Capillary Metering for Liquid Sample Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biochemistry processing techniques face challenges such as high reagent and consumable costs, labor-intensiveness, susceptibility to cross-contamination, and inefficiencies in handling small volumes, particularly in nucleic acid processing and PCR, due to limitations in existing liquid handling and microfluidic technologies.
Innovation Solution
The development of a capillary metering system and reusable composite liquid cell (CLC) plate technology that enables precise handling and processing of small volumes through capillary action, automated thermal control, and reduced contamination, allowing for scalable high-throughput biochemistry processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional liquid handling methods are used in biochemistry processing, then sample handling can be performed, but reagent costs increase and cross-contamination risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the processing into separate isolated stations (lysis station, purification station, resuspension station) where each sample is handled in isolation. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination between samples while using minimal reagent volumes at each station, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and substance loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a robotic arm with magnetic bead manipulation capability as an intermediary between sample preparation and analysis. This intermediary automates the handling process, eliminating manual contamination risks and optimizing reagent usage through precise, repeatable operations, thus improving reliability without increasing reagent costs.
2Ease of operation
If manual processing protocols are used, then flexibility in handling different samples is maintained, but labor intensity increases and contamination susceptibility rises
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various biochemistry processing tasks (lysis, purification, resuspension) across multiple sample types. The same robotic arm and magnetic bead technology serve multiple purposes, automating complex protocols without requiring proportionally complex device architecture, thus improving ease of operation while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses magnetic field strength as a controllable parameter to manipulate magnetic beads through different processing stations. By changing magnetic field parameters rather than mechanical configurations, the system achieves automated handling of complex protocols with relatively simple device structure, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
3Productivity
If large volume reaction volumes are used, then reaction efficiency is maintained, but reagent costs and consumable costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Magnetic beads are used to perform purification functions autonomously within the reaction mixture. The beads self-assemble with target nucleic acids and can be manipulated by magnetic fields to separate from the reaction mixture, enabling efficient purification in small volumes without requiring large buffer excesses, thus maintaining productivity while reducing reagent costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical centrifugation-based purification with magnetic field-based manipulation. This substitution enables precise control of small volume reactions, maintaining reaction efficiency through complete mixing and separation while using minimal reagent volumes, thereby reducing reagent costs without sacrificing productivity.
4Reliability
If disposable components are used, then cross-contamination is prevented, but consumable costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses magnetic beads that can be recovered and reused across multiple processing cycles. The beads are retained through magnetic separation after each use, washed, and prepared for the next sample, eliminating the need for disposable components while maintaining contamination prevention, thus improving reliability without increasing consumable costs.
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 improves sample handling by reducing reagent usage, minimizing contamination risks, and enhancing processing efficiency, particularly in nucleic acid processing and PCR, by enabling precise control over small volumes and automated processing without the need for disposable components.
Implementation Method 1
The metering region of the inner surface may be substantially hydrophilic while the limiting region of the inner surface may be substantially hydrophobic. When an end of the capillary tube is brought into contact with an aqueous sample, the sample is drawn by capillary action into the lumen.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods for making and handling liquid samples are disclosed.