Portable Molecular Assay Assembly for Low-Infrastructure Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for highly mobile, portable, and reliable molecular diagnostic tools capable of performing rapid, accurate diagnostic tests in resource-limited settings without access to traditional healthcare facilities or infrastructure, to facilitate early detection and containment of infectious diseases.
Innovation Solution
A portable molecular diagnostic assay system powered by battery, utilizing brushless DC motors for door and syringe drives, encoderless motor control, and sonication horns for lysing biological samples, with cloud-based connectivity for result reporting, enabling rapid and accurate diagnostic results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If molecular diagnostic testing is performed in remote areas without traditional healthcare facilities, then accessibility to diagnostic services is improved, but infrastructure requirements (electrical power, communication) create implementation barriers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the molecular diagnostic testing capability from traditional healthcare facility infrastructure by implementing battery-powered operation and offline result storage. The system can function independently without requiring continuous electrical power or internet connectivity, effectively removing the dependency on complex infrastructure while maintaining diagnostic accessibility in remote areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by enabling the device to store results locally and transfer them to cloud servers when connectivity becomes available. This mediator mechanism bridges the gap between offline operational requirements and online data sharing needs, allowing the system to adapt to varying infrastructure conditions without compromising either accessibility or data management capabilities.
2Loss of time
If rapid diagnostic results are achieved within 1-2 hours, then early detection capability is improved, but testing complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading the device with multiple assay protocols and reagent configurations before deployment. This allows the system to rapidly execute diagnostic tests without requiring complex real-time setup or configuration, reducing both testing time and operational complexity when performed in remote settings.
3Loss of information
If cloud-based connectivity is implemented for result reporting, then data sharing and epidemic monitoring are improved, but dependency on communication infrastructure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the cloud connectivity feature optional and adaptive rather than mandatory. The system can dynamically switch between offline operation with local result storage and online mode with cloud data sharing, depending on the availability of communication infrastructure. This dynamic approach maintains adaptability to different deployment environments while preserving data sharing capabilities when needed.
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 system provides rapid, accurate diagnostic results within 1-2 hours, easy operation, and secure cloud-based connectivity, overcoming limitations of remote areas with scarce healthcare facilities, facilitating timely treatment and epidemic monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
sonication horns for lysing biological samples
Data Source
AI summary
Improved sub-assemblies and methods of control for use in a diagnostic assay system adapted to receive an assay cartridge are provided herein. Such sub-assemblies include: a brushless DC motor, a door opening/closing mechanism and cartridge loading mechanism, a syringe and valve drive mechanism assembly, a sonication horn, a thermal control device and optical detection/excitation device. Such systems can further include a communications unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device of a user so as to receive a user input relating to functionality of the system with respect to an assay cartridge received therein and relaying a diagnostic result relating to the assay cartridge to the mobile device.