Disposable Isolation Container for Aseptic Nucleic Acid Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nucleic acid amplification methods face challenges in controlling contamination by unwanted exogenous nucleic acid sequences, particularly in processing biological samples, which is critical for producing therapeutic agents like vaccines in aseptic environments.
Innovation Solution
An automated system with a closed container and flexible barrier allows for the manipulation of samples within a sealed environment, using a robotic arm to handle tools and maintain asepsis, reducing the risk of contamination by keeping all processing within a single-use disposable isolation container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual processing methods are used for nucleic acid amplification, then flexibility and ease of operation are improved, but contamination risk increases and aseptic conditions cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable isolation container that is used once and then discarded, eliminating the need for extensive cleaning and sterilization between uses. This single-use approach ensures aseptic conditions are maintained without requiring complex cleaning protocols, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the processing environment into separate isolated zones using the isolation container, which physically separates the sample processing area from the external environment. This segmentation allows automated robotic manipulation within the sealed container, maintaining aseptic conditions while enabling complex operations without manual intervention.
2Reliability
If automated robotic systems are used for sample manipulation, then contamination control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the robotic manipulation system with the isolation container into an integrated automated platform. The robotic arm operates within the sealed container environment, merging the automation functionality with the contamination barrier. This integration maintains superior contamination control while managing system complexity through unified design rather than separate components.
3Productivity
If multiple samples are processed sequentially, then productivity is improved, but cleaning time between samples increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable isolation container eliminates cleaning time between samples entirely. Each container is used for one sample and then discarded, allowing multiple samples to be processed sequentially without any cleaning or sterilization steps between them. This directly resolves the contradiction by making the cleaning time zero while maintaining high productivity.
4Reliability
If a closed sealed environment is used for processing, then contamination prevention is improved, but ease of access for manipulation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical access with automated robotic manipulation. The robotic arm can penetrate or access the sealed isolation container environment without compromising the seal, allowing complex sample manipulation tasks to be performed while maintaining the closed sealed environment. This substitution resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for physical access while preserving contamination prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for measuring a volume of fluid includes at least one emitter configured to project a signal toward a predetermined position of a sample container, at least one receiver configured to receive the signal after the signal interacts with the sample container and a fluid transfer device in communication with the receiver and sample container. A change in the signal received by the receiver indicates when the fluid has dropped below the predetermined position. The apparatus determines a volume of fluid that the fluid transfer device has removed from the sample container when the receiver detects that the fluid has dropped below the predetermined position.