Microfluidic Cholesterol Measurement Device with Phase Transition Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining HDL cholesterol concentration in blood are plagued by low measurement accuracy due to the need for repetitive procedures that combine HDL with non-HDL cholesterol measurements.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic device with interconnected chambers, including a reaction chamber with a capture binder specific to Apo-B protein, a buffer chamber, and detection chambers with cholesterol measurement reagents, controlled by a valve comprising a phase transition material and heating fluid, allows for simultaneous measurement of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol by separating and reacting these components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If repetitive measurement procedures are used to separate HDL and non-HDL cholesterol measurements, then measurement accuracy for HDL cholesterol is improved, but measurement time and procedure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines HDL and non-HDL cholesterol measurement into a single simultaneous assay using a microfluidic device with multiple chambers. The reaction chamber contains capture binders that selectively bind to Apo-B proteins in non-HDL lipoproteins, allowing both cholesterol types to be measured in one procedure rather than requiring separate repetitive measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The microfluidic device is divided into multiple functional chambers: a reaction chamber for binding non-HDL to capture binders, a buffer chamber for washing, and detection chambers for measuring HDL and non-HDL cholesterol separately. This segmentation allows simultaneous measurement while maintaining measurement accuracy through physical separation of the measurement processes.
2Measurement precision
If capture binders specific to Apo-B protein are used to separate non-HDL from HDL, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capture binders in the reaction chamber serve multiple functions: they selectively bind to Apo-B proteins in non-HDL lipoproteins, separate non-HDL from HDL, and enable simultaneous measurement of both cholesterol types. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate measurement procedures and simplifies the overall device operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture binders act as intermediaries that facilitate the separation and measurement process. By binding to Apo-B proteins, they mediate the separation of non-HDL from HDL, enabling accurate measurement without requiring complex direct separation mechanisms.
3Loss of time
If simultaneous measurement of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol is implemented, then measurement time is reduced, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The microfluidic device physically segments the measurement process into separate chambers: the reaction chamber for binding, the buffer chamber for washing, and separate detection chambers for HDL and non-HDL cholesterol measurement. This segmentation allows simultaneous measurement while maintaining precision through physical separation of the measurement processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical separation methods with a biochemical approach using capture binders that specifically bind to Apo-B proteins. This substitution enables simultaneous measurement while maintaining accuracy through selective biochemical interaction rather than complex mechanical separation.
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 approach enhances measurement accuracy for HDL cholesterol and allows for simultaneous determination of non-HDL cholesterol, significantly reducing the time and procedures required for cholesterol concentration analysis in blood samples.
Implementation Method 1
The capture binder may be specifically combined with an Apo-B protein of a lipoprotein in a fluid sample to capture a non-high density lipoprotein (non-HDL) and separate it from HDL.
Implementation Method 2
The valve may include a mixture of a phase transition material and a heating fluid. The phase transition material may include at least one material selected from a group consisting of wax, gel and thermoplastic resin.
Implementation Method 3
The heating fluid may include carrier oil and numerous micro-heating particles dispersed in the carrier oil, wherein the micro-heating particles may be metal oxide microparticles.
Implementation Method 4
at least one detection chamber which contains cholesterol measurement reagent and is connected to the reaction chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A microfluidic device and method for measuring a level of cholesterol therewith are provided. The cholesterol measurement apparatus includes a microfluidic device including a plurality of chambers and at least one channel through which the plurality of chambers are interconnected. The plurality of chambers include a reaction chamber which contains a capture binder, a buffer chamber which contains an elution buffer and is connected to the reaction chamber, and at least one detection chamber which contains a cholesterol measurement reagent and is connected to the reaction chamber.