Magnetoelastic Sensor In-Situ Pathogen Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting foodborne pathogens in the food supply chain are time-consuming and require complex sample preparation, relying heavily on hygiene controls rather than direct pathogen detection, and existing magnetoelastic biosensors struggle with non-uniform distributions of pathogens on food surfaces.
Innovation Solution
An in-situ pathogen detection system using magnetoelastic measurement sensors with biorecognition elements, a test coil to apply and detect varying magnetic fields, and a controller to determine pathogen presence based on frequency shifts, allowing for real-time detection on food surfaces without sample preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If typical microbiological methods (colony counting, immunoassay, PCR) are used for pathogen detection, then detection sensitivity is very high, but sample preparation is time-consuming and requires complex procedures including sample collecting, separating target pathogen cells from food, increasing cell concentration, and achieving analysis volume from bulk samples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential detection function from complex laboratory procedures by using magnetoelastic sensors that can directly detect pathogens in their native environment. The sensor system isolates the detection capability from the time-consuming sample preparation steps, allowing detection to occur in-situ without requiring sample collection, separation, concentration, or transport to laboratories.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetoelastic sensor acts as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between complex laboratory methods and simple field detection. The sensor incorporates biorecognition elements that specifically bind to target pathogens, translating biological interactions into measurable magnetic frequency shifts, thereby enabling sensitive detection without complex sample preparation.
2Device complexity
If label-free biosensors are used for pathogen detection, then equipment requirements are reduced, but sample preparation is still required including sampling from fresh produce, filtration and purification of collected samples, and injection of filtered/purified samples into a flow system
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetoelastic sensor system is self-sufficient in that it performs detection directly at the location of interest without requiring external sample preparation facilities. The sensor can be applied directly to food surfaces and detects pathogens in-situ, eliminating the need for separate sampling, filtration, purification, and injection steps that would otherwise be required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the detection function from the sample preparation function. Instead of requiring a integrated system that performs both preparation and detection, the magnetoelastic sensor is designed to perform detection independently on already-present samples, separating these functions in space and time to simplify the overall operation.
3Ease of operation
If magnetoelastic biosensors are positioned outside of the coil's interior geometry, then wireless detection is enabled, but typical exciter/detector coils do not detect sensors positioned outside of the coil's interior geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric coil geometries and configurations that are optimized for detecting sensors positioned outside the traditional coil interior. The exciter and detector coils are designed with specific spatial arrangements and winding patterns that create magnetic field distributions optimized for external sensor detection, breaking the symmetry of conventional coil designs to achieve the desired detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from three-dimensional coil volumes to two-dimensional planar coil configurations that can effectively detect sensors on surfaces. The flat coil geometry allows for effective coupling with sensors positioned on the exterior surfaces of containers or food items, utilizing a different spatial dimension approach compared to traditional volumetric coil designs.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are distributed on food surfaces to detect non-uniformly distributed pathogens, then detection coverage is improved, but the number of sensors and measurement channels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each magnetoelastic sensor multi-functional by designing it to serve both as an exciter (generating magnetic fields) and as a detector (sensing magnetic fields from other sensors). This universal design allows sensors to participate in mutual detection, where each sensor can detect pathogens independently while also assisting in detecting pathogens near other sensors, thereby improving coverage without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the functions of multiple sensors into a coordinated network where sensors work together through mutual detection. Instead of treating each sensor as an independent measurement channel requiring separate excitation and detection circuitry, the sensors are combined into an interconnected system where the magnetic field from one sensor serves as the excitation for others, reducing overall system complexity.
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 wireless, accurate, portable, and inexpensive real-time detection of foodborne pathogens directly on food surfaces, reducing delays and improving food safety by eliminating the need for pre-analysis culture preparation.
Implementation Method 1
Free-standing phage-based magnetoelastic biosensors have been investigated as a label-free wireless biosensor system for real-time pathogen detection. The magnetoelastic biosensor is typically composed of a magnetoelastic resonator that is coated with a bio-molecular recognition element that binds specifically with a target pathogen. Once the biosensor comes into contact with the target pathogen, binding occurs, causing an increase in the mass of the resonator resulting in a decrease in the resonant frequency of the sensor
Implementation Method 2
a test coil configured to (i) apply a varying magnetic field to the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors, (ii) apply a varying magnetic field to the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors and applying the uniform magnetic field while the varying magnetic field is applied and (iii) detect a frequency response of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors to the applied varying magnetic field
Implementation Method 3
The test coil may be configured to detect the frequency response by measuring a magnetic field generated by vibration of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors in response to the applied varying magnetic field
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method (100) for in-situ pathogen detection may comprise distributing one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors (26) on a surface of a test object (50), wherein each of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors (26) includes a biorecognition element (36) configured to bind with a pathogen to cause a shift in a characteristic frequency of the associated measurement sensor (26); applying a varying magnetic field (24), using a test coil (20), to the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors (26) distributed on the surface of the test object (50), wherein the test object (50) is positioned outside of an inner volume (22) defined by the test coil (20).