Fluid Delivery Device Passive Pressure Equilibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices face challenges in delivering fluids to flow-through compartments, particularly in multiplexed chemical reaction systems, where precise control over liquid delivery to solid phase materials is difficult, leading to issues of under-delivery or over-delivery, and pressure equalization is not effectively managed.
Innovation Solution
A fluid delivery device that creates a pressure differential across a compartment using a plate with separate top and bottom chambers, a pressure equilibration channel, and a drain port, allowing for controlled liquid flow through a solid phase material and subsequent rapid pressure equilibration to prevent excess liquid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pressure differential is applied to deliver liquid through solid phase material, then liquid flow is achieved, but pressure equalization is slow and liquid delivery is difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the pressure equalization function from the liquid flow path by introducing a separate gas channel that is segmented from the liquid pathway. This allows independent control of pressure equalization without interfering with liquid delivery through the solid phase material, resolving the contradiction between delivery speed and control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
A gas phase intermediary is introduced through the separate gas channel to mediate pressure equalization between the inlet and outlet sides. This gas intermediary enables rapid pressure balancing without requiring liquid to flow backward or be removed, achieving both fast equalization and precise liquid delivery control.
2Measurement precision
If multiple metering pumps are used for multiplexed delivery, then delivery accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separate gas channel serves multiple functions: it enables rapid pressure equalization, controls liquid delivery timing, and prevents backflow across multiple reaction compartments simultaneously. This single structural feature replaces the need for multiple individual metering pumps and complex plumbing systems, achieving both accuracy and simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the gas pressure differential to automatically control liquid flow and equalization without requiring active control of multiple pumps. The pressure-driven mechanism self-regulates liquid delivery to each compartment, eliminating the need for complex electronic control systems and multiple motorized components.
3Ease of operation
If liquid is delivered above solid phase bed, then delivery is simple, but liquid overflow or insufficient wetting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses pneumatic pressure control through the separate gas channel to precisely regulate liquid flow through the solid phase material. By controlling gas pressure, the system ensures uniform liquid distribution across the solid phase bed without overflow or insufficient wetting, maintaining both operational simplicity and distribution precision.
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 solution enables reliable and precise delivery of liquids to solid phase materials, preventing overflow or under-wetting, and allows for efficient chemical reactions by maintaining a controlled pressure differential without draining the compartment completely, thus optimizing liquid usage and reaction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure equilibration channel is separate from the compartment... rapidly eliminate the pressure differential, i.e. equilibrate the pressure across the compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid delivery device is configured to create a pressure differential across a compartment in which a liquid resides, causing the liquid to flow through the compartment. After a period of time, the fluid delivery device is configured to eliminate the pressure differential and thereby equilibrate the pressure across the compartment, with the use of a pressure equilibration channel that is separate from the compartment. The compartment may contain a packed bed of solid phase particles such as beads. In such case, the pressure differential causes the liquid to flow through the packed bed. The liquid may include chemical reagents or precursors that participate in chemical reactions on or at the solid phase particles. The reactions may relate to chemical synthesis, for example the synthesis of bio-chemicals such as nucleotides.