Optical Detection Device for Cell Enrichment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for enriching sample materials, such as circulating tumor cells from blood, are inefficient due to high sample volume requirements and potential cell damage from paramagnetic nanoparticles, making it difficult to obtain sufficient quantities for diagnostic purposes.
Innovation Solution
A detection device with a functional surface equipped with detection receptors that allows for optical measurement, particularly fluorescence measurement, to determine the quantity and specificity of target molecules or cells, enabling efficient enrichment and differentiation of specific cells from non-specific ones, using a measurement structure with optical waveguides and biocompatible materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If paramagnetic nanoparticles are used for enrichment, then target cells can be captured, but the nanoparticles bind to and damage cells or complicate diagnosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes paramagnetic nanoparticles from the enrichment system entirely, replacing them with a nanoparticle-free functional surface that captures target cells through direct binding of detection receptors to cell surface markers, thereby eliminating the harmful binding and damage caused by nanoparticles while maintaining enrichment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a functional surface with detection receptors (such as antibodies) as an intermediary between the sample and the enrichment process, allowing specific capture of target cells through receptor-ligand interactions without requiring direct contact with nanoparticles, thus achieving specific enrichment while preventing cell damage
2Quantity of substance
If conventional enrichment methods are used, then some target cells can be obtained, but the sample volume required is very large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a functional surface with spatially distributed detection receptors that provide high local binding capacity for target cells, enabling efficient capture and enrichment within a compact device structure, thereby achieving high target cell recovery from small sample volumes without requiring large-scale processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical enrichment methods (such as density gradient centrifugation) with optical detection and measurement systems that can identify and quantify target cells based on their optical properties, enabling highly efficient enrichment and analysis from minimal sample volumes without time-consuming manual counting
3Measurement precision
If manual counting and determination of target cells is performed, then accurate results can be obtained, but the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual counting and determination methods with automated optical measurement systems that use light interaction (such as fluorescence, scatter, or absorbance) to rapidly detect, count, and characterize target cells, achieving high measurement precision while reducing analysis time from minutes or hours to seconds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the detection device to automatically perform measurement, counting, and determination of target cells through integrated optical sensors and signal processing capabilities, eliminating the need for manual intervention and providing rapid, accurate results without time-consuming human analysis
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 rapid and efficient enrichment and differentiation of target cells or molecules, reducing the need for time-consuming counting and allowing for reliable diagnosis with minimal sample material, while preventing cell damage and enabling precise measurement with fewer device components.
Implementation Method 1
The measurement structure (2) has the capability to measure optically, in particular by means of fluorescence measurement, bound target molecules (14) or target cells
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a detection device for the in vivo and/or in vitro enrichment of sample material, comprising a functional surface equipped with detection receptors. In order to determine the amount of sample material obtained with reduced effort, the invention provides that the functional surface is arranged directly or indirectly on a measuring structure that has an optically conductive material for the optical measurement of target molecules enriched at the detection receptors.