Integrated Pump for Closed Fluidic Circuit in Disposable Analytical Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current analytical systems for chemical and biological samples, particularly nucleic acid testing, are complex, require expensive equipment, and skilled personnel, making them unsuitable for rapid, cost-effective, and in-field or point-of-care applications due to issues like manual reagent loading, contamination risks, and high production costs.
Innovation Solution
A device with integrated depot and process chambers connected via a pump element, forming a closed fluidic circuit, allowing for easy handling, reduced contamination risks, and low-cost production, suitable for disposable use in in-field and point-of-care settings, with pre-filled reagents and a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual reagent loading is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to contamination risks and operator error
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent chambers are pre-filled with reagents before the device is sealed and shipped to the user. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual reagent loading at the point of use, preventing contamination and operator error while maintaining device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed as a disposable unit with pre-filled reagent chambers that are sealed and cannot be opened or refilled. This disposable approach ensures reliability by eliminating manual handling of reagents after manufacturing, while the low cost of the disposable unit makes this reliable approach economically viable.
2Reliability
If integrated pump element and closed fluidic circuit are implemented, then reliability is improved by reducing contamination, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump element is integrated directly into the device housing, merging the pumping function with the reagent chambers and fluidic circuitry. This integration creates a closed system that prevents contamination while avoiding the need for separate external pump components, thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated pump element serves multiple functions: it transfers reagents between chambers, maintains pressure balance, and enables automated sample processing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, improving reliability while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.
3Ease of operation
If disposable integrated design is used, then ease of operation is improved for untrained staff, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
All reagents are pre-filled into the device during manufacturing, so users simply need to insert the sample and press a button. This preliminary action makes the device extremely easy to operate for untrained staff while the automated filling process during manufacturing keeps production costs manageable through efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs sample preparation, reagent dispensing, and data evaluation automatically without requiring user intervention in complex operations. This self-service capability greatly simplifies operation for untrained users, while the automated processes during manufacturing maintain cost-effectiveness.
4Loss of time
If rapid testing is implemented, then loss of time is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Reagents are pre-prepared, pre-mixed, and pre-filled into the device during manufacturing, including all necessary buffers, primers, and probes. This preliminary preparation eliminates time-consuming steps at the point of use while ensuring that the reagents are optimized for rapid yet accurate testing, thus reducing both time loss and compromising precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables rapid testing by optimizing parameters such as temperature cycling rates, reagent concentrations, and detection sensitivities to achieve accurate results quickly. The integrated system allows parallel processing of multiple steps, maintaining measurement precision while significantly reducing the overall testing time.
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 rapid, easy-to-perform, and cost-effective analysis with reduced contamination risks and human error, suitable for untrained staff, by integrating all necessary components in a disposable unit, facilitating automated sample preparation and data evaluation.
Implementation Method 1
the pump element (temporarily) creates a pressure sufficient for transferring a substance which is located inside the device from one chamber to another
Data Source
AI summary
A device for analysing a clinical sample comprises at least one depot chamber for receiving one or more reagents and at least one process chamber (7), whereas the process chamber (7) is integrated in a first support member (18, 118, 218) and the depot chamber is integrated in at least a second support member (19, 119, 219), whereas the support members are arranged in that the process chamber (7) is connectable with the depot chamber by a relative movement of the first and second support member with respect to each other. According to the invention, the device further includes a pump element for transferring the substances inside the device from one chamber to another.