Microchip Sample Heating Under Pressure to Prevent Solvent Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microchip-based sample heating methods face issues with solvent vaporization and enzyme activity decrease due to continuous heating, leading to inefficient biological reactions and sample solidification, making it difficult to discharge the sample.
Innovation Solution
A microchip-based sample heating method that includes a vessel portion with an elastic member and a flow channel, where pressure is applied to the inner portion to prevent solvent vaporization, allowing for efficient heating while maintaining contact with a heat generation or transfer member to reduce thermal resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the sealed vessel portion is continuously heated, then the sample is heated efficiently, but solvent in the small sample amount evaporates and permeates the elastic plates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing a pressurizing unit that applies pressure to the inner portion of the vessel portion before and during heating. This counteracts the tendency of solvent to vaporize and permeate the elastic plates by maintaining pressure on the liquid sample, thereby preventing the harmful effect of solvent loss while allowing efficient heating to proceed
2Temperature
If the sealed vessel portion is continuously heated, then the sample temperature increases, but enzyme activity decreases due to pH change
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurizing unit prevents solvent evaporation by applying pressure, thereby maintaining the pH stability of the buffer solution. This preserves enzyme activity during heating by preventing the harmful side effect of pH change that would otherwise occur due to solvent loss
3Temperature
If the sealed vessel portion is continuously heated, then the sample is heated, but the sample solidifies and cannot be discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurizing unit prevents solvent evaporation and subsequent sample solidification by maintaining pressure on the liquid sample throughout the heating process. This ensures the sample remains in liquid state and can be easily discharged after heating, solving the operational problem of sample discharge
4Loss of substance
If pressure is applied to the inner portion of the vessel portion, then solvent vaporization is prevented, but thermal resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the elastic nature of the vessel portion made from elastic material to create intimate contact between the pressurizing medium and the liquid sample. This flexible contact ensures efficient heat transfer while maintaining the pressure needed to prevent solvent vaporization, thereby reducing thermal resistance
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 method effectively prevents solvent vaporization, maintains enzyme activity, and enables precise temperature control, ensuring efficient heating and easy sample discharge by minimizing thermal resistance and maintaining a stable reaction environment.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid sample is heated while pressure is applied with respect to an inner portion of the vessel portion in which the liquid sample is put
Implementation Method 2
pressure is applied with respect to an inner portion of the vessel portion in which the liquid sample is put
Data Source
AI summary
A microchip includes a vessel portion, an elastic member, and a flow channel which leads a liquid sample to the vessel portion. After a liquid sample is put in the vessel portion, the liquid sample is heated while pressure is applied with respect to an inner portion of the vessel portion.