Online Analyzer for Biological Target Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting biological target substances in liquids, such as viruses and bacteria, face challenges in concentrating these substances efficiently and minimizing liquid volume removal from industrial processes, especially when reintroduction of the liquid is not possible, and often result in low concentration and high volume issues during analysis.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transporting a liquid sample into a reaction chamber where biomolecules are bound to particles, then transferred to a detection unit for nucleic acid release and amplification, allowing for efficient concentration and low-volume analysis, using microfluidics units and control electronics for automated processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water moves through a sample collector with filter medium to accumulate target substances, then sufficient amount of target substance is obtained for analysis, but the liquid volume removed from the process becomes large and cannot be reintroduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential component (target substance) from the liquid by binding it to magnetic particles, while leaving the bulk liquid to be returned to the process. This selective extraction resolves the contradiction by obtaining sufficient target substance without removing large volumes of liquid from the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by creating a concentrated binding zone on magnetic particles where target substances are selectively captured. The magnetic particles serve as localized concentration sites, allowing efficient target substance accumulation while minimizing overall liquid removal from the process.
2Quantity of substance
If substance is retained in filter or adsorption medium and extracted by lysis and elution, then analysis can be performed, but only a relatively small part of target substance actually reaches the analysis module with relatively large liquid volume
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical filtration and elution system with a magnetic field-based separation system. Magnetic particles bound to target substances are selectively transported to the analysis module using magnetic fields, eliminating the need for large-volume elution and achieving high target substance concentration with minimal liquid volume.
3Extent of automation
If manual or automated sample taking is performed from processes, then samples can be collected for analysis, but the process requires complex sampling apparatus and manual or semi-automatic processing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the sampling, concentration, and analysis functions into an integrated online analyzer system. The magnetic particle-based concentration method is combined with automated magnetic separation and direct coupling to the analysis module, creating a unified automated system that reduces overall device complexity while maintaining high automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces magnetic particles as an intermediary carrier that simplifies the sampling and concentration process. These particles serve as a simple, controllable medium that can be easily manipulated by magnetic fields, replacing complex mechanical sampling and filtration apparatus with a more straightforward magnetic-based system.
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 enables effective concentration and detection of biological target substances with a small liquid volume, suitable for various industrial processes, increasing sensitivity and reducing sample volume requirements, enabling online detection without manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
transporting the particles with the bound biomolecules into a detection unit
Implementation Method 2
concentrating biomolecules contained in the first volume of liquid by binding to a plurality of particles in the reaction chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automated online detection of at least one biological target substance in a liquid using an online analyzer includes: transporting a first volume of liquid into a reaction chamber; concentrating biomolecules in the first volume of liquid by binding to a plurality of particles in the reaction chamber; transporting the particles with the bound biomolecules into a detection unit having a first microfluidics unit and a second microfluidics unit fluidically connectable thereto; releasing and/or isolating nucleic acids from the biomolecules bound on the particles; transporting an eluate of the released and/or isolated nucleic acids into the second microfluidics unit; amplifying a target nucleic acid in the second microfluidics unit; registering a measurement signal representing progress of the amplifying and/or on a number of copies of the target nucleic acid, and determining of the target substance in the sample based on the registered measurement signal.