Fluid Exchange Plug for Well Plates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing well plates and petri dishes lack systems for improved environmental control over internal conditions without requiring specialized equipment or manufacturing, necessitating a solution for enhanced fluidic exchange systems.

Innovation Solution

A fluid exchange plug device configured for insertion into multi-well plates and petri dishes, featuring sockets and stoppers that allow for fluid exchange and perfusion, enabling the alteration of physical, chemical, or biological conditions within the plates or dishes without custom reactors, and compatible with various well plate and petri dish sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If standard well plates and petri dishes are used without modification, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but environmental control over internal conditions is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental controlVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The plug device is inserted into the well plate or petri dish, nesting a functional component within the existing structure. The plug body contains multiple sockets and stoppers that are nested within the single plug housing, allowing complex fluidic functionality to be added without replacing the entire plate system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The plug acts as an intermediary component between the external environment and the internal well/dish environment. It provides controlled access points through sockets and stoppers, mediating fluid exchange while maintaining the structural integrity and environmental isolation of the original plate or dish.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If fluid exchange systems are added to well plates and petri dishes, then environmental control and fluidic exchange capability are improved, but the ease of operation and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluidic exchange capabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The plug device is designed to be universally compatible with multiple well plate formats (6-well, 12-well, 24-well, 48-well, 96-well, 384-well, 1536-well) and petri dishes. The same basic plug design with appropriate sizing can perform fluidic exchange functions across different plate types, simplifying manufacturing by using common components for multiple applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The plug body is segmented into multiple independent sockets, each capable of receiving tubing for separate fluidic connections. The stoppers are individually positioned within each socket, allowing modular assembly and manufacturing. This segmentation enables the creation of complex fluidic networks from simple, manufacturable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If multiple sockets and stoppers are integrated into the plug body, then fluidic exchange and perfusion capabilities are enhanced, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid exchange efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional elements (sockets, stoppers, lumens, sealing surfaces) are merged into a single integrated plug body. This consolidation allows complex fluidic exchange capabilities to be achieved while maintaining a simple overall structure that fits within the standard plate well or dish opening, avoiding the need for multiple separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The device extends the utility of standard well plates and petri dishes by allowing for improved environmental control, enabling intermittent and continuous fluid exchange, perfusion, and imaging without disrupting the samples, effectively expanding experimental conditions and maintaining the physical form of commercial plates.

Implementation Method 1

a stopper extending from the lower surface of the plug body... wherein the stopper is sized to fit within a well of a multi-well plate or petri dish

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

wherein the second opening is fluidly connected to the at least one opening of the second end by at least one socket lumen extending through the plug body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid transport through lumen:

Data Source

PatentUS20230134238A1Well plate and petri dish fluid exchange plug

Publication Date: 2023.05.04 RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA

AI summary

The present invention provides fluidic (both air and liquid) exchange systems configured to retrofit standard cell/tissue culture well plates (6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 384, 1536 wells, and the like) and petri dishes by plugging into the openings of each well or dish.