Gel Card Uncapping Station Thermal Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional automated analyzers face issues with needle tip damage and contamination when piercing metal covers on gel cards, requiring frequent needle replacement and washing between different reagents in non-identical reaction holes.

Innovation Solution

A station with cutting members to create cover portions between adjacent holes and a heating gripping device to remove these portions, allowing selective opening of reaction holes without piercing, thereby preventing contamination and reducing the need for frequent washing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the metal cover is pierced using a needle to open holes, then the holes can be opened for liquid distribution, but the needle tips are damaged and require frequent replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehole opening operationVSAvoidneedle tip integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical needle-piercing system with a thermal system. A heating element is positioned against the metal cover to locally heat and deform a specific area, causing the cover to rupture and open the hole without mechanical contact from a needle, thereby preventing needle tip damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transition of the metal cover material through localized heating. The heating element raises the temperature of a specific area of the metal cover above its melting or softening point, causing it to deform and rupture, thereby opening the hole without mechanical piercing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Productivity

If the needle is used to pierce the cover for each hole, then liquid distribution can be performed, but contamination occurs between different reagents in non-identical reaction holes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid distribution efficiencyVSAvoidreagent contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by heating and opening only the specific hole that requires liquid distribution at each step, rather than opening all holes simultaneously. This selective approach prevents the needle from contacting multiple different reagents, thereby avoiding cross-contamination while maintaining efficient liquid distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a thermal field as an intermediary between the opening mechanism and the reagents. By using localized heating to open holes sequentially, the system avoids direct mechanical contact (needle) with multiple reagent compartments, thereby preventing contamination while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If frequent needle replacement is performed to prevent contamination, then reagent purity is maintained, but operational downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereagent contaminationVSAvoidmachine downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical needle-piercing system with a thermal system that can be quickly repositioned and activated. The heating element can be moved to different locations and immediately heat the metal cover without requiring needle replacement, thereby eliminating downtime associated with needle changes while maintaining reagent purity through selective hole opening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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, improving operational efficiency by allowing selective and simultaneous opening of multiple holes, reducing downtime, and minimizing the risk of cross-contamination between reagents.

Implementation Method 1

at least one heating gripping device that is arranged to heat and remove said cover, thereby opening the selected hole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS10416180B2Methods for the selective uncapping of gel cards

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 BIO RAD EURO GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a station for uncovering a receptacle comprising a body in which a plurality of adjacent holes, initially sealed by a cover, are formed. The station comprises at least one cutting member for making at least one cut in the cover between two adjacent holes, so as to form at least one cover portion closing off at least one of the holes of the receptacle, i.e., the selected hole; and at least one heating gripping device which is arranged so as to heat and remove said cover portion, thereby opening the selected hole.