Micro-chamber Plate Centrifugal Injection and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current micro-chamber plate technologies face challenges in efficiently injecting solutions into multiple chambers without cross-contamination, precise fluorescence measurement, and reducing analysis time, especially in real-time PCR and LCR applications.
Innovation Solution
A micro-chamber plate with a built-in sample is manufactured using a centrifugal separator to inject solutions through a separation membrane, which is sealed with polymer oil to prevent contamination and facilitate optical measurement, integrating the injection and optical measuring parts for a simple structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple reaction solutions are injected into micro-chambers using conventional pipetting methods, then samples can be analyzed, but cross-contamination occurs between chambers and analysis time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The micro-chamber plate is designed with individual sealed chambers that physically segment the reaction spaces. Each chamber is hermetically sealed with O-rings and lids, creating independent compartments that prevent cross-contamination while allowing parallel processing of multiple samples, thereby reducing analysis time.
Solution Approach 2:
O-rings are introduced as intermediary sealing elements between the micro-chamber body, sample inserts, and lids. These O-rings create reliable seals that prevent solution leakage and cross-contamination during injection and analysis, enabling faster and more reliable multi-sample processing.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional real-time PCR apparatuses use standard 96-well or 384-well plates, then multiple genes can be analyzed, but a large amount of reaction sample (10-500 μl) is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from conventional well-based formats to a micro-chamber array system where samples are distributed across multiple small chambers in a two-dimensional array. This dimensional reorganization allows parallel analysis of numerous samples in picoliter volumes, dramatically reducing total sample consumption while maintaining high throughput capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the volume parameter from microliters (10-500 μl) to picoliters (10-500 pl) by scaling down chamber sizes while increasing the number of chambers. This parameter transformation enables analysis of the same number of genes with 1000-fold reduction in sample volume through parallel processing.
3Reliability
If micro-chambers are sealed after sample injection, then cross-contamination is prevented, but fluorescence measurement precision is reduced due to optical interference
Solution Approach 1:
O-rings serve as intermediary sealing components that create reliable barriers between chambers without interfering with optical pathways. The seals are positioned at the periphery of chambers, allowing fluorescence measurement through clear optical paths while maintaining hermetic sealing to prevent solution mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is localized to specific regions (chamber perimeters using O-rings) while leaving the central measurement regions optically clear. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of reliable sealing for contamination prevention and optimal optical transparency for fluorescence measurement precision.
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 approach allows for rapid and accurate injection of solutions, reduces analysis time, and enhances measurement precision by preventing cross-contamination and optical errors, enabling the simultaneous analysis of multiple samples.
Implementation Method 1
putting the micro-chamber plate receiving part, on which the cover for micro-chamber plate receiving part is disposed, into a centrifugal separator which can apply vacuum, applying centrifugal force
Implementation Method 2
a separation membrane, which is sealed with polymer oil to prevent contamination and facilitate optical measurement
Implementation Method 3
sealed with polymer oil to prevent contamination and facilitate optical measurement
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a micro-chamber plate with a built-in sample, including: settling a micro-chamber plate for sample injection at a micro-chamber plate receiving part formed with an upper opening; disposing a cover for micro-chamber plate receiving part to cover the upper opening, the cover for micro-chamber plate receiving part having a provisional storing part and an auxiliary covering part connected with the provisional storing part and formed with a through-hole for auxiliary covering part; and manufacturing a micro-chamber plate with a built-in sample by putting the micro-chamber plate receiving part, on which the cover is disposed, into a centrifugal separator which can apply vacuum, applying centrifugal force and injecting a sample solution provisionally stored in the provisional storing part into the micro-chamber plate through a vessel communication part which is formed at the provisional storing part to be communicated with the micro-chamber plate receiving part.