Liquid Delivery Method for Microchannel Bubble Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biochemical testing apparatuses face challenges in completely collecting liquids from microchannels, leading to residual liquids that can form bubbles and interfere with biochemical reactions and measurements, causing inaccurate results.
Innovation Solution
A liquid delivery method involving two stages: initially dispensing a first amount of liquid with the pipette tip insertion hole not hermetically sealed to prevent pushing residual liquid downstream, followed by dispensing a second amount with the insertion hole sealed to ensure complete liquid delivery without bubble formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the pipette tip insertion hole is hermetically sealed during liquid delivery, then complete liquid delivery into the microchannel is achieved, but residual liquid from the previous process is pushed downstream forming bubbles that interfere with biochemical reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid delivery process is segmented into two distinct stages: first delivering liquid in a non-sealed state to avoid pushing residual liquid downstream, then delivering liquid in a sealed state to ensure complete filling. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the harmful effect (bubble formation) from the desired effect (complete liquid delivery).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by first performing liquid delivery in a non-sealed state before switching to sealed state. This preliminary non-sealed delivery prevents residual liquid from being pushed downstream, eliminating the condition that would lead to bubble formation, while still allowing subsequent complete liquid delivery when sealed.
2Quantity of substance
If the pipette tip is inserted deeper to collect liquid completely from the microchannel, then more liquid is collected, but a minute amount of liquid remains in the channel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical approach of deep insertion with a pressure control mechanism. By controlling the sealed/non-sealed state of the insertion hole, the system uses pressure differential control instead of mechanical depth adjustment to achieve complete liquid collection, thereby eliminating residual liquid without the drawbacks of deep insertion.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the pipette tip insertion hole remains open during liquid delivery, then bubble formation is avoided, but liquid delivery accuracy and completeness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid delivery process is segmented into two distinct stages: first delivering liquid in a non-sealed state to avoid pushing residual liquid downstream, then delivering liquid in a sealed state to ensure complete filling. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the harmful effect (bubble formation) from the desired effect (complete liquid delivery).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the sealing state of the pipette tip insertion hole changeable rather than fixed. The system dynamically switches between non-sealed and sealed states during the liquid delivery process, allowing optimization of both bubble prevention and delivery completeness at different stages.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid delivery method according to the present invention performs a procedure including supplying a first liquid into a microchannel and collecting the first liquid from within the microchannel, and then, dispensing a first amount of a second liquid without hermetically sealing a pipette tip insertion hole, then, dispensing a second amount of the second liquid in a state where the pipette tip insertion hole is hermetically closed to supply the second liquid into the microchannel.