Capillary Array Unit Frame and Separator Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing capillary electrophoresis apparatus faces difficulties in easily mounting and replacing capillary arrays, particularly with rigid capillaries that are prone to warping due to their weight, making the process cumbersome and challenging, especially when dealing with multiple capillaries.
Innovation Solution
A capillary array unit with a frame that supports the capillaries and a load header to hold the cathode ends, featuring separators to maintain the capillaries in a predetermined shape, allowing for easy mounting and replacement without deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid capillaries are used to maintain structural stability, then the capillary shape stability is improved, but the ease of mounting and replacement deteriorates due to warping and deformation difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary array is divided into multiple independent capillaries, each supported by individual separators. This segmentation allows each capillary to be stabilized independently, preventing warping while maintaining ease of mounting as a complete array unit.
Solution Approach 2:
Separators are introduced as intermediary components between the capillaries and the mounting structure. These separators maintain the predetermined shape and position of rigid capillaries, eliminating the need for manual deformation during mounting while ensuring structural stability.
2Productivity
If multiple capillaries are employed to increase analysis throughput, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases making mounting more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple capillaries are merged into a single array unit with integrated separators and mounting structure. This combining approach allows simultaneous mounting of multiple capillaries as one unit, maintaining high productivity while reducing mounting complexity compared to individual installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame and separator structure serves multiple functions: supporting multiple capillaries, maintaining their predetermined shapes, enabling easy mounting, and facilitating replacement. This multi-functionality addresses both productivity and mounting complexity requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If rigid capillary structure is used to prevent deformation, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to difficulty in shaping and mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The separators are pre-configured to define the predetermined shape and position of capillaries before mounting. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex deformation operations during mounting, maintaining manufacturing precision while improving ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
In a capillary electrophoresis apparatus, a capillary array unit has a capillary array including capillaries having a capillary head and a detection unit, a frame for supporting the capillary array, and a load header for holding cathode ends of the capillaries. The frame has separators for separating and holding the capillaries. The capillary head, the detection unit, and the separators are disposed along one linear line. With this arrangement, there is provided the capillary array unit and the capillary electrophoresis apparatus which are arranged such that a job for mounting the capillary array can be executed easily.