Urease-Mediated Urine Sample Measurement for Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical measuring methods for detecting materials in urine samples are prone to measurement errors due to the presence of urea, which affects the generation and turbidity of antigen-antibody aggregates, making accurate and cost-effective measurement challenging.
Innovation Solution
A measuring method using a device with a sample holding portion and an optical measuring portion, where a complex of an antibody to the material and urease is used to hydrolyze urea, generating aggregates that are measured based on light reception, thereby reducing measurement errors caused by urea concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional optical measuring method is used to measure material in urine sample, then measurement can be performed with simple equipment, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to interference from urea
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces urease as an intermediary substance that specifically targets and decomposes urea. The urease catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide, effectively removing the interfering substance before the optical measurement occurs. This allows the use of simple optical equipment while achieving accurate measurements by eliminating the urea interference through the enzymatic intermediary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding urease to the urine sample before performing the optical measurement. The urease is allowed to act on the urea in advance, decomposing it into non-interfering products. This preliminary decomposition ensures that when the subsequent optical measurement is performed, the interfering urea has already been removed, thereby improving measurement accuracy without requiring complex equipment.
2Measurement precision
If special components are prepared to accurately measure small amounts of material, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using special components or complex measurement devices, the patent employs urease as a chemical intermediary that simplifies the measurement process. The urease selectively binds to and decomposes urea, converting it into ammonia and carbon dioxide. This intermediary approach allows standard optical equipment to achieve high measurement accuracy for trace materials by eliminating urea interference, thereby avoiding the need for complex specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the sample by introducing urease, which alters the composition of the urine sample through enzymatic decomposition. This parameter change (converting urea to ammonia and CO2) improves the measurement accuracy of trace materials by modifying the sample's chemical environment, allowing simple optical devices to achieve results that would otherwise require complex specialized equipment.
3Quantity of substance
If urea is present in urine sample, then sample reflects physiological conditions, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to urea interference with aggregate generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses urease as an intermediary to resolve the conflict between preserving urine composition and ensuring measurement reliability. The urease selectively targets urea molecules, binding to them and catalyzing their decomposition into ammonia and carbon dioxide. This intermediary action removes the interfering urea while leaving other physiological components intact, thereby maintaining the representativeness of the urine sample while improving measurement reliability of antigen-antibody aggregates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of urea interference into a beneficial process by utilizing urease to decompose urea. The urea that originally caused measurement errors is transformed through enzymatic hydrolysis into ammonia and carbon dioxide, which do not interfere with the optical measurement. This conversion turns the problematic urea presence into an opportunity for selective removal, improving measurement reliability while preserving the physiological significance of the urine sample.
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 method allows for accurate and cost-effective measurement of materials in urine samples by stabilizing the generation of antigen-antibody aggregates, reducing errors associated with urea concentrations and providing a simple configuration for the measurement process.
Implementation Method 1
a complex of an antibody to the material to be detected and urease which causes hydrolysis of the urea
Implementation Method 2
the turbidity level of the test sample which is turbid due to the aggregate is measured by a turbidimetric determination using light of a wavelength of 470 nm
Data Source
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AI summary
A measuring device (100a) includes a base body (101) constituting: a sample holding portion (102) configured to hold a test sample containing urea and a material to be detected; and a sample supply port (103) through which the test sample is supplied to the sample holding portion (102). The base body includes an optical measuring portion and a reagent holding portion (111) which are configured to carry out an optical measurement of the test sample held by the sample holding portion (102). The reagent holding portion holds an antibody to the material to be detected and urease which causes hydrolysis of the urea. With this, the present invention provides a measuring device, a measuring apparatus, and a measuring method, each having a simple configuration and capable of reducing measurement errors caused by the urea contained in the test sample and accurately measuring the material to be detected.