Riboflavin Solid Electrolyte Biosensor for Microbial Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting disease damage in plants and pathogenic microorganisms in medical instruments are either complex, require specialized knowledge, or fail to specifically identify pathogenic microorganisms, making them inadequate for on-site assessments and effective cleaning evaluations.

Innovation Solution

A biosensor device with a solid electrolyte containing Riboflavin, capable of trapping biological particles and measuring current changes between electrodes to determine the presence, proliferative state, and pathogenicity of microorganisms, providing information on disease risk or cleaning effectiveness without specialized knowledge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If DNA amplification method is used to detect microorganisms in plants, then detection accuracy is improved, but operation complexity increases and requires specialized knowledge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex biochemical DNA amplification process with a simple electrochemical measurement system. The biosensor directly detects microorganisms through electron transfer reactions, eliminating the need for DNA extraction, amplification, and specialized laboratory equipment. This substitution transforms a complex biological process into a simple electrical measurement that can be performed on-site without specialized knowledge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary electron transfer substance that mediates between the microorganisms and the electrode. This substance facilitates direct electron transfer from microbial cells to the electrode surface, enabling detection without complex DNA amplification procedures. The intermediary simplifies the detection process while maintaining high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If cultural method is used to check cleaning effect of medical instruments, then detection reliability is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the time-consuming cultural method (incubation and colony counting) with immediate electrochemical detection. The biosensor measures microbial presence through electron transfer reactions that occur in real-time, providing results within minutes rather than requiring days of incubation. This substitution maintains detection reliability while dramatically reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If ATP measurement method is used to evaluate cleaning effect, then measurement speed is improved, but detection specificity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement speedVSAvoiddetection specificity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the electrode surface selective for microbial detection. Through surface modification and optimization of the electrochemical reaction conditions, the sensor responds specifically to microbial electron transfer while ignoring other organic substances. This localized optimization maintains high measurement speed while achieving pathogen-specific detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables simple, on-site evaluation of disease damage risk in plants and pathogenic microorganisms in medical instruments, facilitating effective cleaning and disease prevention without the need for specialized expertise.

Implementation Method 1

a solid electrolyte containing Riboflavin for trapping at least one type of biological particles having an electron transfer function

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron transfer: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3845629B1Measurement device and evaluation method
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 NAT INST FOR MATERIALS SCI
  • EP3845629B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3845629B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3845629B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A measurement device according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a voltage applying part for applying a voltage between electrodes of a biosensor, the biosensor comprising a solid electrolyte and at least two electrodes, and being configured such that the solid electrolyte and the electrodes are in contact with each other; a detection part for measuring a current value flowing between the electrodes when the voltage is applied; and a computing part for providing information resulting from the microorganisms by comparing the current value with a reference value stored in advance in which a current value and at least one type of factor selected from the group consisting of the presence or absence of the biological particles, a proliferative state of the microorganisms, and the presence or absence of expression of pathogenicity of the microorganisms are defined.