Actuatable Blister Pack for Stable Dry Reactant Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sample preparation methods for biological samples, particularly in PCR assays, face challenges in efficiently isolating and amplifying nucleic acids due to the degradation of reactants in liquid solutions and the need for precise handling of small volumes, which requires innovative fluid management solutions.
Innovation Solution
The development of sample preparation blister packs and cartridge modules with actuatable barrier layers and seal barrier layers, incorporating inert mechanical fluids like non-Newtonian plugging fluids and gases, which facilitate the separation, reconstitution, and mixing of reactants with nucleic acids in a controlled and automated manner, using features such as capillary output channels and density gradient columns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If reactants are stored in liquid solutions for PCR assays, then they are readily available for use, but they degrade quickly and lose effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of reactants from liquid to dry/pelleted form. This parameter change allows reactants to be stored stably at room temperature without degradation, while still being readily available for use through simple liquid addition or reconstitution processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary preparation by drying reactants into stable pellets or powders that can be stored indefinitely. The reactants are pre-processed into a stable form that maintains effectiveness, and are ready for immediate use when liquid is added or when the sample is introduced
2Quantity of substance
If small volumes of sample fluid are used for PCR assays, then reagent consumption is reduced, but precise handling becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs capillary channels that self-regulate fluid flow through capillary action, eliminating the need for complex pumping systems. The small volumes are automatically managed through the inherent physical properties of the microfluidic channels, making precise handling simple and intuitive
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical pumping and metering systems with passive capillary flow mechanisms. This substitution simplifies the handling of small volumes by using surface tension and capillary forces instead of mechanical actuators, reducing both complexity and potential for error
3Productivity
If multiple assays are performed simultaneously, then productivity increases, but the complexity of fluid management and isolation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fluidic system into separate, isolated channels for each assay, with dedicated reagent reservoirs and flow paths. This segmentation allows multiple assays to proceed simultaneously without cross-contamination, while each channel's simplicity offsets the overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs universal reagent storage formats (dry pellets in sealed containers) that can be used across multiple different assays. This multi-functionality allows the same basic storage and delivery mechanism to serve multiple analytical purposes, reducing the variety of components needed
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 solution enables efficient isolation and amplification of biological components by maintaining reactants in a stable dry state until needed, using inert mechanical fluids to manage fluid flow and separation, thereby enhancing the precision and efficiency of nucleic acid preparation for applications like PCR assays.
Implementation Method 1
A reservoir of a non-Newtonian plugging fluid is positioned outside the interconnected volumes... the non-Newtonian plugging fluid can have a viscosity that is sufficient to partition fluid upstream of the non-Newtonian plugging fluid from fluid downstream of the non-Newtonian plugging fluid
Implementation Method 2
capillary output channel fluidly connected to the interconnected volumes to receive a density gradient column
Data Source
AI summary
A sample preparation blister pack can include a plurality of reservoirs formed as blisters. The reservoirs can have an actuatable barrier layer and a seal barrier layer with contents of the reservoirs between the actuatable barrier layer and the seal barrier layer. The contents can be to facilitate isolating a biological component from a biological sample. The individual reservoirs can be adapted to release the contents through the seal barrier layer upon actuation of the actuatable barrier layer. The blister pack can have a width and a length and the reservoirs can be lined up along the length. In this example, a first reservoir contains an inert mechanical fluid and a second reservoir contains a reagent, a buffer, or a combination thereof.