Test Strip Assembly With Lateral Flow for Uniform Label Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dipstick designs for analyzing bodily fluids suffer from inconsistent results due to uncontrolled exposure of detection labels to the fluid, varying reaction times, and non-uniform liquid volume, leading to spurious and inconsistent test outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A test strip assembly with a basal layer, adhesive layers, and a porous membrane that allows controlled lateral flow of bodily fluids, enabling partial dipping and uniform exposure of detection labels, ensuring accurate and quick analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dipstick is inserted such that all detection labels encounter the liquid, then the detection labels can detect metabolites, but the test results vary based on dipping time, orientation, and reaction time
Solution Approach 1:
The dipstick is divided into distinct functional zones: a hydrophobic barrier section that repels liquid and a hydrophilic detection section that attracts liquid. This segmentation creates controlled flow paths, ensuring that liquid reaches detection labels in a predictable manner regardless of dipping orientation or duration, thereby improving test result consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the dipstick have different surface properties: the hydrophobic barrier has liquid-repelling properties while the hydrophilic detection zone has liquid-attracting properties. This local quality differentiation controls liquid distribution uniformly across detection labels, eliminating variability caused by manual dipping techniques.
2Measurement precision
If the dipstick is kept in the liquid for extended time, then detection labels have sufficient reaction time, but the volume of liquid available for reaction is not controlled leading to spurious results
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophobic barrier is pre-configured to automatically limit liquid penetration depth and volume before the liquid reaches detection labels. This preliminary action controls the exact quantity of liquid available for reaction, ensuring stoichiometric conditions are met consistently without requiring precise timing or volume measurement by the user.
3Ease of manufacture
If the dipstick structure is simple for easy manufacturing, then production cost is reduced, but controlled exposure of detection labels to fluid cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The dipstick incorporates a porous hydrophobic barrier layer that can be manufactured using standard coating or lamination techniques. This porous structure provides controlled liquid resistance while maintaining structural integrity, achieving fluid exposure control through materials selection rather than complex mechanical structures, thus preserving ease of manufacture.
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
The solution provides consistent and accurate analysis of bodily fluid constituents by controlling the exposure and flow of analytes, reducing variability and enhancing test reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a porous membrane that allows controlled lateral flow of bodily fluids
Implementation Method 2
The detection labels are made up of an absorbent carrier impregnated with reagents
Data Source
AI summary
A test strip assembly 101 for dipping in a bodily fluid sample to analyse a presence or absence of one or more analytes is provided. The test strip assembly 101 includes a basal layer (1),a first adhesive layer (2)that is entirely present over the basal layer (1)a porous membrane (3) that is present over the first adhesive layer (2) and the bodily fluid flows in a lateral direction in the porous membrane (3);a second adhesive layer (4); and a number of detection labels (5) placed on the porous membrane through the adhesive layer (4) and receives bodily fluids flowing in the lateral direction in the porous membrane such that the bodily fluids then flow in a vertical direction in the detection labels (5). A device including the test strip assembly (101) is provided.