Optical Urine Protein Detection via Drop Surface Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current urine protein detection methods, such as dipstick urinalysis, face challenges including long processing times, human bias in interpretation, and lack of precise measurements, with storage requirements complicating the maintenance of testing quality.
Innovation Solution
A detection device utilizing optical analysis with a urine container, needle, camera unit, light source, and processor to measure protein concentration in urine, providing instantaneous and precise results by calculating protein concentration based on the averaged surface tension of a urine drop, eliminating the need for storage maintenance and human interpretation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dipstick urinalysis is used to detect protein in urine, then the testing method is simple and widely available, but the processing time is long (30-60 seconds) and results lack precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/dipstick-based detection system with an optical detection system. The optical detection device uses light sources, lenses, and sensors to measure protein concentration in urine, eliminating the need for manual dipstick interpretation and providing faster, more precise automated measurements through optical property analysis of the urine sample.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from color interpretation (subjective visual assessment) to optical property measurements (objective quantifiable parameters). By measuring optical properties such as refractive index, absorbance, or light scattering characteristics, the system achieves precise protein concentration determination with automated processing in seconds rather than minutes.
2Reliability
If dipstick urinalysis is used, then the method can provide protein concentration results, but the results are subject to human bias and interpretation variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the human interpretation process with an automated optical detection and analysis system. The device objectively measures optical properties of the urine sample and automatically calculates protein concentration, eliminating human bias and inter-observer variability while providing consistent, reliable results across different tests and operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical detection device performs self-measurement and self-calculation of protein concentration without requiring human interpretation. The system automatically processes the urine sample, measures its optical properties, and computes the protein concentration based on calibrated relationships, making the measurement process independent of human operator skill or judgment.
3Reliability
If dipsticks are used for urinalysis, then the testing can be performed, but the dipsticks require well-maintained storage conditions to maintain testing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the chemical reagent layer from the test system by using optical detection of intrinsic urine properties or added optical agents instead of chemical reactions on dipsticks. This eliminates the need for storing chemical reagents under controlled conditions, as the optical detection method does not rely on chemical reagents that degrade over time or require specific storage environments.
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 device achieves faster and more precise protein concentration measurements compared to dipstick urinalysis, reducing processing time to seconds and eliminating storage and human bias, while ensuring consistent and accurate results.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention provides a detection device for protein in urine. The detection device for protein in urine measures protein concentrations free of the aforementioned problems by using an optical analysis.
Implementation Method 2
The light source is mounted on the base, and emits a detection beam. The detection beam passes the blunt end and travels into the lens of the camera unit.
Implementation Method 3
the processor unit of the present invention is able to determine the protein concentration of the drop of urine according to a linear relationship between averaged surface tension of the drop of urine and the protein concentration
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes a needle connected to a urine container; a side of the needle is connected to the urine container, and the other side is a blunt end; a holder is mounted on a base, and the urine container is detachably mounted on the holder; a camera unit is mounted on the base, aiming at the blunt end; a light source is mounted on the base, emitting a detection beam; a processor unit is electrically connected to the camera unit; wherein when a sample urine in the urine container drips through the needle and forms a drop of urine, the detection beam passes through the drop of urine and travels into the camera unit; the processor unit receives an image of the drop of urine through the camera unit, and the processor unit instantly calculates a protein concentration of the drop of urine from the image.