Skin-Print Volume Measurement via Optical Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods lack a straightforward, non-destructive, and cost-effective way to determine the quantity of a skin-print deposited on a substrate for accurate chemical analysis, particularly in determining the amount of analytes per unit volume or mass of skin-print.
Innovation Solution
A method involving optical techniques to measure the volume or mass of a skin-print using electromagnetic radiation influence, combined with chemical analysis to detect specific chemical species, providing a contextualized result relative to the skin-print quantity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If chemical analysis is performed on skin-print to detect metabolites, then information about substance intake and compliance can be obtained, but the analysis requires sufficient sample quantity which is difficult to determine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by measuring the skin-print volume using optical techniques before performing chemical analysis. This allows the system to determine whether sufficient sample is present beforehand, preventing wasted analysis on insufficient samples and ensuring accurate chemical analysis when volume is adequate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical or chemical measurement methods with optical techniques to measure skin-print volume. By using light interaction with the skin-print residue, the system can non-destructively determine sample quantity without consuming or altering the sample, thus preserving it for subsequent chemical analysis.
2Ease of manufacture
If optical techniques are used to measure skin-print volume, then non-destructive and cost-effective quantity determination is achieved, but existing methods lack straightforward implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing an optical measurement system that can handle various skin-print volumes and types on different substrates. The same optical setup can measure different sample configurations, making the system straightforward to implement across multiple applications without requiring complex specialized equipment for each case.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by using the skin-print's own optical properties (refractive index, light scattering) to measure its volume. The skin-print inherently interacts with incident light in ways that reveal its quantity, eliminating the need for external markers, dyes, or complex preparation steps, thus simplifying the measurement approach.
3Measurement precision
If relative concentration (analyte per unit volume) is calculated, then more informative results are obtained for threshold comparison, but requires accurate volume measurement which complicates the analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex volumetric measurement equipment with simple optical techniques. By measuring light interaction properties, the system can determine skin-print volume without requiring precision injection molds, graduated cylinders, or other complex volumetric tools, thus achieving accurate concentration calculation with minimal added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses light as an intermediary to indirectly measure skin-print volume. Rather than directly measuring volume through physical displacement or geometric calculation, the optical technique uses light absorption, scattering, or refraction as a mediator to infer volume, simplifying the measurement process while maintaining accuracy for concentration calculations.
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 accurate and efficient determination of analyte concentration in skin-prints, ensuring sufficient sample volume for reliable analysis and facilitating applications in drug compliance monitoring and drug trials.
Implementation Method 1
determining a volume of skin-print received on the substrate using an optical technique comprising emitting incident light onto the skin-print in order to determine a proportion of incident light that is optically influenced by the skin-print
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
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AI summary
A method of analysing a skin-print comprises: receiving a skin-print on a substrate; performing a quantity test to obtain a quantity score for the skin-print; performing a chemical analysis of the skin-print to detect for the presence of one or more chemical species and thereby provide a chemical test result; and storing or transmitting the chemical test result together with the quantity score.