Porous Filter Cell Separation for Rapid Viral Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for testing viruses and cellular biomarkers in fluids, such as oronasopharyngeal fluid, often require centrifugation and complex sample preparation, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially for rapid diagnosis of infections like Influenza and SARS-CoV-2.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of porous filters to separate epithelial cells or animal cells from non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid samples by size-based filtration, followed by extraction of cellular components and testing for viruses or biomarkers, allowing for rapid and efficient detection without the need for centrifugation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If centrifugation and complex sample preparation are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsample preparation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential function of sample preparation by using a simple porous filter to separate cells from fluid, eliminating the need for complex centrifugation equipment and procedures while maintaining detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A porous filter serves as an intermediary device that performs the separation function between the sample and the detection system, replacing complex mechanical centrifugation with a passive filtration mechanism that simplifies the overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If centrifugation and complex sample preparation are used, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsample preparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The porous filter is pre-configured with appropriate pore sizes to perform separation automatically as sample passes through, eliminating the need for time-consuming centrifugation steps and enabling rapid sample preparation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with a passive filtration system that relies on size-based separation through porous membranes, dramatically reducing sample preparation time while maintaining separation effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If size-based filtration through porous filters is used, then device complexity and time consumption are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample preparation simplicityVSAvoidfilter pore size control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes commercially available porous filters with standardized pore sizes (e.g., 3.0 µm, 5.0 µm, 8.0 µm) that are manufactured with controlled precision, balancing the need for effective cell separation with practical manufacturing capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention addresses manufacturing precision requirements by offering multiple filter pore size options (3.0 µm, 5.0 µm, 8.0 µm) that can be selected based on specific application needs, allowing optimization of separation efficiency without requiring ultra-precise manufacturing tolerances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach enables rapid and efficient detection of viruses and biomarkers directly from non-centrifuged samples, improving diagnostic efficiency and simplifying the testing process, particularly for infectious diseases.

Implementation Method 1

passing the non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid sample through a porous filter to separate epithelial cells from the non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid sample by size-based filtration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSize-based filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20230098151A1Testing for viruses and cellular biomarkers

Publication Date: 2023.03.30 HERO SCI LTD

AI summary

A method is provided for testing a non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid sample (22) taken from a human or non-human animal for the presence of a virus, the method including passing the non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid sample (22) through one or more porous filters (32, 1932) to separate epithelial cells from the non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid sample by size-based filtration. Thereafter, an extraction liquid is prepared by extracting cellular components of the epithelial cells separated from the non-centrifuged oronasopharyngeal fluid sample (22). Thereafter, the extraction liquid is tested for the presence of the virus. Other embodiments are also described.