Microfluidic Channel Chip With Film-Mediated Wear Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid handling devices with rotary members wear down the base material of the channel during operation, leading to inefficiencies and potential contamination.
Innovation Solution
A channel chip design featuring a substrate with a sliding member that operates on a film, using a diaphragm with a spherical crown shape and a positioning section to maintain the sliding member's position, preventing wear and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotary member is used to open and close the channel, then the channel can be controlled effectively, but the base material constituting the channel is worn down during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
A film is introduced as an intermediary layer between the rotary member and the base material constituting the channel. The film contacts the rotary member during rotation, preventing direct contact between the rotary member and the base material, thereby eliminating wear on the base material while maintaining effective channel control.
2Ease of operation
If the sliding member contacts the film directly, then the channel can be opened and closed, but the base material may be contaminated from wear particles
Solution Approach 1:
The film serves as a protective intermediary that prevents wear particles from contaminating the base material. The sliding member contacts the film rather than the base material directly, so any wear occurs on the film which can be replaced without affecting the base material integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The film is designed as a consumable component that can be replaced when worn. By making the film a disposable element rather than protecting the base material indefinitely, the system maintains ease of operation while preventing contamination of the permanent base material structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A channel chip having a channel for running a fluid that is opened and closed by sliding on a film a sliding member slidable on the film while contacting with the film, the channel chip comprising: a substrate including a first channel, a second channel and a partition wall formed between the first channel and the second channel; a film including a diaphragm having a substantially spherical crown shape, the film being disposed on the substrate so that the diaphragm faces the partition wall; and a positioning section for holding the sliding member in such a way that the sliding member is slidable on the film while the positioning section positions the sliding member, the positioning section being disposed on the film.