Frameless Flow Cell Fluid Gap Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nucleic acid sequencing systems are resource intensive, requiring significant reagents and time, with existing massively parallel systems still having room for improvement in efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The development of improved flow cell systems with a frameless design and fluid recycling capabilities, where fluid enters through an inlet, flows through a gap between a substrate and cover, and exits as droplets at the outer perimeter, allowing for efficient fluid management and reagent recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If fluid exits through discrete outlets in conventional flow cells, then fluid flow control is simplified, but reagent consumption increases and processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the frame structure from the flow cell, creating an open perimeter design where fluid exits through the gap between substrate and cover rather than through discrete outlets. This eliminates the need for complex outlet structures while reducing reagent consumption by allowing continuous fluid flow across the entire flow cell surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the fluid exit path into multiple locations along the open perimeter, allowing fluid to exit at various points around the flow cell rather than through a single centralized outlet. This segmentation enables more efficient fluid distribution and reduces reagent waste.
2Productivity
If flow cell processing time is reduced for higher throughput, then productivity increases, but fluid flow efficiency and reagent utilization worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements continuous fluid flow through the flow cell by eliminating discrete outlets and using an open perimeter design. Fluid continuously enters through the inlet, flows across the entire flow cell surface, and exits along the perimeter, maintaining constant useful action without interruption or waste, thereby increasing productivity while optimizing reagent utilization.
3Area of stationary object
If flow cell surface area is increased for more analyte capacity, then measurement capability improves, but reagent consumption and fluid management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses hydraulic principles to optimize fluid flow across large surface areas. By creating a shallow fluid gap between the substrate and cover with the open perimeter design, the system efficiently distributes reagents across large flow cell surfaces using pressure-driven flow, increasing analyte capacity without proportionally increasing reagent consumption.
4Strength
If frame structure is retained in flow cell design, then structural support is adequate, but fluid flow resistance increases and droplet collection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the frame structure from the flow cell design, extracting the structural element that was causing fluid flow resistance. The open perimeter design eliminates the frame's interference with droplet formation and collection while maintaining adequate support through alternative means, thereby improving fluid flow efficiency and productivity.
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 approach minimizes reagent consumption and reduces processing time by optimizing fluid flow and recycling, enabling more efficient nucleic acid sequencing while maintaining large surface areas for analysis.
Implementation Method 1
fluid exits the flow cell at the outer perimeter between the substrate and the cover such that fluid drops down from the outer perimeter as droplets
Data Source
AI summary
A flow cell including a substrate that is configured to support an analyte array, a cover, and an adhesive arrangement spacing the cover from the substrate to define a fluid gap between the substrate and cover. The flow cell also includes an inlet in fluid communication with the fluid gap and an outer perimeter. In one example implementation, fluid enters the flow cell at the inlet, flows through the fluid gap, and exits the flow cell at the outer perimeter between the substrate and the cover; with adhesive gaps in the adhesive arrangement at the outer perimeter of the flow cell allowing fluid to exit from the fluid gap.