Elastic Nozzle Tip Spotter for Low-Residue Bio Sample Dispensing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dispensing spotters face challenges in accurately dispensing small-volume biological samples without contamination, as residual samples often remain in the nozzle tip, making it difficult to verify accurate dispensing and count the number of events.

Innovation Solution

A high-speed dispensing spotter with a detachable nozzle tip made of elastic material, featuring a ring-shaped protrusion to prevent nozzle entry into the body part and a funnel-shaped discharge part, coupled with a drop counter module to accurately count dispensing events.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional spotter uses a fixed nozzle tip for dispensing biological samples, then the dispensing process is simple, but residual samples remain in the nozzle tip causing contamination risk and requiring additional cleaning steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidnozzle tip structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle tip is divided into separate functional sections: a removable tip portion containing the sample reservoir and a fixed mounting portion attached to the dispensing mechanism. This segmentation allows the tip to be detached and replaced between samples, eliminating cross-contamination while maintaining dispensing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle tip is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after use rather than cleaned and reused. This eliminates the cleaning step entirely and prevents contamination from residual samples, as each new tip starts with a clean interior surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If compressed air is used to dispense small-volume biological samples through a conventional nozzle, then dispensing speed increases, but accurate verification and counting of dispensing events becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing speedVSAvoiddispensing event verification

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

An optical sensor system is integrated to detect and count each dispensing event in real-time. The sensor monitors the disruption of an optical beam caused by droplet ejection, providing immediate feedback on dispensing events. This enables verification of small-volume sample dispensing accuracy while maintaining high-speed operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical verification process is replaced with an optical detection system. Instead of manually verifying dispensing events or using mechanical sensors, the patent uses optical detection to non-contactly monitor and count droplet ejection events, enabling precise measurement of small-volume dispensing at high speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If the nozzle tip is designed with a narrow opening for precise sample dispensing, then dispensing accuracy improves, but the nozzle becomes prone to clogging and difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing accuracyVSAvoidnozzle tip maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle tip is designed as a disposable component with a narrow opening for precise dispensing. Instead of attempting to clean and maintain the narrow opening, the entire tip is discarded after use and replaced with a new one, eliminating clogging issues and maintaining high dispensing accuracy without maintenance requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The problematic narrow opening section is extracted as a separate removable tip that can be easily replaced. This allows the precise dispensing function to be maintained through manufacturing quality rather than maintenance, as each new tip provides a fresh, clean, precisely-formed opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables precise dispensing of small volumes (e.g., 40 nL or less) with minimal residual sample, ensuring purity and accurate counting of dispensing events, reducing process time and contamination risk.

Implementation Method 1

a disposable nozzle tip detachably mounted to a nozzle of a head part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4685494A1High-speed dispensing spotter for bio sample, and cell dispensing method using same

Publication Date: 2026.01.28 MBD CO LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A biological sample dispensing method using a high-speed dispensing spotter according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: (a) injecting a biological sample into a nozzle tip; (b) inserting a nozzle of a head part of the high-speed dispensing spotter into an inlet of the nozzle tip made of an elastic material, and allowing the nozzle to pick up the nozzle tip to be connected with the nozzle tip; and (c) injecting compressed air into the nozzle tip through the nozzle, so that the biological sample in a body part of the nozzle tip is discharged through a funnel-shaped discharge part of the nozzle tip, wherein, in step (b), the nozzle is arranged between the inlet and the body part of the nozzle tip, and is prevented from entering the body part by a ring-shaped protrusion protruding from an inner surface of the nozzle tip.