Microfluidic Biomarker Detection with Elastomeric Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a cost-effective and user-friendly device to detect biomarkers associated with preventable diseases, such as lifestyle diseases, that can be modified through lifestyle changes, allowing individuals to monitor their health effectively.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic device with multiple channels that use biomarker-sensitive reagents to detect biomarkers in body fluids, employing a resilient elastomeric bladder for suction and porous hydrophobic elements to control fluid flow, allowing for colorimetric reactions that can be visually or photographically analyzed, enabling users to track relevant biomarkers like lipids, glucose, and other health indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional blood testing methods are used to detect biomarkers, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional modules: a microfluidic chip containing reaction chambers with biomarker-specific reagents, a separate suction mechanism using an elastomeric bladder, and a visual detection system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system simplicity and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces colorimetric reagents as intermediaries that convert invisible biomarker concentrations into visible color changes. These reagents act as mediators between the biomarker analytes and the user's visual detection system, enabling accurate measurement without complex instrumentation.
2Productivity
If multiple biomarkers are detected simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microfluidic chip is divided into multiple independent reaction chambers, each containing a specific biomarker-detecting reagent. This spatial segmentation allows simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers through parallel processing of the same blood sample, increasing productivity without requiring separate testing devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The single microfluidic chip device performs multiple functions: it filters blood plasma, performs multiple colorimetric reactions simultaneously, and provides visual readout for multiple biomarkers. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require multiple separate tests into one integrated device.
3Loss of substance
If minimal sample volume is used, then loss of substance is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs porous hydrophobic valves within the microfluidic channels that automatically control fluid flow based on capillary action and surface tension. These porous structures regulate the movement of minimal blood samples through the system, ensuring adequate sample volume reaches each reaction chamber while preventing loss through uncontrolled leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric bladder suction mechanism creates controlled negative pressure to draw minimal blood samples through the microfluidic chip. This pneumatic control system efficiently transports small sample volumes through the filtration and reaction chambers, maximizing the use of limited sample material while maintaining measurement accuracy.
4Ease of operation
If user-friendly operation is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed for self-service operation by the user. The elastomeric bladder automatically generates suction when activated, drawing blood through the chip without requiring external pumps or complex controls. The colorimetric reactions proceed automatically upon sample introduction, and results are immediately visible, eliminating the need for technician intervention or complex operational procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses colorimetric reagents that produce visible color changes when reacting with target biomarkers. This visual feedback mechanism provides immediate, intuitive results that users can interpret without specialized training or equipment, dramatically simplifying operation while the underlying chemistry handles the complexity of accurate measurement.
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 users to monitor multiple biomarkers with minimal sample volume, providing clear and accurate results for health management, facilitating early detection of lifestyle-related diseases and potentially other conditions like fertility tracking, using a portable and user-friendly method.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient elastomeric bladder connected to the outlet port to provide suction
Implementation Method 2
each microfluidic channel enclosing a porous hydrophobic element downstream of the reaction chamber
Implementation Method 3
each microfluidic channel defines a reaction chamber containing a biomarker-sensitive reagent which provides a colour or a change of colour in the presence of a biomarker
Implementation Method 4
at least part of the element being transparent so that the colour or change of colour within the reaction chamber can be viewed from outside the element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A device (10) enables a user to detect biomarkers, and comprises an element (11) that defines a multiplicity of microfluidic channels (24) that communicate between an inlet duct (20) and an outlet duct (22), the inlet duct (20) communicating with an inlet port (30) into which a user can introduce a drop of body fluid; the outlet duct (22) communicating with an outlet port (32). A resilient bladder (38) is connected to the outlet port (32) to provide suction. Each microfluidic channel (24) defines a reaction chamber (26) containing a biomarker- sensitive reagent which provides a colour or a change of colour in the presence of a biomarker, there being a multiplicity of different biomarker-sensitive reagents, one such biomarker-sensitive reagent being provided in each of the multiplicity of different microfluidic channels (24). At least part of the element (11) is transparent so the colour within the reaction chamber can be seen. The device includes a cover (40) with magnifying lenses (44) above the reaction chambers (26). The device may be used in conjunction with a smart phone.