Electrophoresis Chip Segmentation for Continuous Medium Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrophoretic chips require complex and costly mechanisms for handling and connecting the separation medium supplier, leading to increased analysis costs due to unnecessary medium usage, dehydration, and bubble introduction, as well as the need for high-pressure seals.
Innovation Solution
An electrophoretic chip design with a separation medium introduction channel and a separation channel, allowing the separation medium supplier to remain connected, eliminating the need for a drive mechanism and high-precision seals, and enabling efficient medium filling and replacement without introducing bubbles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the separation medium supplier is connected to the electrophoretic chip during electrophoresis, then the apparatus configuration is simplified, but the voltage application is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The channel is divided into three distinct portions: a separation channel portion for electrophoresis, a separation medium introduction channel portion for medium injection, and a buffer reservoir. This segmentation allows the separation medium supplier to be connected to the introduction channel portion without obstructing voltage application to the separation channel portion, resolving the contradiction between simplified configuration and reliable voltage application.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation medium introduction channel portion acts as an intermediary between the separation medium supplier and the separation channel portion. This intermediate channel allows the supplier to remain connected during electrophoresis without interfering with the electric field establishment in the separation channel, thus maintaining both simplified configuration and reliable voltage application.
2Reliability
If the injection nozzle end is made sufficiently larger than the opening for assured connection, then connection reliability is improved, but dead volume increases requiring additional separation medium
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed with a dedicated separation medium introduction channel portion that is pre-configured for medium injection. This preliminary design allows for precise nozzle-to-opening alignment without requiring excessive nozzle size for compensation, thereby maintaining connection reliability while minimizing dead volume and separation medium consumption.
3Reliability
If the separation medium supplier is removed from the electrophoretic chip during electrophoresis, then voltage application is ensured, but the apparatus becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the channel into distinct portions for separation and medium introduction, the system allows the supplier to remain connected during electrophoresis without obstructing voltage application. This eliminates the need for removal mechanisms, simplifying the apparatus configuration while maintaining reliable voltage application.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the injection nozzle is disconnected and reconnected frequently, then medium replacement is enabled, but the separation medium dries out and bubbles are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The separation medium introduction channel portion maintains a continuous connection between the supplier and the separation channel, preventing medium drying and bubble formation. This continuous connection enables medium replacement when needed while avoiding the harmful effects of disconnection and reconnection, thus reducing medium waste while maintaining adaptability.
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
Simplifies the apparatus configuration, reduces analysis costs by minimizing medium waste, and allows for repeated analyses without buffer replacement, while ensuring safety from leakage currents.
Implementation Method 1
a predetermined migration voltage is applied between the ends of the channels to electrophorese the sample from the sample inlet toward the sample outlet. With the electrophoresis, the components in the sample are separated in the longitudinal direction of the separation channel owing to the separation medium
Implementation Method 2
the portion between the third opening and the second opening is made to be a separation medium introduction channel portion for transporting a separation medium injected from the second opening to the separation channel portion
Data Source
AI summary
A channel (12) is formed inside a transparent substrate (11), and the two ends are respectively connected to a sample inlet (13) and a separation medium filling port (14) both open to outside, and a sample outlet (15) which is open to outside is provided on the channel (12). The portion between the sample inlet (13) and the sample outlet (15) is a separation channel portion (12a), and the portion between the sample outlet (15) and the separation medium filling port (14) is a separation medium introduction channel portion (12b). A separation medium supplier is connected to the separation medium filling port (14) and the separation medium introduction channel portion (12b) is filled with a separation medium. Then a sample is dropped to the sample inlet (13), with the sample medium supplier still connected, to introduce the sample to the separation channel portion (12a). And then, buffer liquid is poured in buffer reservoirs (16) and (17) and a migration voltage is applied to perform a migration analysis. Since an analysis can be repeatedly performed with the sample medium supplier kept connected, it is not necessary to disconnect the supplier from the electrophoretic chip each time a migration is performed.