Genetic Analysis Device with Rotating Receptacle for Temperature Uniformity

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional genetic analysis devices face challenges in maintaining a steady analysis environment due to temperature unevenness, leading to diminished analysis accuracy and prolonged analysis times, and struggle with achieving stable temperature control in varying ambient conditions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an analysis chamber with a fan and heater, where the analysis receptacle is rotated in the same direction as the air flow, and a genetic analysis method that uses differential values of fluorescent light intensity to quickly determine gene presence, along with a fuzzy control method that updates response characteristics based on temperature control performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If warm air is blown directly against the analysis receptacle to control temperature, then the analysis environment can be optimized, but temperature unevenness occurs in the analysis receptacle portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis receptacle temperatureVSAvoidtemperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The analysis receptacle is rotated during the analysis process, transforming the static heating problem into a dynamic one. This rotation ensures that all portions of the receptacle are exposed to the warm air flow sequentially, achieving uniform temperature distribution across the entire analysis area while maintaining the target temperature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the analysis receptacle is stationary, then the structure is simple, but temperature control stability deteriorates due to temperature unevenness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature control stabilityVSAvoidreceptacle structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The analysis receptacle is rotated during the analysis process, transforming the static heating problem into a dynamic one. This rotation ensures that all portions of the receptacle are exposed to the warm air flow sequentially, achieving uniform temperature distribution across the entire analysis area while maintaining the target temperature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If gene presence is determined from fluorescent light intensity threshold, then the analysis method is simple, but analysis time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis speedVSAvoidanalysis method

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The determination method uses the change amount (differential) of fluorescent light intensity rather than absolute intensity values. By calculating the rate of change and comparing it against threshold values, the system can identify gene presence more quickly and accurately, reducing false positives and enabling faster decision-making in the analysis process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Temperature

If the main case has thermal capacity to maintain temperature, then temperature stability is improved, but the temperature of the reaction component deviates from target temperature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaction component temperatureVSAvoidtemperature control reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The analysis receptacle is rotated during the analysis process, transforming the static heating problem into a dynamic one. This rotation ensures that all portions of the receptacle are exposed to the warm air flow sequentially, achieving uniform temperature distribution across the entire analysis area while maintaining the target temperature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The heating system is designed to blow warm air directly onto the reaction component area rather than uniformly heating the entire main case. This localized heating approach, combined with the receptacle rotation, ensures that the reaction component reaches and maintains the target temperature without the main case's thermal mass causing temperature deviation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration significantly reduces temperature unevenness, enhances analysis accuracy, and shortens analysis time by maintaining a stable temperature environment and improving response characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

a fan (7) that blows air at the analysis receptacle (4)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a heater (13) that heats the air blown by the fan (7)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

the analysis receptacle (4) is rotated in the same direction as the direction of air flow formed by the fan (7). Therefore, the air is stirred also at the analysis receptacle (4) portion, and there is extremely low temperature unevenness

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS10399057B2Analysis device, genetic analysis method, analysis receptacle, and control method for fuzzy control

Publication Date: 2019.09.03 PHC HLDG CORP

AI summary

With this analysis device, air that has been heated by a heater is blown by a fan in the direction of an analysis receptacle rotary driver and an analysis receptacle that is rotationally driven by the analysis receptacle rotary driver. The analysis receptacle rotary driver rotates the analysis receptacle within the analysis chamber in the same direction as the direction of air flow produced by the fan.