Tapered Fiber Optic Sensor for Fluid Substance Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for diagnosing medical or physiological conditions require bulky and expensive equipment, making them inefficient and costly for applications in healthcare, food security, and environmental monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing tapered fibers that bind substances from fluids using electromagnetic radiation, where the fibers are tapered by heating and stretching to create a waist region, allowing for the detection of substances through phase shifts in the radiation, eliminating the need for expensive equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional diagnostic techniques (lateral flow assay, ELISA, HPLC) are used, then detection accuracy is maintained, but equipment becomes bulky and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidequipment size and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the core sensing function from bulky conventional equipment by using a tapered fiber optic sensor that can be integrated into compact devices. The tapered region of the fiber creates an evanescent field that directly interacts with target substances, eliminating the need for large-scale instrumentation while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical and chemical diagnostic systems with an optical sensing system based on evanescent field interaction. Instead of using bulky HPLC or ELISA equipment, the system uses light propagation through a tapered fiber to detect substance binding events, substituting mechanical/chemical processes with optical measurements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If tapered fiber diameter is reduced to increase sensitivity, then detection sensitivity improves, but fiber strength and handling become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidfiber mechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a tapered region only in a specific segment of the fiber rather than reducing the entire fiber diameter. The tapered zone has reduced diameter for enhanced sensitivity, while the input and output fiber portions maintain full diameter for mechanical strength and easy handling. This localized modification resolves the contradiction between sensitivity and strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The fiber is segmented into distinct functional regions: an input fiber portion with full diameter for coupling and handling, a tapered intermediate region for sensing, and an output fiber portion for signal extraction. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function without compromising overall system performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If substance binding to tapered fiber is enhanced, then detection limit is reduced, but non-specific binding increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection limitVSAvoidnon-specific binding

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces molecular sensing elements as intermediaries between the tapered fiber surface and target substances. These sensing elements (such as antibodies, aptamers, or other recognition molecules) are attached to the fiber surface and provide specific binding to target analytes, reducing non-specific binding while maintaining high detection sensitivity through selective molecular recognition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 simple, repeatable, and cost-effective detection of various substances and conditions, including biomarkers and pathogens, without the need for bulky equipment, providing accurate results in minutes.

Implementation Method 1

the fibers are tapered by heating and stretching to create a waist region, allowing for the detection of substances through phase shifts in the radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase shift:

Implementation Method 2

The system is comprised of an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) source, an input fiber, at least one tapered fiber, an output fiber, and a photodetector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation:

Implementation Method 3

The output fiber connects at one end to the tapered fiber and at the other end to the photodetector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotodetection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20220206002A1Systems and methods for detecting substances in a fluid using tapered fibers

Publication Date: 2022.06.30 NANOCOV2 INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for detecting a substance in a fluid and detecting a condition based on the substance in the fluid are described herein. Electromagnetic radiation travels through tapered fibers while substance is bound to the tapered fibers. The phase change of the electromagnetic radiation caused by the bound substance is used to detect the substance in the fluid and to predict the likelihood of a condition based on the bound substance.