Sickle Cell Detection via Hypoxic Filtration Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for screening sickle cell disease are cumbersome, require specialized equipment, and are not easily automatable, making them costly and time-consuming, especially in resource-limited settings, and often require expert operators.
Innovation Solution
A method involving filtration of blood samples through a membrane of specific pore size to differentiate between normal and sickle cell red blood cells by inducing sickling under hypoxia conditions, allowing for quick, cost-effective, and reliable screening without the need for complex equipment or expertise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional screening methods (ITANO test, Emmel test, electrophoresis, HPLC, PCR) are used, then diagnostic accuracy is achieved, but device complexity and operator expertise requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential diagnostic function from complex laboratory equipment by using a simple filtration membrane that selectively retains sickled red blood cells based on their altered physical properties, eliminating the need for electrophoresis, HPLC, or PCR instruments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable filtration membranes with specific pore sizes that can be discarded after single use, replacing expensive and durable laboratory equipment with inexpensive, single-use components that maintain diagnostic reliability
2Reliability
If traditional screening methods are used, then diagnostic accuracy is achieved, but implementation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic process is segmented into simple sequential steps: blood sample collection, application to filtration membrane, and visual inspection of retained cells. This segmentation eliminates time-consuming intermediate steps required by traditional methods while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The invention skips complex intermediate processing steps (centrifugation, staining, multiple washes) required by traditional methods, rushing directly from blood sample to diagnostic result through simple filtration, thereby significantly reducing screening time
3Reliability
If traditional screening methods are used, then diagnostic accuracy is achieved, but ease of operation decreases due to expert operator requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration membrane performs the diagnostic differentiation automatically based on the physical properties of sickled versus normal red blood cells, eliminating the need for operator expertise in interpreting complex test results or operating sophisticated equipment
4Reliability
If traditional screening methods are used, then comprehensive analysis is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive laboratory reagents and consumables with inexpensive disposable filtration membranes, dramatically reducing the cost per test while maintaining diagnostic capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the diagnostic function from expensive laboratory infrastructure and reagents, concentrating it in a simple, inexpensive filtration membrane that can be deployed without costly laboratory support
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 method enables rapid, reliable, and cost-effective screening for sickle cell disease, suitable for both adults and newborns, with results visible to the naked eye, and allows for further molecular analysis of retained red blood cells, facilitating traceability and additional testing.
Implementation Method 1
Contacting a blood sample from the individual whose condition is being tested for sickle cell disease with a sickle cell sickling inducer, i.e., an agent capable of placing the red blood cells in the blood sample under hypoxic conditions, thereby causing the sickling of sickle cell red blood cells
Implementation Method 2
Filtrating the blood sample, containing red blood cells, including, where applicable, red blood cells that have undergone sickling, through a porous membrane with a pore size determined to retain sickled red blood cells while allowing the passage of unsickled red blood cells
Data Source
Figure 1~3(B)
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention concerns a method for detecting sickle-cell disease in an individual, which comprises steps of: bringing a blood sample from an individual into contact with an agent for inducing the sickling of red blood cells suitable for placing said red blood cells in a hypoxic condition; filtering the blood sample through a porous membrane of which the pore size is determined in order to retain the sickled red blood cells, and allow the non-sickled red blood cells to pass through; and detecting the possible presence of a residue on the membrane, during and/or after the filtering step, said presence indicating that the individual is suffering from sickle-cell disease.