Hanging Droplet Plate With Microfluidic Wetting Barriers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Hanging droplet plates face issues with droplet stability and uncontrolled evaporation, requiring complex aspiration and liquid replacement processes, which hinder efficient cell culture in three-dimensional configurations.

Innovation Solution

A hanging droplet plate with circumferential microfluidic wetting barriers and closed bottom compartments to prevent droplet spreading and evaporation, allowing for improved stability and easy liquid supply and replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If open inlet compartments are used for liquid supply, then liquid replacement is simple, but droplet stability decreases and uncontrolled evaporation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid replacement simplicityVSAvoiddroplet stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a closed bottom compartment design that acts as a flexible barrier to prevent droplet leakage while maintaining structural integrity. This closed configuration stabilizes the hanging droplet without compromising the ability to perform liquid replacement operations through controlled access points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate access mechanisms that allow liquid replacement without requiring open inlet compartments. These intermediaries enable controlled liquid exchange while maintaining the closed compartment structure that prevents uncontrolled evaporation and stabilizes droplets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional open compartments are used, then liquid access is easy, but evaporation occurs at uncontrolled rates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid access easeVSAvoidliquid evaporation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The closed bottom compartment functions as a protective barrier that eliminates uncontrolled evaporation pathways while maintaining controlled access for liquid supply and replacement operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The closed compartment configuration creates a controlled microenvironment that protects the hanging droplet from environmental factors causing evaporation, while still allowing necessary liquid exchange through controlled mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Reliability

If aspiration devices must tightly fit inlet compartment walls, then proper aspiration is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaspiration effectivenessVSAvoidaspirating device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces intermediate access structures that simplify the connection between aspiration devices and the compartment, eliminating the need for tight fits against complex inlet compartment walls while maintaining effective aspiration functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If multiple liquid additions are needed for cell growth, then cell culture requirements are met, but droplet spreading becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell culture capabilityVSAvoiddroplet configuration stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The closed bottom compartment provides a stable boundary that contains the hanging droplet even as volume increases through multiple liquid additions, preventing unwanted spreading while allowing necessary volume expansion for cell culture growth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Enhances droplet stability, reduces evaporation, and simplifies the process of adding fresh medium, maintaining stability during inversion and promoting effective three-dimensional cellular aggregate formation and growth.

Implementation Method 1

a circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier arranged to surround a respective cavity and preventing a droplet from spreading beyond the microfluidic wetting barrier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

a circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier arranged to surround a respective cavity and preventing a droplet from spreading beyond the microfluidic wetting barrier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 3

with a wettable area being arranged between two adjacently arranged microfluidic wetting barriers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS9267933B2Hanging droplet plate

Publication Date: 2016.02.23 F HOFFMANN LA ROCHE INC

AI summary

A hanging droplet plate (1) comprises a predetermined number of droplet compartments (10) each being capable of receiving a droplet of a liquid. The respective droplet compartment (10) comprises a circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (102) which is arranged to surround a respective cavity (100) and which prevents a droplet from spreading beyond the microfluidic wetting barrier (102). The respective compartment (10) comprises a closed bottom (101) and at least one additional circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (104), each additional circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (104) which is arranged to surround a preceding circumferential microfluidic wetting barrier (102). A wettable area (103) is arranged between two adjacently arranged microfluidic wetting barriers (102, 104).