Electroporation Plate With Extended Electrodes For Simultaneous Well Shocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-throughput electroporators are limited by resistance to electrical energy, requiring sequential shocking of wells and lacking versatility due to integrated electrical connections in the plate substrate, which restricts simultaneous processing and protocol flexibility.
Innovation Solution
Electroporation plates with electrodes extending to the lid for electrical connections, allowing for separate power supply contact, enabling versatile protocols and simultaneous shocking of wells through configurable lid circuitry and interchangeable lids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If electrical connections are integrated in the plate substrate, then the plate structure is simplified, but versatility is reduced and simultaneous processing of multiple wells is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection system is segmented into separate components: the plate substrate contains only wells without integrated electrical connections, while the lid contains the electrical connection infrastructure. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component and enables versatile configuration of electrical connections for different protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is designed with universal electrical connection capabilities that can serve multiple functions: it can provide electrical connections for simultaneous shocking of multiple wells, support sequential shocking protocols, and accommodate different well plate configurations. The electrical connection system in the lid can be configured in various ways to meet different experimental requirements.
2Productivity
If all wells are shocked simultaneously, then processing time is reduced, but resistance to electrical energy increases beyond available capacitor capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The 96-well plate is divided into multiple banks (e.g., eight 12-well banks), and electrical connections are configured to allow simultaneous shocking of multiple banks when the total resistance remains within capacitor capacity. This segmentation enables progressive increase in parallel processing capability while maintaining electrical reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connection system provides dynamic configurability where the number of wells shocked simultaneously can be adjusted based on the electrical characteristics of the sample and capacitor capacity. The system can adapt between simultaneous shocking of fewer wells with higher energy delivery or simultaneous shocking of more wells with lower energy per well.
3Reliability
If sequential shocking of wells is performed, then electrical energy resistance is managed within capacitor capacity, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple banks of wells are electrically merged through common connection traces in the lid, allowing simultaneous electrical connection to multiple wells. This merging enables parallel processing of multiple samples that would otherwise require sequential treatment, dramatically reducing total processing time while maintaining reliable energy delivery within capacitor limits.
4Device complexity
If rectangular wells with plated electrodes on walls are used, then electrical connections are simplified, but versatility of well usage is limited and all connections must be in the solid substrate
Solution Approach 1:
Electrical connections are extracted from the solid substrate of the plate and relocated to the lid. The plate substrate is simplified to contain only the well structure, while all electrical connection infrastructure (traces, contacts, connectors) is placed in the lid. This extraction provides versatility in well usage and configuration without complicating the plate structure.
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
Enhances electroporation efficiency by allowing simultaneous shocking of multiple wells and flexible protocol configuration, reducing processing time and increasing versatility in electroporation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
applying an electric field to the suspension
Implementation Method 2
electroporation, a process for inserting exogenous molecular species into membranous structures by suspending the structures in a liquid solution of the exogenous species and applying an electric field to the suspension
Implementation Method 3
A high-conductivity buffer is used as the medium in which the exogenous species are dissolved and the membranous structures suspended during electroporation, and normal saline is commonly used since, in addition to presenting a relatively low resistance to an electric current
Data Source
AI summary
An electroporator for high-throughput electroporation is constructed with a well plate in which each well has internal electrodes that extend beyond the opening of the well to form contact areas, either as horizontal platforms extending laterally from the well rims or as extended heights of thin electrode plates. The electroporator also includes a lid that contains circuitry and electrical contacts that mate with the exposed contact areas in the well plate. The interchangeability of lids allows the wells to be shocked according to different protocols.