Sensor Apparatus for Sequential Biological Assays
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current analysis systems for biological samples are complex, costly, and lack the capability for rapid, precise, and high-throughput testing, especially in point-of-care settings where they often require central laboratory facilities and are not autonomous.
Innovation Solution
A portable analysis system with a sensor apparatus and cartridge that uses a combination of capture molecules such as proteins, aptamers, and nucleic-acid sequences to bond and detect multiple analytes, allowing for sequential performance of protein, nucleic-acid, and aptamer assays, with temperature control for denaturing and activating capture molecules, enabling comprehensive and efficient testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sensor apparatus is used to detect multiple analytes, then device complexity is reduced and cost is decreased, but the ability to perform sequential assays with different capture molecules is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor apparatus is designed with dynamic reconfigurability, allowing capture molecules to be sequentially exchanged or activated on the same sensor surface. This enables the system to adapt its detection capability for different analyte types (proteins, nucleic acids, small molecules) without requiring multiple dedicated sensors, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining assay versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
A single universal sensor apparatus is designed to perform multiple detection functions by utilizing different types of capture molecules (antibodies, aptamers, nucleic acid probes) that can be applied to the same sensor surface. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate specialized sensors for each analyte type, reducing device complexity and cost while preserving the ability to detect diverse analytes.
2Productivity
If multiple capture molecules are used in a single cartridge, then assay versatility and throughput are improved, but the complexity of managing sequential assays increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is segmented into distinct functional zones or compartments, each optimized for specific assay types. Capture molecules are spatially organized within these segments, allowing sequential assays to be performed in an ordered manner. This segmentation simplifies the management of multiple capture molecules by providing physical structure and flow control, thereby increasing throughput without proportionally increasing management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is pre-configured with multiple types of capture molecules in predetermined locations and orientations before the assay begins. This preliminary arrangement of capture molecules allows for automated or semi-automated sequential processing of different analytes from the same sample, increasing throughput while reducing the real-time complexity of managing multiple assays through pre-established protocols and physical layouts.
3Measurement precision
If temperature control is used to denature and activate capture molecules, then detection precision is improved, but energy consumption and assay time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature control is applied in periodic cycles rather than continuously - heating phases for denaturation and activation are followed by cooling phases for stabilization and detection. This periodic temperature cycling achieves the necessary precision for accurate detection while minimizing total energy consumption compared to continuous heating, as the system only requires high energy input during brief heating intervals rather than sustained heating.
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 rapid, precise, and cost-effective detection of various analytes in biological samples, facilitating comprehensive testing at the point of care without the need for central laboratory facilities, with the ability to perform multiple assays in a single cartridge.
Implementation Method 1
uses a combination of capture molecules such as proteins, aptamers, and nucleic-acid sequences to bond and detect multiple analytes
Implementation Method 2
with temperature control for denaturing and activating capture molecules
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An analysis system and a method for testing a biological sample is proposed, wherein a plurality of assays selected from at least two assays from a group consisting of a protein assay for detecting a target protein, a nucleic-acid assay for detecting a target nucleic-acid sequence and/or an aptamer assay for detecting another target analyte are carried out sequentially in a common sensor array by means of a sensor apparatus.