Analyte Capture Devices With Tunable Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack a universal method for capturing analyte particles from complex mixtures, such as blood or bioreactor samples, as they are labor-intensive, prone to clogging, and not suited for varying particle sizes, shapes, and charges, and often fail to detect contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing capture devices with tunable electrodes generating non-uniform electric fields for selective capture of analyte particles, leveraging dielectrophoretic and electro-osmotic forces, allowing for parallelization and multiplexing, and protection from chemical and physical damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional analytics (gel electrophoresis, chromatography, ELISA, PCR) are used for selecting analyte particles, then analysis can be performed, but the process becomes labor intensive and requires extensive tailoring for each experiment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a microfluidic device with adjustable parameters (flow rates, voltage, temperature) that can handle multiple types of analyte particles (proteins, nucleic acids, viruses, cells) without requiring separate experimental protocols. The device serves multiple functions: separation, concentration, and characterization of various analytes using a single platform, eliminating the need for extensive tailoring for each experiment.
2Measurement precision
If traditional analytics are used for analyte selection, then analysis can be performed, but unexpected sample components or contaminants remain undetected or cause the assay to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through real-time monitoring of particle characteristics (size, charge, shape) using integrated detectors. The system continuously adjusts operational parameters based on detected particle properties, allowing it to adapt to unexpected sample components and identify contaminants that would otherwise cause assay failure. This feedback loop ensures reliable analysis across diverse and complex samples.
3Measurement precision
If nanopore-based devices are used for size profiling, then sophisticated size-profiling is achieved, but the devices are prone to clogging and do not allow (size-tunable) capturing and/or sorting of analyte particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the microfluidic device into multiple channels with different pore sizes and characteristics, allowing simultaneous analysis of particles across different size ranges. This segmentation prevents clogging by distributing particles of various sizes across dedicated pathways, while maintaining sophisticated size-profiling capability through individual channel optimization. The segmented design enables size-tunable capturing and sorting by selectively activating different channels.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a system is manufactured in a universal way, then it can be reconfigured for different applications, but capture devices must be highly parallelized/multiplexed within a single system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control mechanisms that allow the microfluidic device to be reconfigured for different applications by adjusting operational parameters (flow rates, voltage, temperature) and activating different capture devices in parallel. This dynamic adaptability enables a single universally manufactured system to handle diverse analyte types without physical reconfiguration, managing the parallelization complexity through software-controlled parameter adjustment rather than hardware complexity.
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
Enables efficient and selective capture of various analyte particles from complex mixtures, with the ability to reconfigure for different applications, providing a flexible and reliable platform for multiple analytical applications.
Implementation Method 1
operating at least the first set of electrodes of at least one of the capture devices so as to generate a non-uniform electric field such that there is an attractive dielectrophoretic force acting on the analyte particle
Implementation Method 2
leveraging dielectrophoretic and electro-osmotic forces
Data Source
AI summary
A system including: a reservoir for holding the liquid; and one or more capture devices, each comprising: a well having a top opening up to the reservoir, a bottom, and a depth extending from the top to the bottom, and a first set of electrodes at least 50%, at least 65%, or at least 75%, of the well's depth below the top opening, for generating an electric field.