Analytical Chip Actuation for Integrated Fluid, Thermal, and Vision Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clinical analysis systems lack the ability to integrate fluid control, thermal management, and visual monitoring in a single portable device, limiting their functionality to perform multiple types of tests simultaneously and requiring separate systems for different analytical processes.
Innovation Solution
A system combining an actuator device with an analytical chip that integrates fluid drive, thermal control, and artificial vision modules, enabling direct communication with the chip for electrochemical testing, real-time monitoring, and parallel processing of different tests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate systems are used for fluid control, thermal management, and visual monitoring, then each system can be optimized independently, but the overall device complexity increases and portability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fluid control, thermal management, and visual monitoring modules into a single integrated portable device. The housing contains all three modules along with a control unit and power source, eliminating the need for separate systems while reducing overall complexity and improving portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable device is designed as a multi-functional system where a single device performs fluid control, thermal management, visual monitoring, and data processing functions. This universal approach allows one device to replace multiple separate systems, optimizing resource utilization while maintaining reliability.
2Productivity
If multiple analytical tests are performed simultaneously on a single chip, then productivity increases, but the device complexity and control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The analytical chip is divided into multiple independent reaction zones, each capable of performing different analytical tests simultaneously. The fluid control module includes separate channels and reservoirs that can be independently controlled, allowing parallel processing of multiple samples while maintaining simple control logic for each zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic control capabilities where the control unit can adjust fluid flow, heating, and monitoring parameters in real-time based on the specific test requirements. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to handle multiple different test protocols simultaneously without requiring complex pre-programming for each scenario.
3Measurement precision
If integrated communication between drive system and vision system is implemented, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device implements a feedback loop where the vision system continuously monitors the analytical chip and sends real-time data to the control unit. The control unit processes this information and adjusts fluid flow and heating parameters accordingly, improving measurement precision through closed-loop control while using a unified control architecture to manage the integration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves as an intermediary between the drive system and vision system, receiving data from sensors and actuators, processing information, and coordinating actions across different modules. This centralized mediation simplifies the communication architecture compared to direct peer-to-peer integration between multiple subsystems.
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
Enables simultaneous performance of various clinical tests on a single analytical chip, including electrochemical, fluorimetric, and turbidimetric analyses, with real-time monitoring and thermal control, enhancing portability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal module (120) which includes means for heating or cooling at least one area of the analytical chip
Implementation Method 2
the advancement of the fluid front within the microfluidic platform is carried out by generating acoustic pressure gradients along the microfluidic path
Implementation Method 3
enabling direct communication with the chip for electrochemical testing, real-time monitoring
Implementation Method 4
including electrochemical, fluorimetric, and turbidimetric analyses
Data Source
AI summary
A system for clinical analysis by an analytical chip with an actuator device which, in turn, includes a computer module integrating all the signals received by the system and transforming them into analytical results, connectable through a connectivity module with a data processing module connected to an external large-scale clinical data system to generate patterns of diagnoses. A fluid drive module for the impulsion of fluids inside the analytical chip. A thermal module distinguishes thermal areas of the analytical chip. An artificial vision module of the processes is inside the analytical chip. An electronic interface communicates the sensors and actuators integrated in the analytical chip and the actuators of the actuator device with the computer module. A power management module to autonomously power the portable system inside an external container that protects all the previous modules of the actuator device and where the analytical chip is inserted.