Porous Sample Collection Media for Pathogen Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic tests for viruses and pathogens face contamination issues with nasal swabs and saliva samples, requiring purification steps that can reduce accuracy and reliability, especially in at-home testing scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A sample collection device with a housing and porous nonwoven media that captures pathogens from exhalation airflow, allowing for easy transfer of the sample into a collection tube, reducing contamination and improving testing accuracy through electrostatically charged polymeric materials like polylactic acid and polypropylene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If nasal swabs or saliva samples are used for diagnostic testing, then sample collection is simple and can be performed at home, but contamination occurs that interferes with diagnostic tests and reduces accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary collection medium (filter paper or porous material) that captures pathogens from exhalation airflow. This intermediary serves as a clean interface between the user's breath and the diagnostic test, preventing direct contact with contaminants present in nasal swabs or saliva samples while still allowing pathogen collection for accurate testing.
2Reliability
If purification steps are added to remove contaminants from nasal swab or saliva samples, then testing accuracy may improve, but the process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the purification action in advance by using a pre-assembled collection device with integrated filter media. The filter is already in place within the collection device before sample collection, so contamination is prevented at the source rather than requiring complex purification steps after sample collection. This eliminates the need for additional purification equipment or procedures.
3Reliability
If a self-contained sterile device is used for sample collection, then contamination is reduced and testing accuracy improves, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where the filter media is contained within a collection device housing, which itself can be coupled with a test device. The filter is nested inside the collection chamber, and the entire assembly can be nested within or coupled to the diagnostic test device. This nested design maintains sterility and prevents contamination while using a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured cost-effectively.
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 device provides a reliable, self-contained, and easy-to-use system for collecting and transferring samples, minimizing contamination and enhancing the accuracy of pathogen testing by effectively capturing and transferring viral samples from exhalation airflow into a sample collection tube.
Implementation Method 1
The nonwoven material may be electrostatically charged
Data Source
AI summary
A sample collection device includes a housing including an exhalation portion and a coupling portion. The coupling portion can be coupled with/to a sample collection tube. An airflow path extends through the housing. The device further includes porous sample collection media partially disposed between within the housing and arranged to occlude the airflow path. The porous sample collection includes nonwoven material and may include polylactic acid, polypropylene, or a combination thereof. The housing can be a single piece, part, or component, or can be multiple pieces, parts, components, or portions. In an embodiment of a two-piece housing, the first part includes an exhalation piece (e.g., a mouthpiece or nosepiece) and the second part includes a coupling end constructed for coupling with a sample collection tube. A method of obtaining a sample using the sample collection device includes breathing into the exhalation piece or portion to collect a sample on the porous sample collection media; coupling the second part or portion with a sample collection tube; and transferring the collected sample on the porous sample collection media into the sample collection tube.