Flow Cell Cavity Formation via Layer Bulging

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing of microfluidic flow cells is labor-intensive due to the need for precise microstructuring and fluid-tight layer connections, requiring tight manufacturing tolerances in the micrometer range.

Innovation Solution

A flow cell design where an operator device with a depression element allows the relevant layer to bulge into the depression, forming a cavity structure, and the compressed layers delimit this structure laterally in a fluid-tight manner, eliminating the need for precise microstructuring and leak-free assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If precise microstructuring and fluid-tight layer connections are used, then manufacturing reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid-tight connectionVSAvoidmanufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity structure is pre-formed in the support element before the layers are assembled. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex post-assembly microstructuring and ensures fluid-tight connections are achieved simply by placing layers onto the pre-formed cavity, significantly reducing manufacturing time while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support element acts as an intermediary component that provides the cavity structure. Instead of directly microstructuring the layers to form cavities, the support element serves as a mediator that already contains the cavity, simplifying the assembly process and ensuring reliable fluid-tight connections without complex manufacturing steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If precise microstructuring is used, then cavity structure precision is improved, but manufacturing effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecavity structure precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity structure is pre-formed in the support element during its manufacturing process, before the flow cell layers are assembled. This transfers the precision requirement to the support element manufacturing, which can be done using standard molding techniques, eliminating the need for complex post-assembly microstructuring operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cavity structure is extracted from the layer assembly process and placed into the support element. This separation allows the cavity to be manufactured independently with standard precision techniques, while the layers can be assembled using simpler, less precise methods, thereby reducing overall manufacturing effort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If fixed cavity structure is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidapplication flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support element is designed with a deformable cavity structure that can be dynamically adjusted after manufacturing. This allows the same manufactured component to adapt to different applications by changing the cavity shape or volume, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while gaining versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support element with deformable cavity is designed to serve multiple functions and applications. By making the cavity adaptable, a single manufactured component can be used across different applications, eliminating the need for multiple specialized components and maintaining production simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 approach simplifies the production of flow cells, enabling their use in various applications by adapting the operator device, and allows for controlled cavity formation and fluid handling, improving flushing processes and reducing contamination.

Implementation Method 1

By applying a negative pressure to the indentation, a suction force can be generated, which causes the layer of the flow cell facing the indentation to bulge.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a suction force can be generated, which causes the layer of the flow cell facing the indentation to bulge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction force: Suction

Implementation Method 3

An overpressure can preferably also be applied to said depression, which makes it possible to quickly reverse the formation of the cavity structure and to press fluid contained in the cavity structure completely out of the cavity structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOverpressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP2576065B1Flow cell with cavity and diaphragm

Publication Date: 2018.12.05 THINXXS MICROTECHNOLOGY AG

Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6(c)
Figure 7(a)~10(b)

AI summary

An arrangement composed of a flow cell and an apparatus for operating the flow cell, wherein the flow cell has at least two layers, between which the operator device can produce a cavity structure or alter an existing cavity structure with curvature of at least one of the two layers.