Measurement Cell Channel-Wall Design for Through-Hole Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital PCR methods face challenges in achieving a high specimen utilization ratio due to interfacial tension affecting the flowability of trace specimens in measurement cells, leading to reduced contact between the specimen and through-holes, especially when handling small volumes from cancer patients.
Innovation Solution
A measurement cell manufacturing method that incorporates a channel wall protruding from a lower surface substrate to guide the specimen solution into through-holes, ensuring uniform distribution and high specimen utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the distance between the wall surface of the well chamber and the surface where the holes of the wells are exposed is reduced to improve specimen utilization ratio, then the channel of the specimen is narrowed, but the interfacial tension between the wall surface of the well chamber and the specimen has a large influence on the flowability of the specimen, making it difficult to spread the specimen in the plane where the holes of the wells are exposed
Solution Approach 1:
A channel wall is introduced as an intermediary structure between the specimen solution and the well holes. The channel wall guides the specimen solution toward the holes while preventing direct contact between the specimen and the well chamber wall surface, thereby reducing interfacial tension effects and improving specimen flowability into the holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement cell is segmented into distinct functional regions: a channel region for specimen transport, a well chamber region for housing holes, and an interface region where the channel wall meets the well holes. This segmentation allows independent optimization of specimen flow paths and hole distribution without direct interference from the well chamber wall.
2Volume of stationary object
If the channel of the specimen is narrowed to reduce the volume of the measurement cell, then the interfacial tension between the wall surface of the well chamber and the specimen has a large influence on the flowability of the specimen, but reducing the distance between the wall surface and the holes increases the specimen utilization ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The channel wall serves as a mediator that enables the channel to be narrowed while maintaining specimen flowability. By guiding the specimen solution through a controlled path and preventing direct adhesion to the well chamber wall, the channel wall allows compact cell design without sacrificing specimen flow characteristics.
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 method enhances specimen utilization ratio by uniformly spreading the specimen throughout the through-holes, achieving a ratio of 60% or more, which is critical for accurate digital PCR analysis of genetic mutations.
Implementation Method 1
the channel of the specimen is narrowed, and the interfacial tension between the wall surface of the well chamber and the specimen has a large influence on the flowability of the specimen
Implementation Method 2
the interfacial tension between the wall surface of the well chamber and the specimen has a large influence on the flowability of the specimen
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a technique capable of manufacturing a measurement cell having a high specimen utilization ratio in the case of using a measurement cell that introduces a specimen into a surface hole. In the measurement cell manufacturing method according to the present disclosure, a measurement cell includes a channel wall protruding from the lower surface substrate toward the through-hole, and a specimen solution is introduced into a lower surface side space to introduce the specimen into the through-hole.