Tangential Flow Membrane Device for Pathogen Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for isolating and concentrating pathogens from biological samples, such as blood cultures, are labor-intensive and time-consuming, often requiring subculturing steps that delay identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, which is critical for patients with severe sepsis.
Innovation Solution
The use of tangential flow membrane devices with multiple stages and recirculating flow paths to selectively isolate and concentrate pathogens by size exclusion, allowing for rapid separation and purification without the need for subculturing, using membranes with specific pore sizes and controlled trans-membrane pressures to retain or pass through target constituents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If centrifugation and wash methods are used to isolate pathogens, then separation is achieved, but the process becomes labor-intensive and subject to user variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual centrifugation and wash procedures with an automated membrane-based filtration system that uses controlled pressure differentials to achieve pathogen separation, eliminating user variability and reducing labor intensity while maintaining reliable separation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs porous membranes with specific pore sizes to selectively retain or pass through target pathogens based on their physical characteristics, providing consistent separation without manual intervention
2Reliability
If standard subculturing methods are used to isolate pathogens from blood cultures, then pathogen separation is achieved, but the time to results is delayed by approximately 18-24 hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directly extracts and concentrates pathogens from positive blood cultures using membrane filtration, bypassing the time-consuming subculturing step entirely while maintaining accurate pathogen isolation through selective membrane retention
Solution Approach 2:
The invention skips the intermediate subculturing step by implementing a direct filtration and concentration process that rapidly isolates pathogens from blood cultures, reducing the time to results by 18-24 hours
3Reliability
If filtration methods are used to separate pathogens, then separation is achieved, but the component of interest is lost to interactions with the filter surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses controlled pressure differentials applied across the membrane to facilitate pathogen separation, allowing pathogens to be retained or passed through based on pore size without excessive contact time that would cause surface interactions and loss
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes filtration parameters including pressure differential, flow rate, and membrane pore size to achieve effective pathogen separation while minimizing pathogen loss to filter surface interactions
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 approach significantly reduces the time to results for pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, improving patient outcomes by enabling rapid isolation and concentration of pathogens directly from biological samples, potentially cutting the processing time by 18 hours or more.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane having a characteristic to selectively permit one or more constituents of the biological sample to pass through the membrane from the first side to the second side while retaining other constituents of the biological sample at the first side
Implementation Method 2
a tangential flow of the biological sample along a first surface of the membrane at the first side from the inlet to the outlet
Implementation Method 3
a trans-membrane passing of the one or more constituents of the biological sample from the first side to the second side
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus provide filtration for concentrating analytes, such as bacteria or exosomes, of a biological sample, such as blood or urine. The technology may employ membrane devices that implement one or more tangential flow filtration processes such as in stages. An example membrane device may typically include a membrane having sides and ends. The membrane may selectively permit constituent(s) of the sample to pass through while retaining other constituents at one side. An input chamber of the device may include an inlet near one end and an outlet near the other end, and that may permit a tangential flow of the sample along the first side surface, and a trans-membrane passing of constituent(s). An output chamber of the device may be configured at the second side surface to receive the passing constituents. Such devices may be provided in a kit to facilitate targeting of a desired biological analyte concentration.