Gel Card Lid Segmentation for Non-Piercing Well Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional gel card analysis automata face issues with needle tip damage from piercing metal lids and contamination risks when handling non-identical reaction wells, requiring frequent needle washing and downtime for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A receptacle with a heat-sealed lid featuring pre-cuts between wells allows for non-piercing opening of selected wells using an uncapping station with heated grippers, eliminating the need for piercing and reducing contamination risks by allowing selective opening and closure of reaction wells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle pierces the metal lid to open the well, then the well can be accessed for liquid dispensing, but the needle tip is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into separate portions, each covering a specific well. Each lid portion can be independently removed to access the corresponding well without piercing, thus protecting the needle tip while enabling selective well access.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid portions are pre-attached to the receptacle body in a sealed manner, allowing them to be removed as complete units rather than requiring piercing. This preliminary sealing structure enables non-piercing removal that protects needle integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the needle pierces the metal lid to access the well, then liquid dispensing is enabled, but reagent contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is segmented into separate portions for each well, allowing selective removal of only the required lid portion. This prevents the needle from contacting reagents in other wells, eliminating cross-contamination while enabling liquid dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid portion is completely removed from the receptacle body rather than being pierced. This extraction approach eliminates the source of contamination (reagents adhering to the lid) from the needle path, preventing cross-contamination between wells.
3Reliability
If the metal lid is used to seal the wells, then the wells are sealed, but frequent needle replacement is required
Solution Approach 1:
The lid portions are designed as disposable or easily replaceable components that can be removed and discarded after use. This eliminates the need for expensive needle replacement and complex cleaning procedures, maintaining operational continuity while preserving well sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid portions are designed to be easily removed and discarded after a single use. This approach maintains reliable well sealing for each new lid while eliminating the downtime and cost associated with needle replacement and cleaning between samples.
4Ease of operation
If the entire lid is removed to open a well, then the well is accessible, but other wells become exposed to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into individual portions, each corresponding to a specific well. Only the required lid portion is removed to access a specific well, while other lid portions remain in place to protect their respective wells from contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
Each lid portion provides localized protection for its corresponding well. The removal of one lid portion does not affect the sealing integrity of other wells, allowing selective access while maintaining contamination protection for unselected wells.
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 solution prevents needle damage and contamination, reduces the frequency of washing, and enhances operational efficiency by allowing selective and simultaneous opening of multiple wells without affecting unselected ones, thereby improving the automation process.
Implementation Method 1
the lid being heat-sealed by means of a heat-sealing film or heat-bonded to the body by means of an adhesive
Implementation Method 2
each of the heated gripping devices being configured to heat and remove said portion of lid... brought against the lid or one of the portions of lid so as to melt the heat-sealing film or the glue sealing the portion of lid to the body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Receptacle of gel card type (410) comprising a body (412), formed in which are several adjacent wells (4141-4145), initially sealed by a lid (418) having a length and a width. The lid has at least one precut (450) between two adjacent wells so as to form at least one lid portion (418a-418e) sealing at least one of the wells of the receptacle.