Fluidic Connector Design for Microfluidic Dead Volume Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfluidic systems face challenges with dead volume and inefficient fluid interface between devices and the external world, leading to sample and reagent wastage due to mismatched volumes and recirculation issues.
Innovation Solution
The development of fluidic connectors that connect independent microfluidic channels in a substrate, allowing controlled fluid communication and reducing dead volume by using a fluid path with a volume control element and non-fluidic features for stable connections, enabling efficient sample handling and reagent storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tubing with small inner diameter is used to connect microfluidic device, then fluid delivery is enabled, but dead volume increases due to gap between tubing and microchannel
Solution Approach 1:
The connector integrates multiple functional elements within a nested structure where the sealing element is positioned inside the connector body, and the O-ring is nested within the sealing element structure. This nesting approach minimizes the overall footprint and reduces dead volume while maintaining reliable fluid delivery through proper sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector acts as an intermediary component between the tubing and the microchannel, providing a transition interface that eliminates the gap problem. The sealing element and O-ring serve as intermediary sealing mechanisms that ensure tight connection without requiring large clearance, thus reducing dead volume while maintaining fluid delivery reliability.
2Quantity of substance
If microfluidic device is miniaturized to reduce sample volume, then sample consumption decreases, but interface complexity with external world increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed as a universal interface component that handles multiple functions: mechanical connection, fluid sealing, and alignment guidance. By consolidating these functions into a single standardized component, the interface complexity is reduced despite the miniaturized scale of the microfluidic device.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is segmented into distinct functional zones: the external connection portion, the sealing element, the O-ring, and the internal flow path. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity in the interface design.
3Loss of substance
If connector design minimizes dead volume, then sample waste reduces, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is designed as a flexible component that can deform to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations. This flexibility compensates for imprecise manufacturing without creating gaps that would increase dead volume, thus reducing sample waste while lowering manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design utilizes parameter changes in the sealing element geometry and material properties to achieve effective sealing. By optimizing the cross-sectional shape and elasticity parameters of the sealing element, the design achieves low dead volume with relaxed manufacturing tolerances compared to rigid precision-machined seals.
Data Source
AI summary
Fluidic connectors, methods, and devices for performing analyses (e.g., immunoassays) in microfluidic systems are provided. In some embodiments, a fluidic connector having a fluid path is used to connect two independent channels formed in a substrate so as to allow fluid communication between the two independent channels. One or both of the independent channels may be pre-filled with reagents (e.g., antibody solutions, washing buffers and amplification reagents), which can be used to perform the analysis. These reagents may be stored in the channels of the substrate for long periods amounts of time (e.g., 1 year) prior to use.