Flexible Spring Heater for Bioassay Thermal Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a low-cost and easy-to-use method for processing biofluids and performing nucleic acid amplification testing in a point-of-care device that minimizes user exposure to reagents and protects them from excessive temperature exposure.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a flexible heater in thermal contact with a flexible spring within a microfluidic cartridge apparatus, allowing for efficient thermal energy transfer to facilitate nucleic acid amplification reactions in a portable and handheld device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heating system is used for nucleic acid amplification, then amplification reaction can be performed, but reagents may be exposed to excessive temperature
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible spring acts as an intermediary thermal transfer medium between the heater and the microfluidic cartridge containing reagents. The spring conducts heat to achieve amplification temperature while its material properties and design limit maximum temperature exposure to reagents, serving as a thermal buffer that mediates between the heating source and sensitive biological materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system applies temperature locally and selectively to specific regions of the microfluidic cartridge where amplification occurs, rather than uniformly heating the entire cartridge. This localized heating approach ensures that reagents in non-heating zones are not exposed to excessive temperatures while still achieving required amplification temperature in the reaction zone.
2Ease of operation
If a portable point-of-care device is designed, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple functions into a single integrated unit: the heater, microfluidic cartridge, and detection components are combined into one portable apparatus. This consolidation improves ease of operation by providing a all-in-one solution while managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of flexible springs and thin-film heating elements enables miniaturization and portability of the device. These flexible components can be integrated into compact form factors while maintaining thermal performance, allowing the device to be portable without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Productivity
If thermal energy is transferred efficiently, then amplification speed is improved, but temperature control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system operates with periodic thermal cycles, delivering thermal energy in controlled intervals through the flexible spring. This periodic heating approach accelerates amplification by providing intense thermal energy when needed while allowing cooling periods for temperature control, achieving fast amplification without losing temperature management capability.
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
This solution enables effective nucleic acid amplification in a point-of-care setting, reducing the time required for amplification and allowing for portable, user-friendly testing while protecting reagents from excessive temperature exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible heater in thermal contact with a flexible spring... provide thermal energy from the heater to a microfluidic cartridge
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising a flexible heater in thermal contact with a flexible spring, wherein the flexible spring is configured to provide thermal energy from the heater to a cartridge when the cartridge is in contact with the flexible spring. Methods of making and using the same are also disclosed.