Electrophoretic Mobility Cell With Tapered Injection Ports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrophoretic mobility measurement cells face issues with bubble formation during sample injection, leading to measurement errors, and require separate electrode assembly and repeated use, which complicates the process.
Innovation Solution
An integrated electrophoretic mobility measurement cell with tapered sample injection and extraction ports and integral electrodes, designed to prevent bubble formation and allow for disposable use, along with a method to determine particle migration velocity at stationary planes within the cell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sample cell containers are used with separate electrode assembly, then the cell can be manufactured and used, but bubble formation occurs during sealing and injection, leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrode assembly with the sample cell container into a single integrated unit. The electrodes are built-in at the ends of the cell, eliminating separate assembly steps and reducing bubble formation during sealing. This integration ensures reliable measurement by preventing the harmful effect of bubbles while maintaining cell functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates tapered portions at the injection and extraction ports of the cell. These pre-designed tapered structures guide the sample solution flow and prevent bubble entrapment during the injection process. The tapered geometry is built into the cell manufacturing, performing the bubble-prevention action before measurement begins.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate electrodes are used with the cell, then the cell structure is simpler to manufacture, but assembly and disassembly procedures become complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrodes with the cell container into an integrated structure where the electrodes are built-in at the ends of the cell. This merging eliminates separate assembly and disassembly operations, reducing operational complexity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through integrated molding processes.
3Reliability
If disposable cells are used to avoid contamination, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but electrode recovery and reuse become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the electrodes with the disposable cell container, making the entire assembly a single-use unit. This eliminates the problem of electrode recovery and reuse while maintaining measurement accuracy through the integrated design that prevents bubble formation and contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a fully disposable cell design where the integrated electrodes are discarded with the cell after measurement. This approach eliminates the complexity of electrode recovery and ensures consistent measurement accuracy by avoiding contamination and bubble formation issues associated with reusable electrodes.
4Ease of manufacture
If straight-sided injection ports are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but bubbles form during sample injection and sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates tapered portions with curved surfaces at the injection and extraction ports of the cell. These curved, tapered geometries guide the sample solution flow smoothly and prevent bubble entrapment during injection and sealing operations, eliminating the harmful effect of bubbles while remaining manufacturable.
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 solution effectively prevents bubble formation during sample injection, simplifies electrode assembly, and ensures accurate measurement of electrophoretic mobility and ζ potential by using a tapered cap design and integral electrodes, reducing measurement errors and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the inner side surface of the tubular sample injection portion is formed so that the cross-sectional area of the tube increases with distance from the internal space, and the area of the cross section of the first side surface decreases gradually in the direction of insertion of the first cap. With this arrangement, as the first cap is pushed in, the sample solution that fills the internal space flows out from between the first side surface and the inner side surface of the sample injection portion
Implementation Method 2
An apparatus that measures the electrophoretic mobility and the ζ (zeta) potential of particles that are contained inside a sample cell container and move under the influence of an electric field is called an electrophoretic mobility measurement apparatus
Implementation Method 3
An electroosmotic flow is a movement, due to the presence of ions, of the liquid that supports the particle dispersion. The ions are transported by the electric field
Implementation Method 4
light is irradiated on the sample solution, scattered light emitted from a certain region of the sample cell container is detected by a photodetector, the velocity of the particles is calculated by analyzing the frequency components of the scattered light
Data Source
AI summary
An electrophoretic mobility measurement cell includes a container having a rectangular parallelepiped internal space for introducing a sample solution, two electrodes for applying an electric field to the internal space, tubular sample injection and extraction portions in communication with the internal space, first and second caps for covering the sample injection and extraction portions and sealing the internal space, the first cap has a first side surface contacting an inner side surface of the tubular sample injection portion, the inner side surface formed so that the cross-sectional area of the tube increases with distance from the internal space, and the area of the cross section of the first side surface decreases in the direction of insertion of the first cap. The cell and electrode portions are formed integrally, the electrode portions are made disposable together with the cell, and bubbles are unlikely to remain during injection of the sample solution.