Microfluidic Analyzer Water Stoppers for Sample Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microdevices with radially arranged flow paths for sample analysis suffer from variations in cross-sectional area due to manufacturing errors, leading to uneven sample flow speeds, which can result in incomplete sample supply to reaction portions and reduced measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating water stoppers in the flow paths, such as stepped portions or water-absorbent materials, to prevent sample flow into the common path, ensuring consistent capillary force and accurate sample distribution across all paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the flow paths are made small to enable microdevice analysis, then the measurement precision is improved, but the manufacturing error causes significant variation in sample flow speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water stoppers at specific locations (downstream ends of flow paths) to create localized resistance to sample flow. This local modification compensates for the dimensional variations in the entire flow path system, allowing each flow path to deliver consistent sample amounts to reaction portions despite manufacturing variations in path dimensions.
2Ease of operation
If the flow paths are made small to enable microdevice analysis, then the sample can be moved by capillarity, but the sample may flow at different speeds in different flow paths
Solution Approach 1:
Water stoppers are placed at specific locations (downstream ends) of each flow path to create localized flow resistance. This localized modification ensures that despite variations in flow path dimensions causing different capillary flow speeds, each flow path delivers a consistent sample amount to its reaction portion by compensating for speed differences at the critical discharge point.
3Speed
If the sample moves at higher speed through a certain flow path, then the sample reaches the common path earlier, but only the particular portion of the sample fills the common path
Solution Approach 1:
Water stoppers are positioned at the downstream ends of flow paths to create localized resistance that prevents sample from entering the common path. This ensures that regardless of flow speed variations, the sample is stopped before reaching the common path, preventing premature filling and ensuring consistent sample amounts are delivered to reaction portions.
4Measurement precision
If water stoppers are added to prevent sample flow into common path, then the measurement accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Water stoppers are implemented as simple localized structures (downstream ends of flow paths) that provide targeted flow control. These simple local modifications prevent sample from entering the common path without requiring complex control systems throughout the entire device, thus improving accuracy while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The water stoppers can be formed using porous materials or water-repellent coatings that provide flow resistance through material properties rather than complex mechanical structures. This approach prevents sample flow into the common path while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
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
Prevents premature sample flow into the common path, ensuring sufficient sample reaches the reaction portions, maintaining measurement accuracy even with manufacturing errors, and enhancing the reliability of sample analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of flow paths (21) for moving a sample by capillarity
Implementation Method 2
the water stopper suppresses the movement of the sample by differentiating the cross sectional area at a target portion in a direction perpendicular to the sample flow direction from the cross sectional area at a portion near the target portion
Implementation Method 3
The water stopper may be provided by a water-absorbent material
Implementation Method 4
the water-repellent treatment is performed with respect to the inner surface of the recess
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an analytical tool including a plurality of flow paths 21 each including a detection cell 26 for detecting a particular component contained in a sample and configured to move the sample by capillarity, and a common path 22 connecting the plurality of flow paths 21 to each other. Each of the flow paths 21 includes a water stopper 29 for preventing the sample from flowing into the common path 22. Preferably, the water stopper 29 suppresses the movement of the sample by differentiating a cross sectional area at a target portion in a direction perpendicular to the sample flow direction from a cross sectional area at a portion near the target portion.