Fluidic Device Circulation Mixer for Point-of-Care Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current micro-total analysis systems (µ-TAS) with loop-like flow paths are inadequate for performing multiple reactions quickly with small sample amounts in point-of-care testing, as they primarily focus on circulating liquids and detecting DNA, failing to efficiently handle the need for continuous reactions with limited sample volumes.
Innovation Solution
A fluidic device with a circulation mixer featuring multiple flow paths, valves, and capture/detection parts that allow for the precise control of liquid volumes, mixing, and sample processing, including the use of carrier particles to capture and detect substances, enabling efficient mixing, capture, and detection of sample substances within a small sample volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a loop-like flow path with a pump is used to mix solutions, then mixing capability is provided, but the system cannot efficiently perform multiple reactions quickly with small sample volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation flow path is divided into multiple partitions by circulation flow path valves, creating separate reaction zones. This segmentation allows different reactions to occur simultaneously in different partitions while using the same small sample volume, thereby increasing reaction throughput without requiring additional sample material.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation flow path valves are opened and closed periodically to control the movement of solutions between partitions. This periodic action enables sequential mixing and reaction processes to occur in an organized manner, allowing multiple reactions to be performed quickly by cycling through different valve states that facilitate reagent addition, mixing, and detection in a timed sequence.
2Manufacturing precision
If circulation flow path valves are used to partition the flow path, then precise volume control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation flow path valves serve multiple functions: they partition the flow path into separate volumes, control the direction of solution flow, enable precise volume measurement by tracking valve operations, and facilitate the sequential addition of reagents. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the precision control capabilities.
3Productivity
If multiple circulation flow paths are used for parallel processing, then reaction throughput increases, but device complexity and sample volume requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamically controllable valve configurations to create multiple reaction partitions within a single circulation flow path. By opening and closing different valve combinations, the same physical flow path can be reconfigured into different numbers of reaction zones depending on the experimental needs. This dynamic reconfiguration provides parallel processing capability without requiring multiple fixed flow paths, thereby increasing throughput while limiting the increase in structural complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 3~4A
Figure 4B~4C
AI summary
A fluidic device includes: a circulation flow path; and a capture part arranged on the circulation flow path and configured to capture a sample substance in a solution and/or a detection part arranged on the circulation flow path and configured to detect a sample substance in a solution. A method of capturing a sample substance that is bound to a carrier particle, using a fluidic device which includes a circulation flow path and a capture part arranged on the circulation flow path and configured to capture the carrier particle and in which the circulation flow path has two or more circulation flow path valves, includes: an introduction step of, in a state where the circulation flow path valve is closed, introducing a solution that includes a sample substance to at least one of partitions partitioned by the circulation flow path valve and introducing a solution that includes a carrier particle which is bound to the sample substance to at least another of the partitions; a mix step of opening all of the circulation flow path valves and circulating and mixing a solution in the circulation flow path; and a capture step of capturing the carrier particle by the capture part.