetic cap with a magnet that creates a magnetic field or gradient to attract and isolate target analytes, using a primary fluid and separating fluid to separate non-target analytes, allowing for efficient extraction and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional separation techniques are used to isolate target analytes from blood samples, then the isolation process becomes extremely time-consuming and costly, but the detection accuracy remains insufficient due to the low concentration of target cells amidst billions of background cells
Solution Approach 1:
The blood sample is divided into multiple density-based fractions through centrifugation, separating target analytes from background cells into distinct layers. This segmentation allows for targeted isolation of specific cell populations without manual processing of the entire sample, significantly reducing isolation time while improving detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical separation methods (such as manual cell sorting or filtration) with a magnetic field-based separation system. Magnetic beads conjugated to antibodies selectively bind to target analytes, and a magnetic field rapidly isolates these bound complexes from the blood sample, achieving both high precision and speed.
2Measurement precision
If conventional techniques are used to detect and isolate target analytes, then the process becomes extremely costly, but the ability to accurately detect low-concentration target cells remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the separation process by using density-based centrifugation followed by magnetic field separation. This approach uses readily available equipment and reagents, avoiding the need for expensive automated cell sorters or complex imaging systems, thereby reducing costs while maintaining high detection accuracy for low-concentration target cells.
3Quantity of substance
If density-based separation is used to fractionate blood samples, then target analytes can be concentrated, but the system complexity increases due to multiple processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines density-based separation and magnetic field separation into an integrated workflow where the output of one method directly feeds into the next. The density fractionation step concentrates target analytes into specific layers, and the magnetic beads are then added to these fractions for selective binding and final isolation. This merging of methods achieves high concentration enrichment while keeping the overall system manageable through standardized protocols.
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 method enables the efficient and accurate detection and isolation of target analytes by utilizing a magnetic field to attract and isolate them from a suspension, overcoming the challenges of low concentrations and high background noise in existing techniques.
Implementation Method 1
The cap introduces a magnetic field or a magnetic gradient to the tube to draw the target analyte bound to a particle to the cap
Implementation Method 2
density-based fluid separation and, in particular, to systems and methods the separation, axial expansion of constituent suspension fractions layered by centrifugation
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to a cap for obtaining a target analyte from a suspension. The cap introduces a magnetic field or a magnetic gradient to the tube to draw the target analyte bound to a particle to the cap. In one aspect, a cap includes a magnetic insert and a receiving piece. The magnetic insert includes a stopper and a magnet extending from the stopper; and, the receiving piece, which is configured to hold the magnetic insert, includes a receiving stopper and a sheath. The sheath may include imaging slides on opposite sides of the sheath. In another aspect, the cap may include a stopper and an embedded magnet. The cap may include an analysis piece on a bottom end of the stopper. In yet another aspect, the cap may include a fluid compartment and a filter at a bottom end of the stopper.