Integrated pH Sensor Culture Vials for Real-Time Blood Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood culture measurement systems suffer from sensitivity variability, Delayed Vial Entry (DVE) time, temperature fluctuations, delayed detection, multi-component sensor complexity, and lack of real-time feedback, leading to inconsistent results and prolonged detection times.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of pH sensors, such as ion specific field effect transistors (ISFET) or ion selective electrodes, within culture vials, along with permeable membranes and responsive labels, which enable direct pH measurement without calibration, reduce sensor complexity, and allow for real-time feedback and rapid detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluorescent sensors or detectors are used for detecting fluorescent signals, then microorganism contamination can be detected, but measurement variability and sensitivity inconsistency occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex fluorescent sensor systems with simpler optical detection methods using basic light sources and photodetectors. The system uses a light source to illuminate the vial and a photodetector to measure light transmission or absorption changes, eliminating the need for complex fluorescent sensors while achieving more consistent and reliable measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from the measurement system. By removing fluorescent sensors, complex software processing requirements, and multiple auxiliary components, the system achieves simpler architecture that reduces measurement variability and improves reliability while maintaining detection capability.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If multi-component sensor systems are implemented, then detection capability is enhanced, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unnecessary components from the measurement system. By eliminating fluorescent sensors, complex multi-component sensor assemblies, and associated complex software processing requirements, the system achieves simpler architecture that reduces manufacturing difficulty while maintaining essential detection capability through basic optical principles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a universal detection approach where a simple photodetector and light source combination can detect various microorganisms and contaminants through changes in light transmission or absorption. This universal system replaces specialized multi-component sensors with a single versatile detection mechanism that works across different sample types.
3Measurement precision
If complex software and hardware systems are used for data processing, then detection accuracy is improved, but real-time feedback capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex software processing algorithms with simpler hardware-based optical detection. The photodetector directly converts light transmission changes into electrical signals that can be immediately processed, eliminating the need for complex computational algorithms and enabling real-time feedback while maintaining detection accuracy through direct physical measurement principles.
4Reliability
If temperature control mechanisms are added, then measurement consistency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs measurement methods that are inherently insensitive to temperature variations. By using optical detection based on light transmission or absorption changes rather than temperature-dependent fluorescent sensors, the system achieves temperature-stable measurements without requiring active temperature control mechanisms, thereby maintaining reliability while avoiding added 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 provides absolute pH measurements, reduces DVE time, minimizes sensitivity to temperature fluctuations, simplifies manufacturing, and enables immediate feedback on measurement quality, resulting in consistent and rapid detection of pathogens.
Implementation Method 1
the pH sensor is an ion specific field effect transistor (ISFET) or an ion selective electrode
Implementation Method 2
the pH sensor is an ion specific field effect transistor (ISFET) or an ion selective electrode
Implementation Method 3
the permeable membrane comprises a polymeric material
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for measuring the presence of an analyte of interest in a sample. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are related to culture measurement systems that include a culture vial and a sensor, wherein the sensor is a pH sensor, a responsive label, or an indicator compound, such that the sensor is incorporated into the culture vial for measurement of the pH of the sample.