Flow Cell Segmentation for Nucleic Acid Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nucleic acid analysis devices face complications in data processing due to differences in optical characteristics between reagents and adjacent materials, leading to reduced throughput and increased complexity in signal correction.
Innovation Solution
A flow cell with separate nucleic acid and fluorescent particle adsorption regions, using a blocking layer to prevent nucleic acid adsorption on the fluorescent particle region, allowing for independent arrangement and operation check without reducing the measurement area, thus simplifying data processing and maintaining throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If fluorescent particles are arranged in the measurement area for operation checks, then the device can perform self-diagnosis, but the area available for gene measurement is reduced and data processing becomes complicated due to different adjacent materials
Solution Approach 1:
The flow cell substrate is divided into distinct regions: a first region for gene measurement and a second region for fluorescent particle arrangement. This spatial segmentation allows operation checks and gene measurements to occur simultaneously in separate areas with identical reagent environments, eliminating the need for complex signal correction while maintaining device self-diagnosis capability
Solution Approach 2:
A blocking layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the fluorescent particles and the substrate in the second region. This blocking layer prevents gene adsorption in the fluorescent particle region while allowing the fluorescent particles to emit signals for operation checks, thus isolating the two functions spatially and chemically
2Measurement precision
If reference genes are arranged in the measurement area for quality evaluation, then the accuracy of genetic testing can be assessed, but the measurement area for actual genes is reduced leading to decreased throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement area is segmented into a first region for gene measurement and a second region for fluorescent particle arrangement. This allows quality evaluation using fluorescent particles to occur simultaneously with gene measurement in separate regions, maintaining both high throughput and measurement precision without sacrificing measurement area
Solution Approach 2:
Fluorescent particles are used as artificial copies or proxies for reference genes in the second region. These particles emit known fluorescence signals that allow quality evaluation of the optical system without occupying measurement area needed for actual gene sequencing, thus maintaining device throughput while enabling accuracy assessment
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 configuration enables uncomplicated data processing and maintains device throughput by ensuring the same reagent environment for both nucleic acid and fluorescent particle measurements, eliminating the need for signal intensity correction and allowing for efficient operation checks without user intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a blocking substance to be specifically adsorbed on the fluorescent particle adsorption region is adsorbed on the fluorescent particle adsorption region
Implementation Method 2
a material that emits known fluorescence with a known photon energy
Data Source
AI summary
Embodied is a flow cell that is for analysis of nucleic acid and that is capable of inhibiting complication of data processing without a reduction in throughput. The flow cell for analysis of nucleic acid comprises: a flow path formation body that has a flow path into which a nucleic acid sample flows; and a flow path formation body support member that has a region in which nucleic acid in a nucleic acid sample flowing into the flow path is to be adsorbed. The flow path formation body support member has the nucleic acid adsorption region in which nucleic acid is to be adsorbed, and a fluorescent particle adsorption region which is separated from the nucleic acid adsorption region, and in which fluorescent particles are to be adsorbed. In the fluorescent particle adsorption region, a blocking substance that can be specifically adsorbed to the fluorescent particle adsorption region is adsorbed.