Curved Sidewall Biological Sample Testing Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biological sample testing devices often experience testing errors and DNA destruction due to the formation of vacuum bubbles and collisions caused by the uneven spreading of biological samples along the device's surfaces, which are exacerbated by the angled interfaces and vertices in the traditional design.
Innovation Solution
A biological sample testing device featuring a horizontal well with curved sidewalls that control the speed of the sample, eliminating angled interfaces and vertices to ensure simultaneous arrival of all sample portions at the outlet, thereby reducing bubble formation and collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If angled interfaces and vertices are used in the traditional design, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but vacuum bubbles form and DNA destruction occurs due to uneven sample spreading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional angled interfaces and vertices with curved surfaces in the well design. The curved sidewalls and bottom eliminate sharp corners where vacuum bubbles tend to form, creating a smooth flow path for the biological sample. This curvature principle directly addresses the reliability issue by preventing bubble formation and DNA destruction while maintaining manufacturability through standard molding techniques.
2Reliability
If the sample spreads along lateral sides with angled surfaces, then the spreading path is longer, but the sample portions arrive at different times causing bubble formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different curvature characteristics to different regions of the well. The sidewalls have specific curvature radii that are optimized to control the flow velocity of sample portions at different locations. By varying the curvature locally along the flow path, the design ensures that all sample portions travel at speeds that result in simultaneous arrival at the outlet, eliminating bubble formation while maintaining a practical well geometry.
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 device effectively prevents bubble formation and minimizes DNA destruction by ensuring all sample portions reach the outlet simultaneously, enhancing the accuracy and usability of the biological sample for analysis.
Implementation Method 1
the portion of the biological sample that is in contact with and moves along the two lateral sides (i.e., the first slanting surfaces 133, the straight surfaces 135, and the second slanting surfaces 137) of the corresponding cavity 130 produces a wetting effect and therefore spreads, or flows, faster
Implementation Method 2
the portion of the biological sample that is in contact with and moves along the two lateral sides (i.e., the first slanting surfaces 133, the straight surfaces 135, and the second slanting surfaces 137) of the corresponding cavity 130 produces a wetting effect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Biological sample testing devices, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the biological sample testing device includes a slide, a spacer layer carried by the slide, and a cover slip carried by the slide over the spacer layer. The spacer layer includes one or more wells, each of which extend horizontally along a first axis from an inlet at a first side of the biological sample testing device to an outlet at a second side of the biological sample testing device opposite the first side. Each well is defined by a set of curved sidewalls that extend from the inlet to the outlet. Further, the set of curved sidewalls define an asymmetric shape for the well about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The shape manages a flow of a biological sample to reduce a chance of bubbling within the well.