Diagnostic Deck Assembly with Insulation Partitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting nucleic acids from biological samples are laborious, time-consuming, and prone to contamination, leading to false positive results in nucleic acid amplification methods like RTPCR due to the risk of cross-contamination between samples.
Innovation Solution
A deck assembly for a diagnostic system featuring a deck plate with distinct place holders, integrated heating and cooling means, and insulation partitions, along with a motion mechanism and discarding zone, enables automated nucleic acid extraction and RTPCR reagent preparation, ensuring precise temperature control and efficient tip discarding to minimize contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated diagnostic system is used for nucleic acid extraction, then productivity and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deck assembly is divided into multiple independently controllable heating zones, each with its own temperature control. This segmentation allows different regions to maintain different temperatures simultaneously, enabling complex multi-step nucleic acid extraction protocols to be performed in parallel, thereby improving productivity without requiring a completely new system design.
Solution Approach 2:
The deck assembly serves multiple functions: it provides temperature-controlled reaction surfaces, incorporates insulation partitions for thermal isolation, includes motion mechanisms for sample processing, and integrates discarding zones for waste management. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate devices into a single integrated system, improving productivity while managing complexity through functional integration.
2Productivity
If multiple place holders are used for simultaneous processing, then productivity is improved, but risk of contamination between samples increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deck plate is divided into multiple spatially separated place holders, each capable of independent temperature control and thermal isolation through insulation partitions. This physical and thermal segmentation prevents cross-contamination between samples processed simultaneously in different zones, maintaining reliability while enabling parallel processing to improve productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Insulation partitions act as thermal intermediaries between adjacent place holders, preventing heat transfer that could cause thermal cross-contamination. These partitions create thermal boundaries that maintain independent temperature zones, ensuring that samples processed simultaneously do not thermally interact, thus preventing contamination while maintaining high productivity.
3Device complexity
If heating and cooling means are integrated in the same deck plate, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature control precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The heating and cooling functions are segmented into separate means that are independently controlled. Each heating element and cooling element can be activated independently, and the insulation partitions prevent thermal interference between them. This segmentation allows precise temperature control in each zone despite the integration of multiple thermal management functions in a single deck plate.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the deck plate have different thermal properties and control characteristics. Each place holder can be optimized for specific temperature requirements, with local heating or cooling applied as needed. The insulation partitions ensure that local temperature adjustments in one region do not affect adjacent regions, maintaining temperature control precision while allowing integrated design.
4Device complexity
If manual nucleic acid extraction methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but time consumption and contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The deck assembly is pre-configured with multiple place holders at optimal temperatures for different extraction steps. Samples can be loaded and immediately processed without waiting for temperature equilibration. The motion mechanism and discarding zone are pre-positioned, allowing continuous automated processing that significantly reduces extraction time compared to manual methods, while the integrated design keeps complexity manageable.
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 system reduces the time required for nucleic acid extraction and RTPCR reagent preparation, decreases the risk of false positive results, and maintains accurate temperature ranges, while allowing for safe and efficient discarding of used tips, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic processes.
Implementation Method 1
the heating means is integrated such that at least one place holder from the set of place holders is heated to a defined temperature
Implementation Method 2
the cooling means is positioned such that at least one place holder from the set of place holders is cooled to a pre-defined temperature set by the diagnostic system
Implementation Method 3
the at least one insulation partition is mounted on the deck. Further, the at least one insulation is configured to provide insulation by restricting transfer of heat or cold from the at least one place holder from the set of place holders
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a deck assembly for a diagnostic system, the deck assembly comprises a deck plate, a heating means, a cooling means and at least one insulation partition. Further, the deck plate, has a defined number of a set of place holders. Further, the heating means is mounted on the deck plate. Further, the cooling means is mounted on the deck plate. Further, the at least one insulation partition is mounted on the deck plate. Further, the at least one insulation is configured to provide insulation by restricting transfer of heat or cold from the at least one place holder from the set of place holders. Further, at least one place holder from the set of the place holder is enabled to discard piercing tips.