Optical Analysis of Liquid Drops at Tip Orifice
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical measuring techniques for liquid samples require large volumes and cuvettes, leading to contamination and sample loss issues, especially when analyzing small volumes provided by liquid handling systems.
Innovation Solution
An optical measuring apparatus that irradiates and measures liquid drops using a light source and detector positioned perpendicular to the liquid handling axis, with the liquid drop suspended at the orifice of a liquid handling tip, eliminating contact between the drop and the light guides and allowing for automated analysis without manual cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light guides are used for optical measurement, then optical measurement can be performed, but the light guides require thorough cleaning after each measurement to avoid carryover and cross contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light guides from direct contact with the liquid sample. Instead of having light guides touch the liquid drop, the measurement is performed through the tip wall material, separating the optical path from the sample contact surface and eliminating the cleaning requirement for optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The tip serves multiple functions: it holds the liquid sample, provides the optical path for measurement, and acts as the measurement chamber itself. The tip wall material becomes the optical interface, eliminating the need for separate light guides that would require cleaning.
2Measurement precision
If cuvettes are used for optical measurement, then large sample volumes can be accommodated, but large sample volumes are required which leads to sample loss and contamination issues
Solution Approach 1:
The tip is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for thorough cleaning between measurements and prevents cross-contamination, while allowing the use of very small sample volumes (nanoliters) that would be impractical with reusable cuvettes.
Solution Approach 2:
The tip wall material acts as a thin film optical interface that allows light transmission while containing the small liquid sample. This thin-film approach enables optical measurement of nanoliter volumes without requiring the large sample volumes needed for traditional cuvettes.
3Length of stationary object
If light guides are used for optical measurement, then optical path can be established, but the surfaces of the light guides need to be thoroughly cleaned after each measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The light guides are extracted from the measurement path and replaced with direct transmission through the tip wall material. This eliminates the need for separate light guide components that would require cleaning, while maintaining the necessary optical path length for measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The tip itself serves as the optical interface, eliminating the need for separate cleaning procedures. The disposable nature of the tip means it serves its optical function and is then discarded, automatically resolving the cleaning requirement without additional time investment.
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 precise optical analysis of small liquid volumes with reduced sample loss and contamination, allowing for automated measurement of absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence without surface contact, optimizing signal-to-noise ratio and eliminating aberrations from the measurement tip.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured for providing irradiation light for irradiating a liquid drop... a detector configured for measuring sample light arriving from said liquid drop
Implementation Method 2
allowing for automated measurement of absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence
Implementation Method 3
allowing for automated measurement of absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence
Data Source
AI summary
An optical measuring apparatus and method for analysis of samples contained in liquid drops provided by a liquid handling system has a liquid handling tip. A light source irradiates the liquid drop; a detector measures sample light; and an optics system with first optical elements transmits irradiation light, and a processor processes the measurement signals. The liquid drop is suspended at the liquid handling orifice of the liquid handling tip in a position where the liquid drop is penetrated by a first optical axis defined by the light source and the first optical elements. The liquid drop is physically touched only by the liquid handling tip and the liquid sample inside the liquid handling tip. A mutual adaption of the size and position of the liquid drop with respect to the first optical elements is achieved.