Microfluidic Bioreactor for Automated Sample Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current molecular detection technologies face challenges in achieving a fully automated 'sample-to-result' model due to technical complexity, requiring manual transfer of materials which is laborious, time-consuming, and prone to contamination, leading to high costs and low sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A bioreactor device equipped with a microfluidic or nanofluidic structure that connects a biological sample-extraction chamber, a metering chamber, and a reaction chamber, enabling accurate quantification and efficient transfer of biological samples, reducing contamination risks and simplifying experimental processes through a mixing driver, metering pump, and decompression system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual transfer of materials is used between sequential steps, then flexibility and simplicity of device structure are maintained, but labor intensity increases, time consumption increases, and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functional chambers (extraction chamber, metering chamber, reaction chamber) and material transfer functions into a single microfluidic device. The microfluidic channels connect these chambers, enabling automated material transfer without manual intervention between steps, thus reducing time loss while maintaining structural integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The microfluidic device serves multiple functions within a single system: sample extraction, material transfer, metering, and reaction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices and manual transfer operations, reducing both time consumption and contamination risk while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized interfaces.
2Device complexity
If manual transfer of materials is used between sequential steps, then device structure remains simple, but contamination risk and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines extraction, transfer, and reaction functions into an integrated microfluidic system. This merging eliminates multiple manual transfer operations between separate devices, reducing contamination risk and improving extract purity while maintaining a unified device structure that is not overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The microfluidic channels act as intermediaries that enable controlled material transfer between chambers without direct manual handling. This intermediary system reduces contamination risk by providing a closed, controlled pathway for material flow while maintaining device structural simplicity through standardized microfluidic design.
3Productivity
If automated microfluidic system is implemented, then material transfer efficiency and accuracy improve, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges extraction, metering, and reaction chambers into a single integrated microfluidic device. This consolidation achieves automated material transfer with high efficiency and accuracy while avoiding the need for multiple separate automated devices, thus limiting the increase in overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The microfluidic device performs multiple functions (extraction, transfer, metering, reaction) within a single unified structure. This multi-functionality achieves high productivity through automated operations while avoiding the complexity of coordinating multiple separate automated devices, as all functions are integrated into one system with standardized interfaces.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate devices are used for sequential steps, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but overall system complexity and operation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functionally optimized chambers into a single microfluidic device. Each chamber (extraction, metering, reaction) maintains its functional optimization while being integrated into one system, eliminating the need for manual transfer between separate devices and significantly improving ease of operation through automated continuous processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated microfluidic device provides universal functionality for all sequential steps while maintaining functional optimization through specialized chamber designs. This approach improves ease of operation by eliminating manual intervention between steps while preserving the adaptability and versatility of each functional component within the unified system.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application relates to a bioreactor device equipped with a microfluidic or nanofluidic structure comprising a biological sample-extraction chamber, a reaction chamber, and a microfluidic or nanofluidic structure for transferring the biological sample from the biological sample-extraction chamber to the reaction chamber. The microfluidic or nanofluidic structure comprises a biological sample channel and a reaction liquid injection channel. The biological sample-extraction chamber and the reaction chamber are in fluid communication with each other via the biological sample channel, and the reaction liquid is injected into the reaction chamber through the reaction liquid injection channel. The microfluidic or nanofluidic structure further comprises a first valve for blocking or opening the biological sample channel and a second valve for blocking or opening the reaction liquid injection channel. The bioreactor device of the present application can accurately quantify the biological sample, and transfer it into the reaction chamber sufficiently and efficiently, thereby simplifying the experimental processes, improving the experimental efficiency, and reducing the possibility of contamination when the biological samples are transferred.