MUMBAI, India, July 7 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641078611 A) filed by Vignan Institute Of Pharmaceutical Technology on June 25, 2026, for Hpv Early Detection Patch: A Self-Applicable Intravaginal Device For Rapid Point-Of-Care Identification Of Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus Genotypes In Cervicovaginal Secretions.
Inventors include Dr. Y. Srinivasa Rao; Battula Krishna Shanti; Vasudhar Reddy; Bommali Swetha; Bhoomi Nagaraju Sandipog; Dr. M. Naga Bharati; and Dr. K. Sridevi Ranjitha.
The application for the patent was published on July 03, 2026, under issue no. 27/2026.
Abstract: The present invention proposes a self-administered intravaginal microneedle biosensor system designed to enable early detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, particularly HPV16 and HPV18 genotypes, at the point of care without requiring any clinical infrastructure or trained personnel. This innovative hybrid device integrates a tampon-style applicator with a flexible patch head carrying a dissolving microneedle array, dry lysis reagents, and a sequence-specific colorimetric biosensor zone into a single portable unit. Upon self-insertion and deployment, the microneedles painlessly absorb cervicovaginal secretions containing shed epithelial cell material rich in HPV DNA. The absorbed fluid rehydrates the lysis reagents, releasing target DNA fragments that migrate to the biosensor zone where synthetic oligonucleotide probes conjugated to colored nanoparticles hybridize specifically with E6 gene sequences of HPV16 and HPV18, producing a visible color change readable by the naked eye within minutes. This system addresses critical gaps in cervical cancer screening by eliminating clinic dependency, laboratory processing, and high costs associated with conventional methods. By combining intravaginal mucosal sampling via microneedles with on-device molecular detection in a user-friendly form factor, the invention achieves rapid, affordable, and highly accessible screening suitable for rural and resource- limited settings, potentially transforming public health outcomes in high-burden regions like India. The device maintains full self- applicability while ensuring molecular specificity to oncogenic HPV strains, offering a novel integrated platform that surpasses fragmented prior approaches in accessibility, speed, and integration.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
