Laboratory Instrument Base Plate Gap-Free Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laboratory instruments face challenges in maintaining accuracy and safety during sample processing due to gaps and splits in their working surfaces, which complicate thorough cleaning and can lead to cross-contamination and equipment damage, especially in sensitive nucleic acid analytics.
Innovation Solution
A laboratory instrument featuring a single base plate with embedded compartments that eliminate gaps and splits, allowing for efficient cleaning and precise positioning of pipetting devices using a three-dimensional coordinate system and conductive reference structures for calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional laboratory instruments with multiple assembled units and construction components are used, then the instrument can perform various sample processing steps, but the working surface possesses gaps and splits which complicate thorough cleaning and can lead to cross-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate construction components and assembled units into a single integrated base plate structure. This base plate contains all necessary mounting locations, compartments, and support elements as one unified component, eliminating the gaps and splits that occur between separately assembled parts. The merging of structures directly resolves the cleaning efficiency problem by creating a continuous, gap-free surface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple assembled units and construction components are used to build the working surface, then various functions can be accommodated, but small gaps and splits are created which complicate thorough cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The single base plate is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating various compartments, mounting locations, and support structures within one unified component. This universal design provides all necessary functions (consumable storage, device mounting, waste containment) without requiring separate assembled units, thereby maintaining functional versatility while eliminating gaps that hinder cleaning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the working surface has multiple gaps and splits from assembled components, then various units can be accommodated, but cross-contamination risks increase in sensitive nucleic acid analytics
Solution Approach 1:
By merging all working surface elements into a single integrated base plate, the invention eliminates the gaps and splits between assembled components. This continuous surface prevents the cross-contamination pathways that could exist between separate units, directly addressing the harmful factor of cross-contamination in sensitive nucleic acid analytics while maintaining the ability to accommodate various functional units.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional assembled structures are used, then the instrument can be built with multiple functional units, but positioning accuracy of pipetting devices may drift over time requiring frequent calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The single base plate incorporates pre-defined, precisely engineered mounting locations and reference structures during manufacturing. These preliminary positioning features ensure that pipetting devices are accurately positioned from the outset and maintain their alignment over time, reducing the need for frequent calibration. The integrated structure prevents the positional drift that can occur with separately assembled components.
Data Source
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AI summary
A laboratory instrument comprising a single base plate is presented. The single base plate comprises at least one embedded consumable compartment, an embedded sample processing compartment, an embedded waste compartment, an embedded activation device compartment, an embedded rack receiving compartment, or a combination thereof. A laboratory system and a method adjusting the positioning of at least one pipetting device or handling device of a laboratory instrument or laboratory system are also disclosed.