Bio-chip Interface Device with Fluid Channel Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bio-chip technologies face challenges with contamination due to direct contact between sample solutions and instrument interfaces, leading to tedious cleaning processes, resource consumption, and incomplete disinfection, which limits the widespread application of bio-chip technology.
Innovation Solution
An interface device for bio-chips comprising an instrument interface layer, a fluid channel layer, and a sample interface layer, sealed together to prevent direct contact, using materials like glass, high molecular weight polymers, or metal, with sealing methods such as adhesives or welding, and designed to accommodate multiple samples to avoid cross-contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the instrument interface directly contacts sample solutions, then the operation process is simple, but contamination occurs requiring tedious cleaning and disinfection procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a disposable interface unit as an intermediary component between the instrument interface and sample solutions. This interface unit includes a fluid channel layer with hollow-out fluid channels that physically separate the sample solutions from the instrument interface, preventing direct contact and thus avoiding contamination while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The interface device is segmented into multiple functional layers: an instrument interface layer, a fluid channel layer with hollow-out channels, and a sample interface layer. This segmentation allows the sample-containing portion to be separated from the instrument interface, enabling the instrument to be reused without cleaning while the disposable interface unit prevents contamination
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning and disinfection procedures are performed to avoid contamination, then contamination is reduced, but the operation process becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable interface unit that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for time-consuming cleaning and disinfection procedures of the instrument interface, as the disposable unit prevents contamination by design. The interface unit includes all necessary components (instrument interface layer, fluid channel layer, sample interface layer) that are discarded together after use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the contamination-prone interface components into a separate disposable unit that can be removed and discarded. The instrument interface is separated from the sample-contacting portions, allowing the instrument to be reused without cleaning while the extracted interface unit prevents contamination
3Device complexity
If multiple sample solutions contact the same instrument interface, then the device structure is simple, but cross-contamination among samples occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device is segmented into multiple independent functional layers with dedicated fluid channels for each sample. The fluid channel layer contains hollow-out channels that are spatially separated, ensuring that multiple sample solutions do not mix or contact the same interface surfaces, thus preventing cross-contamination while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable interface unit acts as an intermediary that provides separate, isolated fluid pathways for multiple samples. The fluid channel layer with hollow-out channels creates physical barriers between different sample streams, preventing cross-contamination while allowing multiple samples to be processed simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
An interface device for bio-chip at least comprises an interface unit, said interface unit consisting of instrument interface layer, fluid channel layer and sample interface layer. The instrument interface layer has at least one instrument interface. The fluid channel layer has one hollow-out fluid channel. The sample interface layer has at least one sample interface, and both ends of said fluid channel connect to the sample interface and the instrument interface respectively. The interface device separates sample solutions from the instrument interface by gas or liquid in the fluid channel, thus to avoid direct contacts between sample solutions and instrument interface which will cause pollution, and omitting cleaning processes after using instruments. With simple structure, easy operation and low cost, it applies to chemistry field, biology field and medical analysis field.