Integrated Air Cylinder for Microchip Buffer Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microchip processing apparatuses for electrophoresis and micro liquid chromatography face challenges with bulky designs due to separate air supply and suction mechanisms, leading to contamination and reduced analytical precision, and struggle to determine normal buffer solution filling without sample introduction.
Innovation Solution
A compact separation buffer solution filling device with an integrated air supply and suction mechanism that maintains air-tightness, allowing for efficient filling and discharge of buffer solution, and a method to determine normal filling by applying voltage to the capillary channel before sample injection, ensuring proper buffer solution electrification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate air supply mechanism and suction mechanism are used, then buffer solution can be supplied and discharged, but device becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air supply mechanism and suction mechanism into a single integrated device. The air cylinder serves dual functions: as an air supply source for pushing buffer solution into channels, and as a suction source for discharging buffer solution from reservoirs. This merging eliminates the need for separate mechanisms, thereby reducing device bulk while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air cylinder is designed to perform multiple functions: supplying air to push buffer solution into channels, and providing suction to discharge buffer solution from reservoirs. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated mechanisms, addressing the contradiction between operational capability and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If separate air supply and suction mechanisms are used, then buffer solution can be filled and discharged, but separation buffer solution remains in reservoirs causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The suction nozzle is extended to reach the bottom of the reservoir, extracting all remaining buffer solution from the reservoirs during the discharging process. This complete extraction prevents contamination from previous samples, ensuring analytical precision while maintaining the operational capability of buffer solution filling and discharging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors the buffer solution level in reservoirs and automatically activates the suction mechanism to remove residual solution. This feedback-based approach ensures that no contaminating solution remains in the reservoirs after discharge, maintaining analytical precision without compromising the filling and discharging operation.
3Productivity
If sample injection is performed before filling determination, then analysis can proceed, but sample is lost if filling is abnormal
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary check of buffer solution filling status by measuring electrical current before sample injection. This preliminary action identifies filling abnormalities in advance, allowing the system to prevent sample injection when conditions are not suitable, thereby avoiding sample loss while maintaining analysis productivity through rapid identification and correction of filling issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors electrical current characteristics as feedback on buffer solution filling status. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection of filling abnormalities before sample injection, allowing the system to halt or correct the process to prevent sample loss, while still maintaining high analysis throughput by quickly identifying and resolving filling issues.
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 solution reduces device bulk, minimizes contamination, enhances analytical precision by ensuring proper buffer solution filling, and allows for sample preservation by determining filling integrity without sample loss, improving operational efficiency and reducing analysis time.
Implementation Method 1
pushing an air supply port onto a reservoir and supplying air, the separation buffer solution overflowing from the other reservoirs
Implementation Method 2
the separation buffer solution overflowing from the other reservoirs, is drawn off by a suction nozzle
Implementation Method 3
the electrical current value in the sample phoresis is compared with a threshold value after starting electrophoresis of the sample
Implementation Method 4
a sample such as DNA, RNA or protein introduced on one side of a main separation channel, is electrophoretically separated toward the other end of that channel by a voltage applied between both ends of that channel
Data Source
AI summary
In a separation buffer solution filling device, a microchip is arranged such reservoirs are opened on a surface on respective ends of channels including at least a main separation channel in which analysis is performed while a solution moves inside a plate-like member, and the reservoirs face upward. The filling device fills separation buffer solution into the channels by supplying air from an air supply port which is pushed while maintaining air-tightness onto a top of the reservoir filled with the separation buffer solution on either end of said channels. The air supply port is an opening on a front end of an air cylinder, and has a seal part on that opening. The filling device is pushed onto the reservoir while maintaining air-tightness by that seal part.