Infectious Sample Concentration Control Using pH and ORP Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for preparing output samples with a defined concentration of infectious agents are time-consuming, labor-intensive, prone to error, and costly, particularly for biological samples like blood, and often require expensive equipment, making rapid and accurate preparation challenging.
Innovation Solution
A method involving dilution, incubation, and monitoring of solution characteristics using sensors, coupled with a computing device that retrieves look-up tables to achieve a defined concentration, utilizing ORP or pH sensors without added reporter molecules, and includes a system with fluid delivery conduits and cooling components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional microbial culturing techniques are used to prepare output samples, then the concentration of infectious agents can be defined, but the process becomes time-consuming (up to 24 hours) and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical microbial culturing techniques with an optical detection system using a portable sensor that measures optical properties (absorbance, turbidity) of the sample. This substitution eliminates the need for lengthy incubation periods while rapidly determining infectious agent concentration through optical measurements, reducing preparation time from 24 hours to minutes while maintaining concentration accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in optical parameters (absorbance, turbidity) of the sample as infectious agents grow or are present. By monitoring these parameter changes in real-time, the system can determine when the desired concentration is reached without requiring fixed-time culturing, enabling rapid and flexible concentration definition
2Measurement precision
If manual interpretation methods are used by skilled personnel, then concentration assessment can be performed, but the process is prone to technical or clinician error
Solution Approach 1:
The portable sensor system performs automatic self-assessment of infectious agent concentration through optical measurements. The device independently calculates concentration values based on measured optical properties, eliminating the need for manual interpretation by skilled personnel. This automation removes human error sources while maintaining measurement precision through consistent, objective optical readings
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback through the portable sensor that continuously monitors optical parameters and provides immediate concentration data. This feedback mechanism allows for automatic adjustment and verification of concentration measurements, ensuring accuracy without relying on subjective manual assessment and reducing the potential for technical or clinician error
3Measurement precision
If optical techniques are used to assess biological samples like blood, then concentration measurement is possible, but the samples' opacity makes assessment difficult and requires expensive equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a portable, low-cost sensor device that can be used for rapid optical measurements without requiring expensive laboratory equipment. The system is designed to be simple and affordable, potentially as a single-use or disposable device, enabling concentration measurement in opaque samples like blood without the need for costly traditional optical instruments while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex, expensive traditional optical measurement equipment with a simplified portable sensor system. This substitution uses basic optical principles (absorbance, turbidity measurements) that can be implemented with inexpensive components, making the technology accessible for use with opaque biological samples without requiring sophisticated or costly 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
Facilitates rapid, accurate, and cost-effective preparation of output samples with defined concentrations, reducing human error and equipment costs, suitable for various biological samples including blood and fungi.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring a change in a solution characteristic of the diluted sample using a parameter analyzer or a computing device coupled to the one or more sensors
Implementation Method 2
The solution characteristic can be an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and the one or more sensors can be ORP sensors
Implementation Method 3
incubating the diluted sample at an incubation temperature. The incubation temperature can be between about 33 °C. and about 37°C.
Implementation Method 4
cooling the diluted sample to a cooling temperature when the solution characteristic of the diluted sample changes by a threshold amount to yield the output sample of the defined concentration
Data Source
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AI summary
Various methods, devices, and systems for preparing an output sample of a defined concentration are disclosed. The output sample can be used for downstream tests such as downstream anti-infective or antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). The method can comprise diluting an aliquot of a source sample comprising an infectious agent to yield a diluted sample; exposing one or more sensors to the diluted sample, wherein at least a part of each of the one or more sensors is in fluid communication with the diluted sample; incubating the diluted sample at an incubation temperature; monitoring a change in a solution characteristic of the diluted sample using a parameter analyzer or a computing device coupled to the one or more sensors; and cooling the diluted sample to a cooling temperature when the concentration of infectious agents within the diluted sample reaches the defined concentration to yield the output sample.