Sample Carrier With Isolated Chambers for Dielectrophoresis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bioassays for electrical manipulation and vibrational spectroscopy of cells, particularly bacteria and viruses, are limited by high production costs, cross-contamination, and inefficiencies in electrode control, making them unreliable for commercial applications.
Innovation Solution
A sample carrier comprising a substrate layer with electrodes and a circuit board, where the circuit board forms sample chambers and provides electrical leads, allowing for dielectrophoretic manipulation and vibrational spectroscopy, enabling mass production and reducing cross-contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a PDMS block is used as a sample chamber, then the device can be assembled, but cross-contamination occurs between individual sample chambers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the sample chamber structure into separate, isolated units within the circuit board. Each sample chamber is individually defined by recesses in the circuit board and corresponding protrusions in the substrate layer, creating physical barriers that prevent cross-contamination while maintaining structural integration.
2Manufacturing precision
If lithographic processes are used to apply electrodes to a substrate, then precise electrode positioning is achieved, but production costs increase and mass production becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex lithographic processes with a mechanical assembly approach. Pre-formed electrode structures are positioned and secured through mechanical means (adhesive layers, recesses, and protrusions), enabling straightforward manufacturing and mass production while maintaining precise electrode positioning.
3Productivity
If the substrate layer size is increased to accommodate more electrodes, then the number of controllable sample chambers increases, but the device complexity and production difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the third dimension (vertical stacking) by creating recesses in the circuit board and corresponding protrusions in the substrate layer. This layered, three-dimensional configuration allows multiple electrodes and sample chambers to be densely packed without increasing the planar footprint, thereby increasing productivity while managing device complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If individual bioassays are produced manually, then customization and flexibility are maintained, but production time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the bioassay into modular components (substrate layer with electrodes, circuit board with recesses, adhesive layers) that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. This modular approach enables both customization of individual components and efficient mass production through standardized assembly processes.
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 enables cost-effective, large-scale production of bioassays with improved reliability and increased sample chamber capacity, facilitating efficient electrical manipulation and vibrational spectroscopy of multiple samples simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
The electrodes are configured to generate an inhomogeneous electric field for dielectrophoresis
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing a sample carrier and to a sample carrier for electrical manipulation of liquid samples and for performing vibrational spectroscopy on the samples. The sample carrier has a substrate layer and a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being arranged on the substrate layer. Further, the substrate layer has a plurality of electrodes for electrical manipulation of liquid samples, wherein the printed circuit board has electrical feed lines to the electrodes of the substrate layer and wherein the printed circuit board has a plurality of cut-outs which each form a sample chamber together with the substrate layer. Further, the invention relates to a system for performing vibrational spectroscopy, which comprises a sample carrier and a vibrational spectroscope.