Variable Angle Stage for Quantitative Lateral Flow Immunoassay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay tests are limited to providing qualitative results, making it difficult for medical practitioners to diagnose conditions at the point of care without access to medical facilities or laboratories, as they are not suited for quantitative analysis.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic testing system that includes a lateral-flow chromatographic assay cassette with an adjustable variable angle stage for optimizing elastic light scattering, combined with a digital camera and interpretive algorithm to convert visual signals into numerical values for analyte concentration, enabling quantitative analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay cassettes are used for point-of-care testing, then ease of operation and quick results are improved, but measurement precision and quantitative analysis capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay cassette with a digital imaging device and analysis software into an integrated system. The cassette provides qualitative detection while the digital imaging system captures images of the test results, and software algorithms convert these images into quantitative measurements, thereby merging qualitative and quantitative capabilities in a single system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a digital imaging device as an intermediary between the lateral flow cassette and quantitative analysis. The imaging device captures visual information from the cassette, and software acts as a mediator to process this visual data into quantitative results, enabling the transition from qualitative to quantitative measurement without complicating the user operation.
2Productivity
If lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay tests are used at point of care, then accessibility and speed are improved, but measurement precision and detection sensitivity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual assessment with an automated digital imaging and image processing system. The digital camera captures images of the lateral flow cassette, and software algorithms automatically analyze these images to determine analyte concentration, replacing the mechanical/visual process with an optical-digital system that provides higher precision while maintaining rapid results.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the lateral flow test results through imaging. Instead of directly reading the visual results, the system captures a digital image of the cassette and processes this copy to extract quantitative information, thereby enhancing measurement precision without requiring changes to the rapid lateral flow testing process itself.
3Device complexity
If qualitative lateral flow tests are used, then device complexity is reduced, but information completeness and diagnostic value worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the system dynamically adaptable by providing multiple operating modes. The system can function in a simple qualitative mode for basic screening, or switch to a quantitative mode when digital imaging and software analysis are activated, allowing the complexity to match the diagnostic needs without permanently increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the system to perform multiple functions: it can conduct simple qualitative lateral flow testing and simultaneously provide quantitative analysis when equipped with digital imaging capabilities. This multi-functionality allows the same basic device to serve both simple screening and detailed diagnostic purposes, reducing information loss across different use cases.
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 system allows for accurate quantification of analytes in biological samples, improving the sensitivity and specificity of results, enabling reliable point-of-care diagnostics with enhanced detection limits and signal-to-noise ratios.
Implementation Method 1
The device is based upon elastic light scattering, so the variation in the angle of incidence and angle of reflection are optimized to maximize signal generation due to elastic light scattering
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for performing a point of care diagnostic test for detecting and quantifying at least one analyte in a biological sample. The device may include an immunoassay apparatus and a holder with a variable angle stage for positioning the immunoassay apparatus relative to a light source and a detector device. In one embodiment, the device is based upon elastic light scattering, so the variation in the angle of incidence and angle of reflection are optimized to maximize signal generation due to elastic light scattering. The detector device may include a wired or wireless connection to a computer network for communicating with an electronic medical records system, uploading the amount or concentration of at least one analyte present in the sample to the electronic medical records system, or querying a decision support algorithm stored in a computer readable format. The detector device may further include an onboard interpretive algorithm.