Microchip Chimney Liquid Rise Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In microchip systems, particularly those with chimneys, liquid injection can lead to capillary action causing liquid droplets to adhere to the inner walls and top portions, resulting in contamination and reduced quantitative performance when the cover is applied, and this issue is exacerbated in microchips without chimneys where liquid easily escapes.
Innovation Solution
A microchip design featuring a substrate with a cover member and flow paths, including a well and a chimney with a liquid rise prevention section formed to prevent liquid from reaching the top portion of the chimney or well, using UV curable resin or surface texturing to create a hydrophobic surface that inhibits liquid adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a chimney is used in the microchip to secure liquid injection capacity, then the amount of liquid that can be injected is improved, but liquid droplets adhere to the inner wall and top portion due to capillary action, causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface properties to different regions of the chimney. The inner wall maintains a smooth surface for liquid flow, while the top portion is treated with a hydrophobic coating to prevent liquid adhesion. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing the chimney to maintain its liquid capacity while preventing contamination at the critical top region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful capillary action that causes liquid adhesion into a beneficial effect. By controlling the surface tension properties of the chimney top portion, the patent utilizes surface tension forces to prevent liquid from adhering to the surface, thereby transforming the potentially harmful capillary effect into a protective mechanism that maintains liquid integrity.
2Productivity
If the time for needle insertion, liquid injection, and needle removal is shortened to gain maximum analysis speed, then productivity is improved, but liquid droplets are more likely to adhere to the chimney inner wall and top portion due to rapid operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a hydrophobic coating to the chimney top portion in advance before liquid injection operations. This preliminary preparation creates a surface that is resistant to liquid adhesion, ensuring that even during rapid needle insertion and removal operations, liquid droplets do not adhere to the chimney surfaces, thereby maintaining high productivity without sacrificing liquid integrity.
3Device complexity
If a microchip without a chimney is used to simplify the structure, then device complexity is reduced, but liquid easily escapes and adheres to the well opening due to lack of chimney structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the well structure into two functional parts: the well body for liquid containment and the chimney top portion with hydrophobic coating for preventing adhesion. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain simplicity while improving liquid retention capability, as the chimney provides structural support without requiring complex sealing mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If the inner wall of the chimney is made smooth to facilitate liquid flow, then ease of operation is improved, but liquid droplets adhere to the inner wall and top portion due to capillary action during needle removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface qualities to different regions of the chimney. The inner wall maintains a smooth surface to facilitate liquid flow during injection, while the top portion is treated with a hydrophobic coating to prevent liquid adhesion during needle removal. This local differentiation allows the chimney to maintain ease of operation while preventing the harmful adhesion effect.
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 liquid rise prevention sections effectively prevent or suppress liquid adhesion to the chimney or well surfaces, reducing contamination and maintaining the integrity of the microchip for subsequent analyses by ensuring liquids are retained within the microchip during needle insertion and removal.
Implementation Method 1
a phenomenon (so-called capillary action) that liquid L rises between inner wall 104 and needle 200 due to surface tension
Implementation Method 2
using UV curable resin or surface texturing to create a hydrophobic surface that inhibits liquid adhesion
Implementation Method 3
liquid L rises between inner wall 104 and needle 200 due to surface tension
Data Source
AI summary
A microchip having a substrate, a cover member joined to one surface of the substrate, and a flow path formed on at least one of joined surfaces of the substrate and the cover member, wherein the microchip includes: a well which is an first opening for communicating into the flow path with a surface opposite to the joined surface of the substrate and is arranged on the substrate; and a chimney which is a member arranged so as to project from the surface opposite to the joined surface of the substrate and has an second opening which communicating into the well, wherein a liquid rise prevention section is formed in the chimney to prevent the liquid from rising to a top portion of the chimney.