Hyper-elastic membrane fluidic card for precise volume control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic cards lack precise control over fluid volume during storage and delivery, as previous solutions either retain fluid in the reservoir or fail to accurately measure the injected volume due to overpressure mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic card with a rigid support and a hyper-elastic membrane that can be reversibly deformed to store and deliver fluids, featuring integrated measuring means to determine the volume in real-time, allowing for precise monitoring and large storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a rigid reservoir is used for fluid storage, then the storage volume is fixed and stable, but the ability to control and measure fluid volume during delivery is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the rigid reservoir into a dynamic system by introducing a hyper-elastic membrane that can deform reversibly between storage and delivery configurations. This dynamic structure allows the reservoir to change volume actively during operation, enabling real-time volume control and measurement through deformation monitoring, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the reservoir from rigid to hyper-elastic, allowing the membrane to undergo large reversible deformations. This parameter change enables the reservoir to adapt its volume dynamically, providing both large storage capacity and precise delivery control through deformation measurement, thus improving fluid volume measurement precision without excessive complexity.
2Ease of operation
If overpressure mechanisms are used to deliver fluid, then fluid can be forced out of the reservoir, but precise control of injected volume is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by integrating deformation measurement means into the hyper-elastic membrane system. The measurement means continuously monitor the membrane deformation, providing real-time feedback on the volume of fluid delivered. This feedback loop enables precise control of injected volume while maintaining ease of operation through the overpressure mechanism, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and measurement precision.
3Quantity of substance
If a large storage volume is required, then the reservoir size must be increased, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the dynamic deformation capability of the hyper-elastic membrane to achieve large storage volume when needed (storage configuration) while maintaining a compact form factor when not in use (rest configuration). The membrane can expand to accommodate large fluid volumes during storage and then deliver them during operation, effectively decoupling storage capacity from the device's occupied space.
Solution Approach 2:
The hyper-elastic membrane structure allows the reservoir to nestle into a compact form when empty or during delivery, similar to a nested doll. The membrane folds and compresses into a small volume when not storing fluid, yet can expand to hold large volumes when required, thus achieving large storage capacity without permanently occupying large device space.
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
Enables precise monitoring and large storage of fluid volumes, eliminating the need for pumps and allowing for variable-volume reaction chambers, while maintaining space efficiency and accurate delivery.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane being able to be deformed reversibly between a storage configuration of said at least one fluid, in which the membrane stretches by hyper-elastic deformation, and a configuration at rest
Data Source
Figure 1A~1E
Figure 2~3B
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The main subject matter of the invention is a fluidic card (1) comprising a rigid support (2) in which a storage tank (3) for storing at least one fluid is at least partially formed, the tank (3) comprising an inlet port (4) allowing fluid communication between the tank (3) and a fluid channel of the fluidic card (1), characterised in that the tank (3) comprises an opening (6) that opens at the surface (S) of the rigid support (2), the fluidic card (1) further comprising a membrane (7) made from a hyper-elastic material forming a wall of the tank (3), the membrane (7) being suitable for being reversibly deformed between a storage configuration for storing said at least one fluid, in which the membrane (7) stretches by hyper-elastic deformation, and an idle configuration, and in that the membrane (7) comprises measurement means (8) for measuring the deformation of the membrane (7).