Vertical Flow Membrane System for Rapid Pathogen Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting foodborne pathogens are often slow and lack sensitivity, leading to delays in identifying outbreaks and ensuring food safety, with existing technologies requiring extensive sampling and analysis that can take days and cost significantly.
Innovation Solution
The development of devices with analyte detection membrane systems that utilize conjugate pads, permeable membranes, and absorbent members, along with pressure actuators, to facilitate vertical fluid flow and enhance detection speed and sensitivity, allowing for rapid identification of pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional detection methods are used, then detection accuracy can be maintained, but detection time increases significantly (2-4 days)
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is divided into multiple independent membrane layers (conjugate pad, permeable membrane, test membrane, absorbent member) that process different aspects of pathogen detection simultaneously. This segmentation allows parallel processing of sample filtration, analyte detection, and signal generation, reducing overall detection time from days to minutes while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane system is pre-configured with specific capture reagents and detection elements before sample application. The conjugate pad contains pre-labeled detection complexes, and the test membrane has pre-positioned capture zones, eliminating the need for sequential preparation steps during actual detection and enabling immediate analysis upon sample application.
2Measurement precision
If conventional detection methods are used, then comprehensive analysis can be performed, but detection sensitivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system transitions from planar lateral flow to three-dimensional vertical flow through stacked membrane layers. This dimensional change increases the effective surface area for analyte-capture reagent interactions, enhances separation efficiency, and improves detection sensitivity by allowing multiple detection zones to operate simultaneously in the vertical dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane system combines multiple specialized materials with distinct functions: conjugate pad materials for reagent delivery, permeable membrane materials for filtration, test membrane materials for specific binding, and absorbent member materials for fluid management. This composite structure optimizes each function while maintaining overall system sensitivity and managing complexity through functional specialization.
3Productivity
If rapid detection is implemented, then detection speed increases, but detection sensitivity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical flow membrane system maintains continuous fluid movement through all membrane layers without interruption, ensuring that analyte molecules continuously interact with capture reagents throughout the detection process. This continuous action eliminates idle time between processing stages while maintaining sufficient interaction time for high-affinity binding, thus preserving detection accuracy during rapid throughput operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes hydraulic principles to drive fluid flow vertically through the membrane stack, leveraging pressure gradients and capillary action to maintain consistent flow rates. This hydraulic control ensures reliable and reproducible analyte transport through all detection zones, maintaining detection accuracy while enabling rapid sequential processing of multiple samples.
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
These devices enable rapid and sensitive detection of foodborne pathogens, reducing analysis time and costs, and improving the speed and accuracy of identifying outbreaks, thereby enhancing food safety measures.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent member or series of absorbent members that are spaced apart or can be spaced apart in the absence of compression or force being applied to the analyte detection membrane system
Implementation Method 2
a first force member in contact with a force actuator outlet; a second force member contact with a force actuator outlet; a movable locking member contacting the first force member and the second force member
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for the detection of analytes are disclosed. Devices and methods for detecting food-borne pathogens are disclosed.