FTIR Biosensor Cartridge with Segmented Adhesive Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a growing need for affordable, disposable cartridges for Frustrated Total Internal Reflection (FTIR) biosensors, which require a cost-effective solution for biosensing applications, particularly in immuno-reactions where biochemical materials are altered during experiments.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge design featuring a bottom portion with a well for accommodating a sample and a cover portion made of tape or foil, where the cover portion can optionally include a layer of adhesive, with reagents and label particles applied to specific sites on the cover portion, ensuring they are enclosed within the well to prevent interaction with the sample, and the bottom portion can include a recess for a magnetic field to facilitate binding of super-paramagnetic label particles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complete adhesive layer is used between bottom portion and cover portion, then sealing and structural integrity are improved, but sample contamination and interference with detection are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is applied selectively only to specific regions of the bottom portion that do not contact the sample, creating local differentiation in adhesive application. This ensures sealing where needed while preventing sample contamination in the well area.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive layer is segmented into discrete regions rather than forming a continuous layer across the entire bottom portion. This segmentation allows the adhesive to provide structural bonding while avoiding contact with the sample in the well.
2Ease of manufacture
If disposable cartridges are used for immuno-reactions, then cost-effectiveness and disposability are improved, but manufacturing complexity and precision requirements are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Reagents and label particles are pre-applied to the cover portion during manufacturing before the cartridge is assembled. This preliminary action ensures precise placement of reagents at correct locations while simplifying the assembly process for disposable cartridges.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover portion serves multiple functions by combining the adhesive layer, reagent application area, and sealing function into a single component. This merging reduces the number of separate manufacturing steps while maintaining 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
The cartridge provides a cost-effective, disposable solution for FTIR biosensors, allowing for efficient detection of specific molecules by preventing adhesive interaction with the sample and enabling precise binding and detection of label particles, enhancing the reliability and affordability of biosensing processes.
Implementation Method 1
light is coupled into the sample at an angle of total internal reflection. If no particles are present close to the sample surface, the light is completely reflected.
Implementation Method 2
target particles, for example super-paramagnetic label beads, are used which bind to a specific binding site or spot only, if the molecule to be detected is present within the analyte.
Implementation Method 3
If, however, label particles are bound to said surface, the condition of total internal reflection is violated, a portion of the light is scattered into the sample and thus the amount of light reflected by the surface is decreased.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention provides a biosensor cartridge (11) comprising a bottom portion (1) with a well (2) adapted to accommodate a liquid sample and a cover portion (3) for closing said well (2). The well (2) has a sensor surface (4). The bottom portion (1) is adapted for allowing light to enter along a first optical path (5), to be reflected at the sensor surface (4) and to exit along a second optical path (6). The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such a cartridge (11).