Composite Filter for Gene Amplification Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing discharge members with filters used in gene amplification methods face issues with suctioning excessive specimen preparation liquid, as fine particles from adsorbents clog the filter, hindering liquid flow and leading to prolonged suction times or malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

A discharge member with a composite filter, featuring a pre-filter made of continuous porous foam with an average pore diameter of 130 to 180 micrometers, which is softened in a wet state, is used to prevent clogging by allowing easy deformation and release of fine particles, ensuring efficient suctioning and dripping performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a membrane filter is used to filter suspension containing fine particles of adsorbent, then filtering performance is improved, but the filter becomes clogged by fine particles, preventing suctioning operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering performanceVSAvoidsuctioning operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is divided into two distinct layers: a pre-filter layer made of porous foam material with larger pores (10-50 micrometers) that captures fine particles of adsorbent, and a membrane filter layer with smaller pores (0.2-0.45 micrometers) that provides fine filtration. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function, preventing clogging of the membrane filter while maintaining filtering performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-filter made of porous foam material acts as an intermediary layer between the suspension and the membrane filter. It intercepts and retains fine particles of adsorbent that would otherwise clog the membrane filter, thereby protecting the membrane filter and enabling the suctioning operation to proceed without obstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If fine particles of adsorbent are captured by the filter during filtration, then filtering performance is improved, but liquid flow during suctioning is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering performanceVSAvoidliquid flow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter structure is segmented into a pre-filter layer with larger pores (10-50 micrometers) designed to capture fine particles, and a membrane filter layer with smaller pores (0.2-0.45 micrometers) designed for fine filtration. This segmentation ensures that particle capture occurs in the pre-filter layer, preserving liquid flow pathways in the membrane filter layer for efficient suctioning operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-filter is made of porous foam material with controlled pore size (10-50 micrometers) that is optimized to capture fine particles of adsorbent while maintaining high porosity and permeability. This allows the pre-filter to effectively trap particles without significantly impeding liquid flow, ensuring both filtering performance and productivity are maintained.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 configuration enables efficient suctioning of excessive liquid without operator skill, maintaining excellent dripping and filtering performance by reducing clogging and ensuring a fixed amount of filtrate is injected into the container.

Implementation Method 1

a pre-filter formed of continuous porous foam that is softened at least in a wet state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSoftening in wet state:

Implementation Method 2

the pre-filter has an average pore diameter of 130 to 180 micrometers in a wet state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3372522B1Discharge member with filter
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 EIKEN KAGAKU
  • EP3372522B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3372522B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3372522B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

To provide a discharge member with a filter which enables a filtrate to be dripped into a dripping container while filtering a suspension, enables an excessive portion to be suctioned when the dripped amount is excessive, thereby to allow a fixed amount of a filtrate to be injected into the dripping container, and thus enables suctioning operation of at the time of suctioning an excessive portion to be conducted preferably without deteriorating its dripping performance and filtering performance, a filter F provided in the discharge member 4 with a filter is a composite filter in which a pre-filter PF comprising a continuous porous foam that is softened at least in a wet state is arrange on the filtration surface side of a membrane filter MF.