Sonication for Pathogen Detection in Sample Preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting and identifying pathogens are often inaccurate, time-consuming, and require large samples, making them difficult and expensive, especially for diagnosing infectious diseases.
Innovation Solution
The use of a sonicator to disrupt pathogens in biological samples by applying ultrasonic energy, releasing pathogen-identifying material for detection and identification, allowing for rapid and accurate diagnosis using small sample volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional pathogen detection methods are used, then detection accuracy can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and requires large samples
Solution Approach 1:
The sonicator performs preliminary disruption of pathogen cells before detection, releasing pathogen-identifying material in advance. This preliminary action enables rapid detection without requiring long incubation periods, as the complex breakdown of cellular structures is completed before the detection step.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or chemical disruption methods with ultrasonic sonication. The sonicator uses ultrasonic waves to mechanically disrupt pathogen cells, providing a faster and more efficient breakdown compared to conventional methods, thereby reducing detection time while maintaining accuracy.
2Reliability
If traditional pathogen detection methods are used, then detection can be performed, but large sample volumes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The sonicator extracts and releases pathogen-identifying material from disrupted cells into the surrounding solution. This extraction of critical diagnostic materials from within the cellular structure enables detection to proceed with much smaller sample volumes, as only a fraction of the original sample is needed to provide sufficient material for accurate detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic treatment changes the physical and chemical parameters of the sample by disrupting cellular membranes and releasing intracellular contents. This parameter change transforms the sample from an undigested state to a processed state where pathogen materials are freely available, enabling reliable detection from reduced sample volumes.
3Measurement precision
If conventional detection methods are used, then pathogen identification can be attempted, but the process is expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sonicator performs a preliminary disruption step that simplifies subsequent detection procedures. By pre-breaking down complex cellular structures and releasing identifiable materials, the sonicator reduces the complexity of downstream detection steps, making the overall system more straightforward and less expensive while maintaining identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex chemical or enzymatic breakdown methods with simpler ultrasonic mechanical disruption. This substitution reduces the need for complex reagents and multiple processing steps, thereby lowering system complexity and cost while achieving effective pathogen cell breakdown for accurate identification.
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, accurate, and straightforward detection and identification of pathogens from small samples, improving diagnostic efficiency and reducing costs and discomfort associated with sample collection.
Implementation Method 1
a sonicator configured to provide ultrasonic energy to a sample solution
Implementation Method 2
disruption of the pathogen to expose its nuclear material to testing, and to provide more accessible proteins and protein/membrane complexes for assay
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods including a sonicator for sample preparation are provided. A sonicator may be used to mix, resuspend, aerosolize, disperse, disintegrate, or de-gas a solution. A sonicator may be used to disrupt a cell, such as a pathogen cell in a sample. Sample preparation may include exposing pathogen-identifying material by sonication to detect, identify, or measure pathogens. A sonicator may transfer ultrasonic energy to the sample solution by contacting its tip to an exterior wall of a vessel containing the sample. Multipurpose devices including a sonicator also include further components for additional actions and assays. Devices, and systems comprising such devices, may communicate with a laboratory or other devices in a system for sample assay and analysis. Methods utilizing such devices and systems are provided. The improved sample preparation devices, systems and methods are useful for analyzing samples, e.g. for diagnosing patients suffering from infection by pathogens.