Hydrophilic Polymer Coating for Fluidic Component Bubble Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern analytical systems face challenges in transporting small liquid samples without contamination and risk of gas bubbles forming on non-uniform, multi-material fluidic components, leading to measurement errors in clinical diagnostics.

Innovation Solution

A process involving physicochemical pre-treatment and application of a hydrophilic polymer film on inner surfaces of fluidic components to enhance wettability and prevent gas bubble formation, using a sequence of steps including surface treatment, polymer solution contact, solvent removal, and film formation without intermediate layers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fluidic components are made of different materials with different wetting properties, then the system can handle various media (sample liquid, calibration media, wash media), but gas bubbles form and attach at the abutting surfaces, causing measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle various mediaVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A hydrophilic polymer coating is applied as an intermediary layer on the inner surfaces of fluidic components. This coating creates a uniform wetting interface that mediates between different media types and component materials, preventing gas bubble formation while maintaining the ability to transport various liquids through the multi-material system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The wetting properties of the fluidic component surfaces are changed by applying a hydrophilic polymer coating. This parameter change transforms the surface characteristics to provide uniform wetting across different materials, eliminating the sudden transitions that cause gas bubble attachment while preserving media versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If plastic fluidic components are used, then the system is cost-effective and easy to manufacture, but the surfaces are hydrophobic and prone to gas bubble formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidgas bubble formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrophobic surface properties of plastic components are changed by applying a hydrophilic polymer coating. This parameter change maintains the manufacturing advantages of plastic while eliminating gas bubble formation by providing uniform wetting characteristics on the component inner surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The fluidic component becomes a composite structure combining the base plastic material with a hydrophilic polymer coating layer. This composite approach preserves the ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness of plastic while adding the beneficial property of uniform wetting to prevent gas bubbles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If washing and drying steps are inserted between determinations, then contamination from previous samples is reduced, but the measurement time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination controlVSAvoidmeasurement cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrophilic polymer coating acts as a disposable protective layer on the fluidic components. This coating prevents contamination from previous samples by providing uniform wetting that prevents adhesion, eliminating the need for time-consuming washing and drying steps between measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The hydrophilic polymer coating is applied in advance to the fluidic components to prevent contamination before it occurs. This preliminary action creates a contamination-resistant surface that eliminates the need for subsequent cleaning steps, thereby reducing measurement cycle time while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution stabilizes the hydrophilic coating over time, reducing contamination and gas bubble risks, ensuring accurate sample transport and measurement in analytical systems.

Implementation Method 1

The film of the hydrophilic polymer has a surface wettability for aqueous solutions which is higher than the surface wettability of the inner surfaces of the fluidic component in the absence of the film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWetting: Wetting

Data Source

PatentUS8394338B2Process for hydrophilizing surfaces of fluidic components and systems

Publication Date: 2013.03.12 ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

A process for producing a film of a hydrophilic polymer on the inner surfaces of a fluidic component is provided comprising subjecting the inner surfaces of the fluidic component to a physicochemical pre-treatment, contacting the inner surfaces of the fluidic component with a solution of the hydrophilic polymer, replacing the solution of the hydrophilic polymer with a gaseous medium in such a manner that firstly the inner surfaces of the fluidic component remain wetted with part of the polymer solution, and removing the solvent to produce a film of the hydrophilic polymer on the inner surfaces of the fluidic component. The hydrophilic polymer used has a surface wettability for aqueous solutions which is higher than the surface wettability of the inner surfaces of the fluidic component itself.