Divisible Multi-Well Plates with Segmented Breaking Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-well plates are difficult to divide into single tube strips without tools, often resulting in wastage of reagents and posing a risk of injury due to sharp edges, and are not compatible with automated handling systems.
Innovation Solution
A multi-well plate design featuring a frame made of a rigid material with a planar top surface and segmented breaking features, including petal-shaped cuts and undercuts, allowing manual division into smooth-edged strips compatible with automation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multi-well plates are made entirely from soft polypropylene material to enable temperature changes, then thermal cycling capability is improved, but automated handling becomes difficult due to warping and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The plate combines two different materials: a rigid frame portion (polycarbonate or other rigid plastic) that provides structural stability for automated handling, and soft polypropylene wells that enable thermal cycling. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by assigning different material properties to different functional zones of the same plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is divided into two distinct segments: a rigid frame portion and separate well portions. The frame provides mechanical stability while the wells provide thermal responsiveness, allowing each segment to optimize its function without compromising the other.
2Ease of operation
If scissors or cutters are used to divide multi-well plates into sections, then divisibility is achieved, but sharp edges are created that cause glove tears or user injury
Solution Approach 1:
The plate includes pre-formed breaking features (notches, grooves, or weakened sections) that are prepared in advance during manufacturing. These features guide the breaking process and ensure that when the plate is divided, the break occurs at predetermined locations without creating dangerous sharp edges, thus eliminating the need for scissors or cutters.
3Ease of operation
If existing divisible plates are divided into 24-well or 32-well segments only, then some divisibility is achieved, but reagent wastage occurs because single 8-tube strip division is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is designed with breaking features that enable division at multiple levels: first into 8-tube strips, and further into individual tubes. This hierarchical segmentation allows users to divide only the portion needed, preventing reagent wastage while maintaining ease of division.
4Extent of automation
If automated grippers are used to handle soft polypropylene plates, then automation is achieved, but the plates are warped or crushed due to the flexible nature of the material
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid frame portion provides structural support that maintains plate shape stability during automated handling, while the soft polypropylene wells retain their flexibility for thermal cycling. The rigid frame acts as a protective skeleton that prevents warping and crushing by automated grippers.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure describes multi-well plates comprising a frame made of a first material having an array of a plurality of holes arranged in a columnar pattern on the top surface and an array of segmented breaking features arranged in a linear columnar pattern which alternates with the columnar pattern of the plurality of holes,and a plurality of tubes/wells made of a second material placed into the plurality of holes, wherein the multi-well plate is manually divisible along the segmented breaking features into one or more columns of multi-well/tube strips. Manually dividing multi-well plate of the disclosure produces multi-well strips or segments that have smooth edges, thereby reducing injuries and glove tear incidences.