Microarray Carrier Assembly with Detachable Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microarray plates are limited by their standard format, restricting high-throughput applications and requiring time-consuming processes for multiplexing assays, as they can only accommodate a single assay format at a time.
Innovation Solution
A microarray carrier assembly that includes a scan tray and detachable microarray blocks, allowing multiple blocks to be assembled on a single tray, each with customizable probe arrays and guiding pins that prevent contamination, enabling concurrent processing of multiple assay formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional microarray plates are used with standard format, then manufacturing and operation are simple, but high-throughput processing and customized assay formats cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The microarray carrier assembly is divided into a scan tray and multiple detachable microarray blocks. Each block can be independently configured with different probe arrays, allowing simultaneous processing of multiple assay formats on a single tray without increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The scan tray is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple different types of microarray blocks with varying probe configurations. This multi-functional design enables a single carrier assembly to perform diverse assay formats concurrently, achieving high-throughput processing
2Productivity
If multiple assays are processed sequentially using conventional plates, then device complexity remains low, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple microarray blocks with different probe arrays are merged onto a single scan tray, enabling concurrent processing of multiple assays that would otherwise require sequential processing on separate plates. This combining approach dramatically reduces the time required for multiplexing assays while maintaining manageable device complexity
3Ease of operation
If guiding pins are designed with larger top surface area, then insertion into slot is easier, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding pin is designed with an asymmetric cross-section where the top surface area is smaller than the bottom surface area. This asymmetric geometry provides sufficient insertion ease into the slot while minimizing the exposed surface area that could come into contact with contaminants, thus reducing contamination risk
Data Source
AI summary
A microarray carrier assembly including a scan tray and a plurality of microarray blocks detachably disposed on the scan tray is provided. The scan tray includes a frame including an opening and a slot, and a transparent substrate covering the opening of the frame. Each of the microarray blocks includes a main body, a probe array distributed on the main body and facing towards the transparent substrate of the scan tray, and a plurality of guiding pins disposed on the main body and surrounding the probe array, wherein a top surface area of the guiding pin opposite to the main body is less than a bottom surface area of the guiding pin connected to the main body, and the guiding pins are detachably inserted into the slot of the frame of the scan tray.