Porous Support Dry Impregnation for Sensitive Microbe Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microbiological analysis methods using dehydrated culture media face limitations in detection sensitivity, require complex manufacturing processes, and are not suitable for multi-detection or use by non-experts, especially when dealing with fragile components like enzymes or antibiotics, and lack flexibility in application.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a porous support dry-impregnated throughout its thickness with a dehydrated reaction medium, using techniques like vacuum, vibration, electrostatic fields, or ultrasonic methods to ensure deep penetration of the medium, allowing for controlled substrate distribution and rehydration, enabling multi-detection and use in various applications without prior sample isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the culture medium is placed in liquid form in the support and then dried, then the rehydratable culture medium can be preserved for longer, but the heating required to dry the medium may denature heat-sensitive components and the method does not allow control of the location of the reaction medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the culture medium from liquid to powder form, and applies dry impregnation instead of aqueous impregnation followed by drying. This eliminates the thermal stress that denatures heat-sensitive components while maintaining long-term stability through the dry powder state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a porous support as an intermediary carrier that can absorb and retain the dehydrated reaction medium in powder form. This porous support enables the culture medium to be delivered to the sample without requiring dissolution in water or exposure to high temperatures during manufacturing.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the dehydrated culture medium is coated on films with adhesive, then the medium can be preserved and packaged, but the medium cannot form a three-dimensional structure with variable height and layered concentrations, limiting detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional film coating approach to a three-dimensional porous support structure. The porous support allows the dehydrated reaction medium to be distributed throughout its volume, creating variable height and layered concentrations that enhance detection sensitivity while maintaining preservability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the culture medium is dissolved in water or solvent and deposited on support, then the medium can be applied to the support, but this impacts the stability of fragile products like enzymes or antibiotics and does not allow control of medium location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the impregnation parameter from aqueous/solvent-based to dry powder impregnation. The dehydrated reaction medium in powder form is directly impregnated into the porous support without dissolution, eliminating chemical degradation of fragile components while maintaining ease of manufacture through simplified processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables local control of the reaction medium distribution within the porous support. The dry impregnation method allows the dehydrated culture medium to be selectively placed in specific zones of the support, creating localized reaction areas that match the intended application requirements.
4Measurement precision
If a porous support is dry-impregnated throughout its thickness with dehydrated reaction medium, then detection sensitivity is enhanced and manufacturing is simplified, but specialized equipment like vacuum or ultrasonic devices may be required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs ultrasonic vibration as a practical method to achieve thorough dry impregnation of the porous support. The ultrasonic waves facilitate deep penetration of the dehydrated reaction medium powder into the porous structure, ensuring uniform distribution throughout the thickness while using commercially available equipment.
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 enhances detection sensitivity, simplifies manufacturing, allows for flexible use in different settings, and maintains the stability of heat-sensitive components, enabling efficient detection and identification of microorganisms without the need for complex isolation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a porous support dry-impregnated throughout its thickness by a dehydrated reaction medium
Implementation Method 2
using techniques like vacuum, vibration, electrostatic fields, or ultrasonic methods to ensure deep penetration of the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the detection, identification and enumeration of microorganisms in a porous support including reaction medium powder throughout its thickness, the support having been dry-impregnated throughout its thickness by a dehydrated reaction medium. Further, a device is used and enables the method to be carried out.