Phage-Based Microorganism Detection Strip for Rapid Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current diagnostic methods for periprosthetic infections are time-consuming, costly, and lack specificity, leading to prolonged clinical processes and high economic burdens due to the need for complex procedures like biopsy sampling and bacterial culture, which are not suitable for rapid use in surgical settings.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of phages exposing selective peptides bound to markers, allowing for rapid detection of target microorganisms in biological samples through filtration and detection on a porous strip, eliminating the need for phage replication and amplification, enabling precise identification of microorganisms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphilococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional diagnostic methods (biopsy sampling, bacterial culture, serological markers) are used, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but diagnostic time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoiddiagnostic time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The phage is pre-labeled with fluorescent markers before the diagnostic procedure. This preliminary labeling eliminates the need for time-consuming amplification steps during the actual detection process, allowing immediate visualization of microorganism-phage complexes under fluorescence microscopy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and utilizes only the essential detection function from the complex traditional diagnostic process. By using pre-labeled phages that directly bind to target microorganisms, the method isolates the core detection capability from unnecessary amplification and culture steps, achieving rapid results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If traditional diagnostic methods are used, then microorganism identification is improved, but procedural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicroorganism identificationVSAvoidprocedural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential detection function from the complex traditional diagnostic workflow. By using pre-labeled phages that directly bind to target microorganisms, the method isolates the core detection capability from unnecessary amplification and culture steps, achieving rapid results with simplified procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex mechanical and biochemical amplification systems with a direct fluorescent labeling approach. Instead of using complex culture media, incubation systems, and amplification reagents, the method uses pre-labeled phages that provide direct visual detection through fluorescence microscopy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If phage amplification by incubation is used, then detection capability is improved, but time requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidtime requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention skips the traditional phage amplification and incubation steps by using pre-labeled phages. This rushing through of the detection process allows results to be obtained in minutes rather than hours or days, making the method suitable for intraoperative use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

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 method provides a rapid, cost-effective, and precise means to identify microorganisms, making it suitable for use during surgical procedures, reducing the duration and cost of diagnosing periprosthetic infections and improving patient outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

the binding of said phage to said target microorganism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelective binding:

Implementation Method 2

filtering said sample comprising a microorganism-marked phage complex on a filter capable of retaining said microorganism-marked phage complex

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

detecting said microorganism-marked phage complex

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMarker detection:

Data Source

PatentUS20240142449A1Method for determining the presence of a target microorganism in a biological sample

Publication Date: 2024.05.02 INOVA BIOMEDICAL TECH SRL

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for determining the presence of a target microorganism in a biological sample comprising the steps of:providing a strip made of porous material, said strip having at least one fixation zone on which at least one phage exposing a peptide selective for said microorganism is fixed, and a deposition zone, separated from said fixation zone and intended to receive a portion of said biological sample, said phage being bound to a marker in deactivated form;contacting said biological sample with said strip on said deposition zone and eluting said microorganism through said strip so that said microorganism reaches said fixation zone to form a phage-target microorganism complex and release said marker in activated form;detecting said marker in activated form.