Portable Tick Lyme Disease Assay Kit with Macerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing ticks for Lyme disease bacteria are cumbersome, requiring tick capture and mailing to a laboratory, which is time-consuming and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A portable kit that includes an insect macerator and a lateral flow assay test strip, allowing for on-site testing of ticks by crushing the insect and mixing it with a liquid carrier, which is then applied to the test strip for rapid diagnosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ticks are tested by capturing and mailing to a laboratory, then accurate testing can be performed, but the process is time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential testing function from the centralized laboratory and brings it to the point-of-use through a portable lateral flow assay kit. The test strip, buffer solution, and macroprocessor enable on-site tick testing, eliminating the need to mail ticks to laboratories and significantly reducing testing time while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable test strips and single-use buffer solution vials that are discarded after one use. This approach eliminates the need for expensive, complex laboratory equipment and reduces costs while enabling rapid on-site testing. The disposable nature of these components allows for portable, point-of-care testing without requiring infrastructure maintenance.
2Measurement precision
If ticks are tested by capturing and mailing to a laboratory, then accurate testing can be performed, but the process is expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable test strips and single-use buffer solution vials that are discarded after one use. This approach eliminates the need for expensive, complex laboratory equipment and reduces costs while enabling rapid on-site testing. The disposable nature of these components allows for portable, point-of-care testing without requiring infrastructure maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential testing function from the centralized laboratory and brings it to the point-of-use through a portable lateral flow assay kit. The test strip, buffer solution, and macroprocessor enable on-site tick testing, eliminating the need to mail ticks to laboratories and significantly reducing testing time while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
3Loss of time
If a portable testing kit is used, then rapid on-site testing is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the testing system into three simple, separate components: a lateral flow test strip, a buffer solution vial, and a macroprocessor. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall system portable and easy to use while maintaining simplicity. The macroprocessor mechanically processes the tick sample and delivers it to the test strip, eliminating the need for complex laboratory instrumentation.
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 rapid and cost-effective testing for Lyme disease bacteria in non-laboratory settings, providing prompt results for managing disease risk and facilitating timely treatment.
Implementation Method 1
applying the liquid carrier that has been mixed with the crushed portions of the insect to a lateral flow assay strip
Data Source
AI summary
An assay test kit for testing an insect for an infectious disease comprises an insect macerator and a lateral flow assay test strip. The kit may further comprise a liquid carrier, a filter, an assay sample dispenser, and an insect capture tool.