Surface Acoustic Wave Sensor for Infectious Disease Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional diagnostic methods for infectious diseases such as MERS-COV, SARS-COV-2, H1N1 influenza, and Lyme disease are not quantifiable, high throughput, unreliable, and lack reproducibility, and existing point-of-care tests face challenges in specificity and sensitivity, particularly in detecting viral infections like COVID-19.
Innovation Solution
The development of acoustic sensors using recombinant multiepitope proteins covalently attached to the sensor surface, which capture specific antibodies from patient samples, employing Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology for rapid and accurate detection of viral and bacterial infections by measuring alterations in mass/viscosity that change acoustic transmission patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional diagnostic methods are used for infectious diseases, then the diagnostic process is simple, but the reliability and measurement precision are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/diagnostic methods with acoustic wave-based detection. Surface acoustic wave sensors detect viral particles through changes in acoustic transmission patterns, providing quantifiable and reliable diagnostic results with high measurement precision while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in acoustic transmission parameters (phase velocity, attenuation) caused by viral particle binding to the sensor surface. These parameter changes provide quantitative measurement of viral load, significantly improving diagnostic reliability and precision compared to conventional methods.
2Measurement precision
If existing point-of-care tests are used, then the testing speed is fast, but the sensitivity and specificity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs surface acoustic waves that propagate along the sensor surface, interacting with bound viral particles. The vibration-based detection method provides high sensitivity by detecting minute mass changes and viscosity alterations, achieving rapid and accurate detection without compromising precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent detects viral particles through changes in the phase and propagation characteristics of acoustic waves. Binding of viral particles to the sensor surface alters the acoustic wave phase velocity and attenuation, providing sensitive and specific detection results in rapid time.
3Productivity
If conventional diagnostic methods are used, then the equipment is simple, but the quantifiability and reproducibility are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic sensor platform provides multi-functional capability for detecting various viral infections (COVID-19, influenza, RSV, etc.) using a single device type. The universal sensor design enables high-throughput screening of multiple pathogens simultaneously, improving productivity without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces subjective conventional diagnostic methods with objective acoustic wave-based measurement. The quantifiable acoustic transmission patterns provide reproducible results that can be automatically analyzed, enabling high-throughput processing with consistent measurement accuracy across multiple samples.
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 provides a sensitive, cost-effective, and rapid diagnostic method capable of accurately identifying infectious diseases, improving upon the limitations of existing tests by enhancing sensitivity and specificity, and enabling point-of-care diagnostics for viral and bacterial infections.
Implementation Method 1
employing Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology for rapid and accurate detection of viral and bacterial infections by measuring alterations in mass/viscosity that change acoustic transmission patterns
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to systems and devices for diagnosing infectious disease (e.g., bacterial or viral infections). More particularly, the disclosure relates to acoustic sensors for detecting infectious disease caused by viral infections (e.g., coronavirus, rhinovirus, influenza, etc.).