Sample Partitioning Film Structure for Rapid Microbial Enumeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing and detecting microorganisms in liquid samples are time-consuming, requiring incubation periods that can take several hours or days, and often necessitate multiple dilutions and cumbersome compartment filling processes, which are inefficient for rapid quality control and process monitoring in industries like food, water treatment, and medical diagnostics.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that partitions a liquid sample into multiple discrete, sealed compartments using a substrate with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a deformable cover film, allowing for rapid detection and enumeration of microorganisms by facilitating nutrient and indicator distribution within each compartment, reducing the need for serial dilutions and enhancing high-throughput analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If classical methods are used for examining liquid samples, then analysis can be performed with standard procedures, but analysis time is very long (hours or days)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the liquid sample into many small discrete compartments (e.g., 96 wells per plate, multiple plates), allowing parallel processing of multiple sample aliquots simultaneously. This segmentation enables the sample to be tested in many small volumes at once rather than requiring sequential analysis of the entire sample volume, dramatically reducing total analysis time while maintaining detection accuracy.
2Productivity
If sample partitioning into many small compartments is performed, then detection speed increases and incubation time is reduced, but device complexity and difficulty of compartment filling increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple compartments into a single integrated device structure (e.g., multi-well plates with covers). The device allows the entire array of compartments to be filled simultaneously by pouring or pipetting sample onto the exposed adhesive surface, rather than requiring individual filling of each compartment. This merging approach maintains high productivity through parallel processing while eliminating the complexity of individual compartment filling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares the device in advance by coating the substrate with pressure-sensitive adhesive and arranging the compartment structure before sample introduction. The compartments are pre-configured and ready to receive sample, eliminating the need for complex filling operations during the analysis process. This preliminary preparation simplifies the overall procedure while maintaining rapid detection capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If serial dilutions are performed to achieve desired concentration ranges, then accurate microbial enumeration is possible, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the original sample into many small aliquots distributed across multiple compartments, each containing a fraction of the original sample volume. By distributing the sample across many compartments rather than performing sequential dilutions, the method achieves accurate microbial enumeration through statistical analysis of positive/negative compartments (e.g., MPN calculation) while eliminating the cumbersome serial dilution process. Each compartment acts as an independent test unit, simplifying operations while maintaining precision.
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 significantly reduces analysis time, increases the speed of microorganism detection, and provides a more accurate estimation of microbial concentration with narrower confidence limits, enabling rapid decision-making in quality control and process monitoring across various industries.
Implementation Method 1
a substrate with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a deformable cover film
Implementation Method 2
a deformable cover film, allowing for rapid detection and enumeration of microorganisms by distributing nutrients and indicators within the compartments
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a device that includes a base comprising a substrate having a first major surface, a pressure sensitive adhesive adhered to at least a portion of the first major surface, a polymeric cover film coupled to the substrate via the adhesive, a plurality of isolated closed compartments disposed between the substrate and the cover film, and an aqueous liquid disposed in two or more of the closed compartments. The cover film is a composite film comprising ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, a linear copolymer of ethylene and a higher alkene, and a tackifier. Each compartment of the plurality is defined by a seal that prevents liquid communication with at least one other compartment of the plurality. Methods of using the device for partitioning a sample, for analyzing a sample, and for culturing a microorganism are also provided.