Quencher Assembly Reduces Optical Interference in Fluidic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Point-of-care fluidic devices face challenges in minimizing interfering optical signals, particularly in luminogenic assays, where excess or unbound enzyme-labeled reagents can react and produce undesired signals, compromising assay sensitivity and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A fluidic device with a quencher assembly that includes an absorbent material, such as glass fiber or polyacylamide gel, impregnated with a quenching agent like 4-amino-1,11-azobenzene-3,4-disulfonic acid, which is designed to reduce interference by inactivating unbound reagents in the waste chamber, thereby minimizing optical interference and enhancing signal accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If luminogenic reagents are used to amplify the measured species, then assay sensitivity is improved, but interfering optical signals increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful interfering optical signals from the system by using a quencher assembly that specifically targets and eliminates the glow from unbound reagents in the waste chamber, while preserving the signal from bound reagents at the reaction site
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a quencher assembly as an intermediary component between the waste chamber and the detection system. This mediator selectively quenches interfering signals from unbound reagents while allowing the assay signal to pass through, effectively mediating between the harmful glow and the detection system
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the body of the fluidic device is made opaque to isolate undesired glow, then optical interference is reduced, but light from reaction sites may be blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only the waste chamber opaque rather than the entire device body. This localized opacity selectively blocks interfering signals from unbound reagents while allowing light from the reaction sites to reach the detector, avoiding the problem of blocking assay signals
3Volume of moving object
If all assay components including waste washes are contained in a small housing, then device compactness is improved, but the potential for interfering signals is enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the small housing into distinct functional zones: a reaction site chamber and a waste chamber. By spatially separating bound reagents from unbound reagents into different segments, the device maintains compactness while preventing interfering signals from unbound reagents in the waste chamber from overwhelming the assay signal
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 quencher assembly effectively reduces interfering optical signals by at least 99%, ensuring accurate detection of analytes by eliminating unwanted light signals and maintaining assay sensitivity, even in assays with low signal-to-noise ratios.
Implementation Method 1
the quenching agent is adapted to inactivate at least one reagent from the assay and thereby reduce the interfering optical signal
Implementation Method 2
an absorbent material, which may be, for example, glass fiber, silica, paper, polyacylamide gel, agarose, or agar. The absorbent material can be impregnated with the quenching agent
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention is in the field of medical devices. Specifically, the present invention provides portable medical devices that allow real-time detection of analytes from a biological fluid. The methods and devices are particularly useful for providing point-of-care testing for a variety of medical applications. In particular, the medical device reduces interference with an optical signal which is indicative of the presence of an analyte in a bodily sample.