Floating Flowcell Cartridge Alignment for Reusable Microfluidics

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microfluidic flowcells are difficult to decontaminate after sample analysis, leading to the common practice of replacing them, which can be inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

The design of a flowcell cartridge with a microfluidic plate and floating support brackets, featuring indexing features and gaskets with seals, allows for precise alignment and sealing with fluidic ports, facilitating easy integration with analysis devices while minimizing contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If flowcells are replaced frequently to avoid contamination, then contamination risk is reduced, but operational efficiency and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a reusable flowcell cartridge design that can be decontaminated and reused multiple times. The cartridge includes a flowcell with channels and chambers that can be subjected to automated decontamination cycles using chemical or thermal methods, allowing the same physical flowcell to serve multiple samples without cross-contamination, thereby eliminating the need for frequent replacements while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The flowcell cartridge is designed with integrated decontamination capabilities where the system can automatically clean and prepare the flowcell for the next sample. The cartridge structure includes features that facilitate automated cleaning protocols, allowing the flowcell to serve itself between uses without manual intervention, thus maintaining contamination prevention while improving operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If flowcells are replaced frequently, then contamination risk is reduced, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a reusable flowcell cartridge design that can be decontaminated and reused multiple times. The cartridge includes a flowcell with channels and chambers that can be subjected to automated decontamination cycles using chemical or thermal methods, allowing the same physical flowcell to serve multiple samples without cross-contamination, thereby eliminating the need for frequent replacements while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent reverses the disposable approach by creating a durable, reusable cartridge that can withstand multiple decontamination cycles. The cartridge is designed with materials and structural features that resist degradation from repeated cleaning, allowing a single cartridge to replace what would otherwise require multiple disposable flowcells, thus reducing material consumption and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Manufacturing precision

If indexing features and gaskets are added for precise alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric indexing features including protrusions on the cartridge body that correspond to recesses in the holder, and asymmetric gasket positioning that ensures unique alignment. These asymmetric features provide precise positioning without requiring complex symmetric mechanisms, achieving high alignment precision with minimal structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The gasket serves as an intermediary element between the cartridge and holder that facilitates precise alignment. The gasket with its specific thickness and material properties acts as a mediator that compensates for manufacturing tolerances and ensures proper sealing and positioning, simplifying the overall alignment mechanism while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250187017A1Flowcell cartridge with floating bracket

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 ILLUMINA CAMBRIDGE LTD

AI summary

A cartridge for use with chemical or biological analysis systems, as well as methods of using the same, is provided. The cartridge may include a floating microfluidic plate that is held in the cartridge using one or more floating support brackets that incorporate gaskets that may seal against fluidic ports on the microfluidic plate. The floating support brackets may include indexing features that may align the microfluidic plate with the seals.