Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation for Rapid Antimicrobial Resistance Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining antimicrobial sensitivity or resistance in microorganisms are time-consuming, typically taking 36-48 hours, which can be life-threatening in acute pathologies and contribute to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, and are resource-intensive, requiring excessive consumables and complex management.

Innovation Solution

The use of sedimentation field-flow fractionation (SdFFF) techniques for bacterial cell sorting and characterization, allowing for the rapid determination of antimicrobial resistance by comparing elution profiles of treated and untreated microbial populations, reducing the analysis time to under 24 hours and minimizing consumable usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional antibiogram methods (disk diffusion, microdilution) are used, then reliable antimicrobial resistance determination is achieved, but the analysis time is excessive (36-48 hours)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial resistance determination accuracyVSAvoidanalysis time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical/biological methods (disk diffusion in agar, microdilution in liquid medium requiring bacterial growth) with field-flow fractionation (FFF), a physical separation technique that sorts bacterial cells based on their interaction with antimicrobial agents, eliminating the need for prolonged bacterial cultivation while maintaining diagnostic accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental measurement parameter from bacterial growth inhibition (requiring 36-48 hours) to physical separation characteristics of bacterial cells exposed to antimicrobials (achieving results in under 24 hours), thereby dramatically reducing analysis time while preserving measurement reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional antibiogram methods are used, then comprehensive antimicrobial testing is performed, but consumable usage and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibiogram result reliabilityVSAvoidreagent management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential diagnostic function from complex conventional systems (multiple antibiotics, Petri dishes, culture media) and concentrates it into a simplified FFF-based system that requires minimal consumables, eliminating unnecessary complexity while maintaining diagnostic reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The FFF device is designed as a universal platform that can test multiple antimicrobial agents simultaneously with a single instrument configuration, replacing the need for separate conventional testing systems and simplifying reagent management while maintaining comprehensive testing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If conventional antibiogram methods are used, then standard diagnostic protocols are followed, but the delay in results contributes to antibiotic resistance emergence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidtherapeutic response speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by exposing bacterial cells to antimicrobial agents before conventional growth-based methods would complete, using FFF to detect and measure the interaction between cells and antimicrobials in advance, thereby providing early diagnostic results that enable faster therapeutic intervention while maintaining diagnostic accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 the time to obtain antimicrobial resistance results, enabling more effective and targeted therapy, optimizing emergency management, and reducing healthcare costs while minimizing environmental impact through reduced consumable use and simplified reagent handling.

Implementation Method 1

through the joint development of prototypes and sedimentation field-flow fractionation (SdFFF) methodologies suitable for bacterial cell sorting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSedimentation field-flow fractionation: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230167479A1Research into antimicrobial resistance by the field flow fractionation technique

Publication Date: 2023.06.01 UNIV DE LIMO

AI summary

Disclosed is a process for determining the resistance of a microorganism to at least one antimicrobial using a field-flow fractionation device. Also disclosed is the use of a field-flow fractionation device according to the process and a kit for determining the resistance of a microorganism to at least one antimicrobial, using a field-flow fractionation technique.