Integrated Pathogen Testing Piston and Plunger Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current testing systems for pathogens in biological specimens, such as ticks, are inefficient in sample preparation and detection, requiring multiple steps and potential for contamination, and lack effective mechanisms for grinding and releasing biological contents for analysis.
Innovation Solution
A testing device with a piston and plunger system that includes a pierceable layer, textured surface, and grinding elements, which, when combined with a buffer liquid, effectively grinds and releases biological contents for analysis on a test strip, allowing for efficient detection of pathogens through fluid contact and visual indication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional testing system is used for pathogen detection, then the detection function is provided, but the sample preparation process is inefficient and requires multiple steps
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines multiple functions (grinding, mixing, and detection) into a single integrated system. The piston chamber serves both as a grinding chamber with textured surfaces and as a mixing chamber that combines the specimen with buffer liquid, eliminating the need for separate preparation steps and equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston serves multiple functions: it acts as a grinding element with textured surfaces, a mixing element by agitating the specimen with buffer liquid, and a transfer mechanism. The single chamber design accommodates both mechanical grinding and chemical mixing operations.
2Reliability
If manual sample preparation is used, then the process is simple to operate, but contamination risk increases and grinding effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into sealed compartments including a piston chamber and a detection chamber separated by a membrane. This segmentation allows the grinding and mixing operations to occur in an isolated, contamination-free environment before controlled transfer to the detection area.
Solution Approach 2:
A membrane acts as an intermediary barrier between the grinding chamber and the detection chamber, allowing controlled transfer of the processed specimen while preventing contamination. The textured piston serves as an intermediary tool that performs both grinding and mixing without direct human contact with the specimen.
3Measurement precision
If conventional grinding methods are used, then the equipment is simple, but biological contents are not effectively released for analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The piston surface features localized textured regions with specific patterns designed to optimize grinding effectiveness. The textured surface creates localized high-shear zones that effectively break open biological structures and release contents, while the rest of the piston maintains a smooth surface for other functions.
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 system simplifies the sample preparation process, ensuring thorough grinding and release of pathogens for analysis, providing a reliable and efficient method for detecting pathogens like those causing tick-borne diseases, with clear visual results.
Implementation Method 1
the test specimen to be ground between the textured surface and the grinding surface
Implementation Method 2
the buffer liquid contained in the piston chamber may flow into the core chamber when the pierceable layer is pierced
Implementation Method 3
a lateral flow assay device configured to detect and indicate the presence of pathogens in a combination of the buffer liquid and the test specimen
Data Source
AI summary
A device to detect pathogens and/or analytes in a test sample is designed to include a core, which may have first and second chambers. The first chamber is designed to accept a combination of a test specimen and a buffer liquid. A piston is designed to slideably engage into the first chamber of the core, wherein the end of the piston may engage with the bottom of the first chamber and be capable of grinding the test specimen. A plunger is designed to slideably engage with the second chamber of the core, and is in fluid communication with the first chamber. An assay section is attached to the core, and is in fluid communication with the second chamber. The assay device is designed to include a test strip that is capable of detecting and indicating the presence of pathogens and/or analytes in the combination of the test sample and buffer liquid.