Flowcell Cartridge Floating Brackets for Precise Port Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic flowcells are difficult to decontaminate after sample analysis, leading to frequent replacement and increased costs, as access to the flow channels is challenging and decontamination methods are inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A flowcell cartridge design featuring a floating microfluidic plate and support brackets with indexing features and gaskets that allow for precise alignment and sealing with fluidic ports, preventing rolling and ensuring a liquid-tight seal, while allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a traditional fixed flowcell design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the flowcell cannot be easily decontaminated and must be frequently replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The flowcell system is divided into separable components: a reusable cartridge body and a replaceable flowcell insert. This segmentation allows the flowcell to be easily removed and replaced after decontamination, resolving the contradiction between maintaining a simple overall structure and enabling easy decontamination through component separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bracket is designed with floating capability, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position relative to the cartridge body. This dynamic adjustment ensures proper alignment and sealing during assembly while maintaining ease of replacement, addressing both the decontamination need and structural simplicity requirements.
2Reliability
If the flowcell is frequently replaced, then decontamination issues are resolved, but costs increase and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The flowcell is extracted as a separate, easily removable component from the cartridge system. This extraction enables rapid replacement of contaminated flowcells without dismantling the entire cartridge, maintaining reliability through easy decontamination while preserving productivity by minimizing replacement time.
Solution Approach 2:
The design accepts that flowcells may be disposable or require frequent replacement, but makes this economically viable by creating a simple, modular cartridge system where only the flowcell insert needs replacement, not the entire cartridge. This reduces the effective cost per analysis while maintaining cleanliness standards.
3Reliability
If precise alignment and sealing are ensured through complex indexing features and gaskets, then sealing reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A gasket is introduced as an intermediary sealing element between the support bracket and cartridge body. This gasket provides the liquid-tight seal while the floating support bracket handles alignment, separating the sealing function from the alignment function and reducing overall complexity compared to integrating both functions into a single complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating support bracket design allows the component to self-align with the cartridge body through its floating mechanism. This self-alignment capability reduces the need for complex external alignment mechanisms while ensuring precise positioning for reliable sealing, effectively making the system self-adjusting.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cartridge for use with chemical or biological analysis systems 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.