Stacked Prefiltration Cartridge for Rapid Bacteriophage Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for capturing and isolating bacteriophages are labor-intensive, low-throughput, and require time-consuming identification of species-specific phages, limiting their utility in therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Innovation Solution

A portable system and method using a prefiltration cartridge with stacked filters and a capture cartridge to concentrate and capture bacteriophages, followed by elution and collection, utilizing filters made from various materials and an elution buffer to enhance efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional phage identification methods are used, then species-specific phages can be identified, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephage identification accuracyVSAvoididentification time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary concentration and capture of phages from liquid samples before identification, preparing the sample in advance to enable rapid downstream analysis. The prefiltration cartridge with stacked filters concentrates phages prior to identification testing, reducing the time required for subsequent species-specific identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The filtration system is divided into multiple stacked filters with different pore sizes, allowing sequential filtering stages that concentrate phages at different levels. This segmentation enables progressive concentration without requiring a single complex filtration step, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If traditional phage capture methods are used, then phages can be isolated, but throughput remains low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephage capture efficiencyVSAvoidcapture throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The prefiltration cartridge contains multiple stacked filters with progressively smaller pore sizes that work in sequence to concentrate phages. This segmented filtration approach increases capture efficiency by removing contaminants at each stage while maintaining phage integrity, thereby improving throughput without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges multiple filtration functions into a single integrated prefiltration cartridge, combining prefiltration, concentration, and sample preparation steps. This consolidation enables simultaneous performance of multiple operations in one device, significantly increasing capture throughput while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If complex filtration systems are used, then phage concentration can be improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephage concentrationVSAvoidfiltration system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple filtration stages are merged into a single prefiltration cartridge assembly, integrating prefiltration and concentration functions in one device. This consolidation achieves high phage concentration without requiring multiple separate filtration systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective concentration capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The prefiltration cartridge serves multiple functions simultaneously: prefiltration of contaminants, concentration of phages, and sample preparation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices for each operation, reducing overall system complexity while achieving high phage concentration through integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Facilitates rapid, high-throughput capture and isolation of bacteriophages directly from liquid samples, enabling their use in phage therapy, diagnostics, and antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Implementation Method 1

directing a fluid sample containing a target material into a prefiltration cartridge, wherein the prefiltration cartridge further includes at least one prefilter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

directing the fluid sample from the prefiltration cartridge to a capture cartridge, wherein the capture cartridge further includes a capture filter disposed therein; capturing the target material on the capture filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS20260049910A1System for concentrating and capturing target material from liquid samples

Publication Date: 2026.02.19 GUILD ASSOCS

AI summary

A system and method for concentrating and capturing target material from a fluid sample, comprising directing a fluid sample containing a target material into a prefiltration cartridge, wherein the prefiltration cartridge further includes at least one prefilter, wherein the at least one prefilter further includes a plurality of stacked individual filters of predetermined diameters and pore sizes; directing the fluid sample from the prefiltration cartridge to a capture cartridge, wherein the capture cartridge further includes a capture filter disposed therein; capturing the target material on the capture filter; eluting the target material from the capture filter; and collecting the eluted target material.