Microfluidic Device with Programmable Liquid Pinning Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rapid diagnostic test devices, particularly point-of-care and over-the-counter tests, face challenges with counterfeiting, which compromises disease surveillance and eradication efforts, as existing security features are frequently breached.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic device with programmable nodes that create dynamic patterns based on liquid pinning strengths, allowing for optically readable and encodable information, enhancing security by providing a time-evolving signature that is harder to imitate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing security features are used in rapid diagnostic test devices, then counterfeiting can be detected, but the security features are frequently breached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming static security features into dynamic ones. The microfluidic device generates time-evolving patterns through fluid flow that change over time, making the security feature dynamic rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by providing high reliability against counterfeiting through dynamic verification while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by varying the temporal characteristics of the security pattern. The fluid flow creates patterns that change over time, introducing a time parameter to the security verification process. This allows detection of counterfeiting attempts while keeping the device structure relatively simple.
2Reliability
If complex security features are implemented to prevent counterfeiting, then security reliability improves, but fabrication costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the device's own operational fluid flow to generate the security pattern. The microfluidic system uses its functional operation (fluid flowing through channels) to simultaneously perform both the diagnostic function and generate verification patterns. This resolves the contradiction by providing high security reliability while avoiding additional complex security components that would increase fabrication costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by making the microfluidic device perform both its primary diagnostic function and security verification function simultaneously. The same fluid flow that performs the medical test also generates the time-evolving security pattern. This resolves the contradiction by achieving high security reliability without adding separate security features that would increase fabrication complexity and cost.
3Device complexity
If static verification features are used, then device structure remains simple, but counterfeiting can be easily replicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing dynamics to the verification feature. Instead of static patterns that are easy to replicate, the system generates time-evolving patterns through fluid flow. The temporal variation of the pattern makes counterfeiting difficult while maintaining relatively simple device structure, as the complexity is achieved through operational dynamics rather than structural 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
The solution significantly increases the difficulty of counterfeiting and reverse-engineering, while maintaining low fabrication costs, and provides an additional layer of security through dynamic coding that can validate correct device operation.
Implementation Method 1
The nodes of the first and second sets have different liquid pinning strengths. Loading liquid into the input microchannel causes an ordered passage of the liquid through each of the microfluidic modules, in an order determined by the liquid pinning strengths of each of the nodes
Data Source
AI summary
A method for optically reading information encoded in a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device including an input microchannel, microfluidic modules, and sets of nodes. Nodes of a first set connect the input microchannel to one of the microfluidic modules, and nodes of a second set connect the one of the microfluidic modules to another to form an ordered pair of the microfluidic modules, where the nodes of the first and second sets have different liquid pinning strengths. A liquid loaded into the input microchannel causes an ordered passage of the liquid through each of the microfluidic modules in an order determined by the liquid pinning strengths of the nodes. The passage of the liquid produces an optically readable dynamic pattern which evolves in accordance with the ordered passage of the liquid through the device.