Cartridge with Closed Fluidic System for Biological Sample Preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preparing biological samples, such as staining tissue or cells, are inefficient, prone to contamination, and lack control over fluid flow, leading to inhomogeneous results and high reagent consumption.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge system with a closed fluidic system comprising a reaction chamber, fluidic inlet, and outlet, which uses pressure-driven flow and a substrate to ensure contamination prevention, efficient reagent use, and precise control over fluid flow, allowing for the preparation of biological samples in a controlled environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closed fluidic system is used, then contamination is prevented and reproducibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a cartridge containing the closed fluidic system and a separate reader device. The cartridge integrates the reaction chamber, fluidic channels, and substrate holder as a self-contained module, which can be manufactured using standard injection molding techniques. This segmentation allows the complex closed system to be produced reliably and exchanged easily.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate holding device is nested within the cartridge structure, and the fluidic channels are integrated into the cartridge body walls. The reaction chamber is formed by the cartridge walls themselves, creating a compact nested arrangement that minimizes the overall device footprint while maintaining the closed fluidic system.
2Manufacturing precision
If pressure-driven flow is used, then fluid flow control is improved and reaction homogeneity is enhanced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluidic channels are designed with curved transitions and rounded corners rather than sharp angles. This curvature promotes laminar flow patterns and reduces turbulence, ensuring homogeneous reagent distribution across the substrate while minimizing energy losses associated with flow separation and turbulence.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel cross-sectional dimensions and pressure gradients are optimized to achieve the desired flow rates and residence times. By carefully selecting channel width, height, and length, the system achieves homogeneous reactions using moderate pressure differences, balancing flow control with energy efficiency.
3Loss of substance
If micro-channels are used, then reagent consumption is reduced and reaction speed is increased, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The micro-channels are designed to utilize capillary action and pressure-driven hydraulic flow to ensure complete reagent delivery. The channel dimensions and surface properties are optimized to promote spontaneous filling and complete wetting, ensuring that even small volumes of reagent are efficiently distributed throughout the system without requiring ultra-precise manufacturing tolerances.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a substrate closing the reaction chamber is used, then a closed system is achieved and contamination is prevented, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate holding device incorporates a movable substrate that can be inserted and removed from the reaction chamber. This dynamic configuration allows the system to transition between open and closed states, enabling easy substrate exchange for different samples while maintaining the closed system configuration during the actual reaction process to prevent contamination.
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
The cartridge system enables faster, more reproducible, and homogeneous sample preparation by ensuring closed-system processing, reducing reagent consumption, and enhancing convection in micro-channels, while preventing contamination and allowing for real-time monitoring of reactions.
Implementation Method 1
uses pressure-driven flow and a substrate to ensure contamination prevention, efficient reagent use, and precise control over fluid flow
Implementation Method 2
enhancing convection in micro-channels
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge and an associated apparatus for preparing a biological sample includes a reaction chamber configured to be closed by a substrate carrying the biological sample, where the reaction chamber is connected to a fluidic inlet system and a fluidic outlet system. When the substrate closes the reaction chamber, the fluidic inlet system, the reaction chamber, and the fluidic outlet system constitute a fluidic system that is closed to an environment outside the cartridge with respect to an exchange of liquids. Further, a pressure-driven flow through the reaction chamber may be induced by actuation of deformable membranes formed in the cartridge.