Plasma Separation Sensor for Accurate Potassium Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional potassium tests in blood samples suffer from poor accuracy due to the influence of hemolysis, which is not effectively addressed by existing technologies, requiring medical expertise and involving complex measurement processes.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement comprising a first sensor structure for electrochemically sensing potassium levels and a second sensor structure for directly measuring hemolysis, combined with a plasma separation unit to provide accurate potassium concentration measurements by isolating plasma from blood cells, allowing for compact and user-friendly implementation as a disposable test strip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional potassium tests are performed on whole blood, then the measurement process is simple, but the accuracy is poor due to hemolysis interference
Solution Approach 1:
The test strip is divided into distinct functional zones: a plasma separation zone with filtration structures to isolate plasma from blood cells, and a measurement zone with electrode arrays for electrochemical detection. This segmentation allows the device to separately handle plasma separation and potassium measurement, eliminating hemolysis interference while maintaining a compact integrated structure
Solution Approach 2:
A plasma separation layer acts as an intermediary component between the blood sample application and the electrochemical sensors. This layer filters and isolates plasma from blood cells before the plasma reaches the measurement electrodes, serving as a mediator that prevents hemolyzed blood cells from interfering with the potassium ion detection while allowing plasma to pass through for accurate measurement
2Reliability
If hemolysis detection is added to improve accuracy, then measurement reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The test strip integrates multiple measurement functions into a single device: plasma separation, potassium ion concentration measurement via ion-selective electrodes, and hemolysis detection via hemoglobin concentration measurement. By combining these functions in one integrated strip with shared fluidic pathways and electrode arrays, the device achieves high reliability through comprehensive monitoring while avoiding the complexity of separate standalone devices
Solution Approach 2:
The electrochemical sensor array serves multiple functions: detecting potassium ion concentration for primary measurement, detecting hemoglobin concentration for hemolysis assessment, and potentially detecting other blood parameters. This multi-functionality allows a single sensor structure to provide comprehensive blood analysis, improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity
3Measurement precision
If plasma separation is implemented, then measurement accuracy improves, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma separation function is achieved using thin film structures with integrated filtration layers and capillary channels. These thin film components provide effective plasma separation through micro-scale filtration structures while maintaining a compact, planar form factor that minimizes the overall test strip size, avoiding the need for bulky separation chambers or large-volume processing components
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 enhances the accuracy and reliability of potassium measurements by accounting for hemolysis, enabling precise detection of potassium levels in blood plasma, reducing the need for medical expertise and improving the compactness of the testing device.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor structure (102) configured for electrochemically sensing the physiological substance in at least part of the blood
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor structure (104) configured for electrochemically sensing a parameter in at least part of the blood, which parameter is indicative of hemolysis of the blood, wherein the second sensor structure is configured for electrochemically sensing hemolysis by directly measuring hemoglobin
Implementation Method 3
a plasma separation unit (116) configured for separating plasma from the blood
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensor arrangement (100) for detecting information indicative of a physiological substance in blood of a physiological subject, wherein the sensor arrangement (100) comprises a first sensor structure (102) configured for electrochemically sensing the physiological substance in at least part of the blood, wherein detecting the physiological substance is influenceable by hemolysis of the blood, a second sensor structure (104) configured for electrochemically sensing a parameter in at least part of the blood, which parameter is indicative of hemolysis of the blood, and a plasma separation unit (116) configured for separating plasma from the blood and arranged so that the separated plasma is supplied to the first sensor structure (102) and the second sensor structure (104), whereas a rest of the blood is kept apart from the first sensor structure (102) and the second sensor structure (104).