Magnet Biasing Support for Sample Vessel Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sample preparation systems for point-of-care diagnostics face challenges in efficiently capturing magnetic beads and achieving high capture efficiencies due to difficulties in maintaining close contact between magnets and the vessel during movement, leading to low concentrations of the eluent.
Innovation Solution
A sample preparation device with a bead manipulation mechanism that includes magnets attached to a support frame by biasing supports, allowing for close contact and effective engagement with magnetic beads during relative movement, ensuring efficient bead manipulation and concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If magnets are moved relative to the vessel during magnetic elution, then the magnetic field can be repositioned to manipulate beads, but the magnets lose close contact with the vessel leading to reduced capture efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet is mounted on a movable carriage that can translate along the vessel axis while maintaining contact with the vessel outer surface. This dynamic mounting allows the magnet to be repositioned to different locations (e.g., from bottom to side of vessel) while始终保持 close contact with the vessel, thus maintaining effective magnetic field engagement with beads during manipulation operations
Solution Approach 2:
A carriage mechanism serves as an intermediary between the magnet and the vessel. The carriage contacts the vessel and carries the magnet, enabling the magnet to move relative to the vessel while maintaining consistent proximity through the carriage's contact with the vessel surface
2Reliability
If magnets are kept stationary during magnetic elution, then close contact with the vessel is maintained, but the ability to manipulate and concentrate beads is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet mounting is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing the magnet to be dynamically repositioned along the vessel axis. This enables the system to maintain close contact during positioning while achieving efficient bead manipulation when the magnet is moved to optimal locations such as the side of the vessel for concentration operations
3Quantity of substance
If sample fluid volume is reduced to increase eluent concentration, then capture efficiency improves, but sample fluid becomes trapped between magnetic beads
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet is moved to the side of the vessel before elution to concentrate and pack the magnetic beads against the vessel wall. This preliminary concentration action creates a compact bead layer that facilitates complete fluid removal, preventing trapped fluid between beads during subsequent elution steps
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 device achieves significantly increased concentration of the eluent and improved magnetic bead capture rates, enhancing the efficiency of sample preparation and analysis in point-of-care diagnostics.
Implementation Method 1
one or more magnets arranged to produce a magnetic field for manipulating, in use, one or more beads in the vessel
Implementation Method 2
Magnetic beads, having the capability to bind to a target substance, are introduced into the sample fluid in the vessel
Implementation Method 3
each magnet is attached to a support frame by a biasing support arranged to support the magnet in contact against an outer surface of the vessel
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a sample preparation device comprising a sample preparation vessel and a bead manipulation mechanism for manipulating sample preparation beads in the vessel. The bead manipulation mechanism comprises: one or more magnets arranged to produce a magnetic field for manipulating, in use, one or more beads in the vessel. Each magnet is attached to a support frame by a biasing support arranged to support the magnet in contact against an outer surface of the vessel such that the magnet maintains contact with the vessel during relative movement between the magnets and the vessel.