Mandrel-Based Fluid Dispenser Alignment for Microfluidic Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microfluidics systems face challenges in accurately and consistently transferring small quantities of fluids, particularly in biochemistry applications where high throughput and precise sample handling are required, such as in gene sequencing and PCR processes, due to limitations in handling large numbers of sample wells and maintaining sample integrity.
Innovation Solution
A loading system comprising a delivery system with a head assembly, mandrels, and a resilient element that positions and aligns fluid dispensers to ensure precise and uniform fluid transfer into sample arrays, utilizing hydrophilic surfaces and capillary action to manage fluid flow, and a control system for automated processing and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional fluid transfer systems are used to transfer small quantities of fluids into large numbers of sample wells, then the system can handle high throughput, but the precision and consistency of fluid transfer deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fluid transfer task into multiple independent fluid dispensers, each responsible for specific sample wells. This segmentation allows parallel processing (high throughput) while maintaining individual precision for each dispenser-well pairing. The head assembly with multiple mandrels and dispensers enables simultaneous transfer to many wells without sacrificing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical pumping systems with capillary action-based fluid transfer. By using hydrophilic surfaces and capillary forces, the system achieves precise fluid transfer without complex mechanical control mechanisms, thereby maintaining high precision while enabling high throughput across multiple wells simultaneously.
2Productivity
If fluid dispensers are positioned closer together to increase throughput, then the number of samples per run increases, but the alignment precision between dispensers and sample wells deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple discrete fluid dispensers arranged in an array, each with its own mandrel and positioning mechanism. This segmentation allows independent alignment and positioning of each dispenser, maintaining precision even when dispensers are positioned closely together to serve more sample wells in parallel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable positioning mechanisms that can modify the spatial parameters of fluid dispensers relative to sample wells. The system can dynamically adjust dispenser positions and orientations to achieve optimal alignment precision while maintaining high throughput configuration, adapting to different plate formats and well arrangements.
3Productivity
If small sample volumes are used to increase the number of analyzable samples, then the throughput increases, but the sample integrity and transfer accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical pumping with capillary action driven by hydrophilic surfaces. This substitution eliminates mechanical disturbances that could compromise small sample volumes, ensuring sample integrity is maintained while enabling transfer of microliter and nanoliter quantities across numerous wells with high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid transfer system uses self-regulating capillary action where the hydrophilic surfaces automatically control fluid flow based on surface tension and wettability properties. This self-service mechanism ensures consistent, accurate transfer of small volumes without external intervention, maintaining sample integrity while achieving high throughput across many samples.
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 system enables accurate and consistent transfer of small fluid quantities into multiple sample wells, improving the reliability and precision of biological testing and processing by reducing variation in fluid dispenser alignment and maintaining sample integrity through controlled environment and humidity management.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient element, configured to apply a force to the plurality of mandrels to moveably engage a plurality of fluid dispensers
Implementation Method 2
utilizing hydrophilic surfaces and capillary action to manage fluid flow
Data Source
AI summary
A system for preparing biological sample contains a body including a proximal side and a distal side, a plurality of mandrels, a plurality of resilient elements, a plurality of fluid dispensers, and one or more samples. The mandrels are moveably positioned within the body, where each resilient element engages a respective one of the mandrels. Each of the fluid dispensers is configured to engage a distal end of a corresponding one of the mandrels. Each sample comprises a solution containing one or more nucleic acid sequences contained within at least one of the fluid dispensers.