Annular Nucleic Acid Extraction Apparatus Reducing Cross Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing automated nucleic acid extraction apparatus using the magnetic bead separation method faces challenges with cross contamination due to the use of 96-well plates as processing units, where small well spacing and parallel pipetting processes increase the risk of contamination during PCR detection.
Innovation Solution
A nucleic acid extraction apparatus featuring a cyclically moveable annular structure with cuvette positions for reaction vessels, allowing for single vessel processing and reducing parallel operations, along with disposable pipetting tips and circulation tubes to minimize contamination, performs pipetting and injection operations on a dedicated annular path, thereby isolating each reaction vessel and reducing cross contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a 96-well plate is used as the processing unit with parallel pipetting operations, then processing efficiency is improved, but cross contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the processing system into two distinct segments: a first processing area for nucleic acid extraction and a second processing area for PCR detection. Each area has dedicated reagent storage, reaction vessels, and operational zones. This spatial segmentation prevents cross-contamination while maintaining parallel processing capabilities through separate but coordinated workflow streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary transport mechanism that physically transfers reaction vessels between the first processing area and second processing area. This intermediary system acts as a buffer zone, ensuring that no direct contact or aerosol transmission occurs between the extraction and detection zones, thereby eliminating cross-contamination pathways while preserving processing efficiency.
2Productivity
If small well spacing is used in 96-well plates, then sample throughput is improved, but reaction solution pollution to surrounding wells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs separate processing areas with dedicated reaction vessels for each workflow stage. Instead of using closely spaced wells that risk mutual contamination, the system uses individually handled reaction vessels in spatially separated zones, maintaining high throughput through parallel processing while eliminating aerosol cross-contamination between samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the reaction vessels from the traditional 96-well plate format and processes them individually in dedicated processing areas. This extraction of samples from the crowded plate structure eliminates the well spacing problem entirely, as each vessel is handled separately in its own designated zone, preventing solution pollution while maintaining throughput through automated parallel operations.
3Speed
If parallel pipetting by multiple tips is performed, then operation speed is improved, but cross contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pipetting operations into distinct workflows: one set of pipetting tips operates exclusively in the first processing area for reagent addition and sample preparation, while another set operates in the second processing area for PCR reagent addition. This spatial segmentation of pipetting operations maintains high operation speed through parallel tip usage while completely preventing cross-contamination between workflow stages.
4Productivity
If shock mixing of the whole plate is performed, then mixing efficiency is improved, but cross contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces whole-plate shock mixing with localized mixing operations in separate processing areas. Each reaction vessel receives dedicated mixing treatment in its designated zone using localized vortex or magnetic mixing, eliminating the need for plate-wide shock mixing. This maintains efficient mixing while preventing aerosol generation and cross-contamination between adjacent 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
This approach effectively prevents cross contamination by processing each reaction vessel individually, increasing the distance between tests and reducing parallel operations, thus enhancing the reliability of nucleic acid extraction and detection processes.
Implementation Method 1
the magnetic beads are adsorbed and enriched by magnet
Implementation Method 2
the surfaces of small particles containing magnetic materials are processed so that they can adsorb a desired substance
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are nucleic acid extraction apparatuses and operation methods thereof. The apparatus may include at least one cyclically moveable annular structure, at least one pipetting mechanism, at least one injection mechanism and a driving mechanism. The annular structure may be provided with a plurality of cuvette positions and a plurality of operation positions. The pipetting mechanism and the injection operation may be arranged along the annular structure. The driving mechanism may drive the annular structure to move cyclically.