Stoppable Lateral Flow Test Device for Quantitative Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rapid immunoassay tests typically produce qualitative results only due to the lack of a mechanism to terminate reactions at a fixed time, preventing the generation of quantitative or semi-quantitative data, which is essential for accurate antigen level detection and diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A stoppable lateral flow chromatography test device with a movable stopping mechanism that can be pushed down to lock and stop ongoing reactions on the test strip, allowing for the preservation of test results as permanent records and enabling qualitative tests to become quantitative or semi-quantitative.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay test is performed without a stopping mechanism, then the test can be conducted rapidly and simply, but the test result signal varies continuously with time and cannot provide quantitative or semi-quantitative data
Solution Approach 1:
The test device includes a stopping mechanism that can be activated at a predetermined time point to terminate the reaction. This preliminary preparation of a stopping mechanism allows the user to stop the reaction at the optimal time for quantitative measurement, thereby achieving both rapid testing and quantitative detection capability without requiring complex post-reaction processing
Solution Approach 2:
The stopping mechanism is designed to be movable and controllable, allowing dynamic adjustment of the reaction termination time. This dynamic control enables the reaction to proceed for a precise duration, ensuring that the signal intensity at the stopping point corresponds to the actual analyte concentration, thus enabling quantitative or semi-quantitative detection while maintaining rapid testing
2Measurement precision
If a stopping mechanism is added to terminate reactions at a fixed time, then quantitative or semi-quantitative test results can be obtained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopping mechanism is integrated into the existing lateral flow test device structure, combining the stopping function with the sample flow path and test strip components. This merging approach allows the device to achieve quantitative detection capability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by reusing existing structural elements for multiple functions
Solution Approach 2:
The stopping mechanism acts as an intermediary component that controls the interaction between the sample flow and the test strip. By introducing this intermediate control element, the device can precisely regulate the reaction duration and terminate it at the optimal time point, enabling quantitative detection without requiring complex external control systems
3Ease of operation
If the reaction is allowed to continue without interruption, then the test remains simple to operate, but the result cannot be preserved as a permanent record for later analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The stopping mechanism is pre-configured in the device, allowing the user to simply activate it at the desired time point without requiring complex preservation procedures. This preliminary preparation ensures that the reaction can be stopped and the result preserved as a permanent record, maintaining operational simplicity while preventing information loss
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 the production of consistent and reproducible results that can be compared to standards for quantitative analysis, providing valuable information on antigen levels without increasing production costs or complicating the testing process.
Implementation Method 1
Interruption of chemical, biochemical, or immunological reaction requires the removal and/or separation of reactants, intermediates, products, or reaction mediums from the reaction mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A lateral flow chromatography test device is disclosed that includes a stopping mechanism which enables a user of the test device to stop reactions of a test by pushing the stopping mechanism downward to remove materials flowing along a test strip in the test device at a time instructed by the manufacturer or decided by the user. This stopping mechanism is adapted to freeze the test result at the stopping time so as to keep the test result as a permanent record. The invention enables qualitative tests to become quantitative or semi-quantitative tests.