Mechanical Heating Control for Biological Sample Preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sample preparation devices face challenges in precise biological sample preparation due to complex moving parts, leading to loss and cross-contamination of biological components during isolation processes, particularly in heating steps required for processes like PCR, where precise temperature control is crucial to prevent damage to biological components.
Innovation Solution
A device with a heater and temperature sensor that moves between a sample position and a rest position, controlled by a circuit to monitor temperature and adjust heating cycles, ensuring that the sample preparation cartridge module is heated only up to a safe temperature threshold to prevent damage to biological components and device components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a heater is used to heat the sample preparation cartridge module, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the risk of overheating and damaging biological components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where a temperature sensor continuously monitors the temperature of the sample preparation cartridge module and provides real-time feedback to the control circuit. The control circuit adjusts the heater's operation based on this feedback, reducing power when the target temperature is approached and preventing overheating. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining high heating efficiency while eliminating the risk of temperature-induced damage to biological components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex moving parts are used in sample preparation devices, then the functionality is improved, but the risk of loss and cross-contamination of biological components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from a complex mechanical system and implements it as a separate, controlled thermal processing step. The heater is positioned to contact the sample preparation cartridge module directly, allowing temperature control without requiring complex moving parts during the heating phase. This separation of heating function from mechanical complexity reduces the risk of biological component loss and cross-contamination while maintaining the necessary functionality for sample preparation and PCR processes.
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
This solution enables precise and efficient heating of biological samples in sample preparation devices, minimizing component loss and cross-contamination while preventing overheating, thus enhancing the accuracy and yield of biological sample preparation for processes like PCR.
Implementation Method 1
a heater; a temperature sensor to monitor changes in temperature caused by the heater
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor to monitor changes in temperature caused by the heater
Data Source
AI summary
An example device comprises: a heater; a temperature sensor to monitor changes in temperature caused by the heater; a mechanical device to move the heater between a sample position and a rest position; and a circuit communicatively coupled to the heater, the temperature sensor, and the mechanical device. The circuit is to: control the mechanical device to move the heater to the sample position; control the heater to heat at the sample position; monitor, via the temperature sensor, the temperature; and in response to the temperature meeting a temperature condition, control the mechanical device to move the heater from the sample position to the rest position.