Fluid Control Apparatus Single Port Lab-on-a-Chip
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fluid control apparatuses for lab-on-a-chip systems require multiple ports for injecting, vacuuming, and discharging fluids, leading to increased size and complexity, especially when dealing with arrays of miniature reaction chambers.
Innovation Solution
A fluid control apparatus that uses a pump and valve array with an intermediate bin to selectively provide various degrees of pressure and vacuum, allowing for fluid control through a single port by storing discharged fluid in a reservoir unit, reducing the need for additional ports and simplifying the interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ports are used for injecting, vacuuming, and discharging fluids in conventional fluid control apparatuses, then fluid control functions are achieved, but the number of ports increases leading to increased size and complexity of the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The single port on the reaction chamber is designed to perform multiple functions: fluid injection, vacuum application, and fluid discharge. The pump and valve array connected to this single port can selectively provide positive pressure for injection and negative pressure for vacuum/discharge, allowing one port to replace what would traditionally require multiple ports
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate bin is introduced as a mediator component between the pump/valve array and the reaction chamber. This intermediate bin acts as a buffer that receives discharged fluid from the reaction chamber and allows the pump system to maintain vacuum or pressure control without direct connection complications, enabling complex fluid control through a simplified single-port interface
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ports are connected to the reaction chamber, then fluid control capability is improved, but the size of the fluid control apparatus increases geometrically
Solution Approach 1:
The pump and valve array system is designed to provide multiple fluid control functions (injection, vacuum, discharge) through a single port interface, eliminating the need for multiple separate port connections and their associated control components, thereby reducing the overall apparatus size
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple fluid control functions that would traditionally require separate ports and control units are merged into a single integrated system. The pump and valve array combines injection capability and vacuum capability in one unit, and the single port serves as a multi-functional interface, reducing the geometric growth of apparatus size
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of ports increases, then fluid control flexibility is enhanced, but the interface complexity between LOC and fluid control apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single port interface is designed to be universal, handling multiple fluid control operations (injection, vacuum, discharge) through one connection point. This simplifies the interface between the LOC and fluid control apparatus from what would traditionally require multiple separate connections and control interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate bin serves as an intermediary component that simplifies the interface complexity. It buffers between the reaction chamber's single port and the pump/valve array's multiple functions, allowing complex fluid control operations to be managed through a simplified single-port interface without requiring complex direct connections
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
Enables efficient fluid control in lab-on-a-chip systems by reducing the number of ports required, minimizing complexity, and allowing continuous operation without stopping, thus simplifying the interface and reducing the size of the fluid control apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a pump system including a pressure unit, which provides an air pressure and a vacuum unit, which provides a vacuum
Implementation Method 2
a pump system including a pressure unit, which provides an air pressure and a vacuum unit, which provides a vacuum
Implementation Method 3
an intermediate bin, which is connected between the pump and valve array and the fluid system, the intermediate bin including a reservoir unit, which stores a fluid discharged from the fluid system
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid control apparatus includes a fluid system, a pump and valve array, which selectively provides a pressure or a vacuum of various degrees, and an intermediate bin, which is connected between the pump and valve array and the fluid system, the intermediate bin including a reservoir unit, which stores a fluid discharged from the fluid system.