Linear Capillary Unit for Electrophoresis with Vertical Reservoir
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophoresis devices face limitations in reducing capillary length for accelerated electrophoresis due to bending requirements, which affects separation performance and increases production costs, and often necessitate costly disposable cartridges for preliminary medium filling.
Innovation Solution
A capillary unit with a linear shape and a concave reservoir for liquid retention, featuring a nozzle connector for easy liquid injection and removal, allowing the capillary to be placed vertically for direct access to samples and buffer solutions, eliminating the need for suction operations and enabling cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the capillary is bent to allow vertical placement and direct sample access, then the need for suction operations is eliminated, but the capillary length increases and separation performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a reservoir unit for medium storage, a capillary unit for separation, and an injection mechanism. This segmentation allows the capillary to remain linear while the reservoir handles the complex operations of medium delivery and sample introduction, eliminating suction requirements without bending the capillary.
Solution Approach 2:
A nozzle connector serves as an intermediary component between the reservoir and capillary, enabling liquid-tight removable connections. This intermediary allows precise control of medium injection into the capillary without requiring the capillary itself to be bent or complex suction mechanisms.
2Productivity
If the capillary length is reduced to accelerate electrophoresis, then analysis speed increases, but the capillary cannot be properly filled and positioned without bending
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from horizontal capillary placement to vertical placement by introducing a reservoir positioned above the capillary. This dimensional change allows short linear capillaries to be used while maintaining proper filling through gravitational assistance and controlled injection from the upper reservoir.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir is pre-filled with separation medium before the analysis run. This preliminary action allows the medium to be readily available for injection into the capillary, eliminating the need for complex filling mechanisms and enabling rapid setup with short capillaries.
3Ease of operation
If a bent capillary configuration is used, then direct sample access is enabled, but the capillary installation becomes difficult and breakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the sample access function from the capillary structure. The reservoir and injection mechanism handle sample introduction, while the capillary remains a simple linear tube that is easily installed and removed without bending or complex positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir and injection system automatically manage medium delivery and sample introduction without requiring manual manipulation of the capillary. The capillary simply needs to be connected to the reservoir via the nozzle connector, and the system self-regulates the filling and operation.
4Ease of operation
If preliminary filling of the capillary with separation medium is performed, then suction operations are eliminated, but production cost increases and medium replacement is not permitted
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static pre-filled capillary to a dynamic system where the reservoir can be refilled and the medium can be reinjected into the capillary. This dynamic approach allows the same capillary to be reused multiple times with different separation media, reducing costs and increasing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the entire cartridge after one use, the system allows recovery and reuse of the capillary. The reservoir can be emptied and refilled with fresh separation medium, and the medium can be reinjected into the same capillary, extending its service life and reducing waste.
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
This configuration simplifies the capillary unit, reduces production costs, accelerates electrophoresis, and maintains separation performance by eliminating the need for suction operations and allowing for easy attachment and detachment, while enabling a multi-capillary setup.
Implementation Method 1
capillary unit including a capillary that is used as a migration channel for electrophoretic analysis
Data Source
AI summary
A capillary unit includes a reservoir capable of retaining a liquid. A capillary having a linear shape has one end secured on a bottom-end portion of the reservoir. The capillary extends from the bottom-end portion in a direction away from an opening of the reservoir. A nozzle connector is provided between a bottom of the reservoir and the one end of the capillary, and provides liquid-tight removable connection with a nozzle for injecting the liquid into the capillary from a portion adjacent to the reservoir.