Mechanical Piston Pump for Sealed Analytical Cartridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic measuring cells face challenges with contamination risks, complexity in manufacturing, and high costs due to the use of external pumps and internal micro pumps, which affect reproducibility and safety, especially when handling infectious samples.
Innovation Solution
A sealed, single-use measuring cell with a simple mechanical pump system comprising a cylinder and piston, where the piston moves within the cylinder to perform analysis and washing, utilizing a liquid reservoir with a liquid-absorbing material to prevent leakage and facilitate efficient washing and measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external pumps are used for liquid movement, then liquid transfer capability is improved, but device complexity and contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the pump function from external devices and implements it internally using a simple mechanical piston-cylinder system. The piston is moved by a magnet through the wall of the measuring cell, eliminating the need for complex external pump connections and reducing contamination risks while maintaining reliable liquid transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A magnet serves as an intermediary to transmit the driving force from the external drive mechanism through the wall of the measuring cell to the internal piston. This allows mechanical actuation without direct mechanical connection, simplifying the device structure while maintaining pump functionality.
2Device complexity
If internal micro pumps are used, then device integration is improved, but manufacturing cost and reliability deterioration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring cell is designed as a disposable single-use device with a simple mechanical pump system. This eliminates the need for complex, expensive, and unreliable internal micro pumps while maintaining good integration. The simplicity of the mechanical piston system makes it manufacturable at low cost with high reliability.
3Volume of moving object
If small channels are used for liquid transfer, then measuring cell size is reduced, but viscosity and capillary forces interfere with reproducible results
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a dynamic piston-cylinder system that can actively control liquid movement through controlled compression and expansion. This dynamic mechanism overcomes the negative effects of viscosity and capillary forces in small channels by providing active mechanical driving force, ensuring reproducible liquid transfer even in compact device dimensions.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If closed measuring cells are used for hazardous samples, then safety is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a disposable single-use measuring cell and a reusable drive mechanism. The measuring cell is a simple sealed container that can be easily manufactured and disposed of after use, eliminating the need for complex sterilization and cleaning systems while maintaining safety for hazardous 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
This solution reduces contamination risks, simplifies manufacturing, and achieves reproducible and accurate analytical results with efficient washing, while being cost-effective and safe for handling hazardous samples.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid-absorbing material to prevent leakage
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention describes simple and reliable cartridge constructions for carrying out analytical procedures in a closed system, especially for carrying out bioaffinity analyses. The cartridge exploits a measuring component, or a test strip (1 in Fig 1) and its cover (2 in Fig 1) as well as the motion between these two components to achieve liquid flow and events which are necessary for the analysis.