Variable-Reagent Urinalysis Test Strip for Healthy-Range Analyte Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urinalysis test strips are not sensitive enough to detect analyte levels in the urine of healthy individuals, lacking sufficient resolution to differentiate between normal concentrations of glucose, fructose, total protein, albumin, sodium, and other analytes, and are not suitable for home or point-of-care use.
Innovation Solution
Development of a non-binary urinalysis test strip with multiple reagent pads that provide a continuous color response to minor changes in analyte levels, allowing for accurate detection of glucose, fructose, sucrose, total protein, albumin, sodium, potassium, calcium, and estrogen, with a resolution of at least three concentrations, suitable for in-home or point-of-care use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional colorimetric test strips are used with sensitivity levels designed for symptomatic people, then they can detect excessive or deficient analyte levels associated with disease states, but they lack sufficient sensitivity to detect normal analyte levels in healthy individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the sensitivity parameters of the reagent pads by adjusting reagent concentrations, pad composition, and detection thresholds to enable detection of normal analyte levels in healthy individuals while maintaining capability to detect abnormal levels in symptomatic populations
Solution Approach 2:
The test strip is designed to serve dual purposes: detecting both normal physiological analyte levels in healthy individuals and abnormal pathological levels in symptomatic individuals, making it universally applicable across different health states
2Loss of information
If traditional urinalysis test strips are used, then they provide binary or limited resolution results, but they lack the ability to provide continuous data for monitoring subtle variations in analyte levels
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent pads are designed to produce a continuous spectrum of color changes that correspond to different analyte concentrations, allowing users to distinguish between multiple concentration levels (at least three) through visual color comparison
Solution Approach 2:
The test strip incorporates multiple reagent pads, each optimized for detecting specific analytes with appropriate sensitivity ranges, enabling simultaneous monitoring of multiple parameters with continuous resolution
3Adaptability or versatility
If test strips designed for medical diagnosis are used, then they focus on detecting markers associated with poor health or stress, but they are not suitable for health management and fitness monitoring in healthy individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The detection thresholds and sensitivity ranges of the reagent pads are adjusted to match the normal physiological ranges of analytes in healthy individuals, enabling effective health management monitoring rather than just pathological detection
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 test strip offers high sensitivity and accuracy, enabling users to monitor subtle variations in analyte levels, providing continuous data for health management and fitness adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
colorimetric urinalysis test strips that are highly sensitive to analyte levels found in normal urine and provide continuous data within a concentration range
Data Source
AI summary
A test strip for urinalysis is provided, the test strip including a reagent pad for detecting a concentration of a selected analyte, the reagent pad attached to the test strip and comprising a substrate and an analyte detection system retained thereon, the analyte detection system including a plurality of components necessary for detection of the selected analyte, wherein at least one of the plurality of components is a variable component, the variable component immobilized on the substrate at a plurality of amounts on the reagent pad.