Centrifugal Microfluidic Chip Loading With Contact-Free Drip Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current centrifugal microfluidic platforms face challenges in automating the precise and efficient transfer of large volumes of reagents and waste fluids, leading to increased complexity, cost, and potential contamination, particularly in applications outside standard laboratory settings.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a centrifugal microfluidic platform with a stationary liquid pumping system and articulated chip holders that allows for automated, contact-free transfer of liquids using dispensing nozzles, integrated waste collectors, and controlled chip orientations to manage liquid flow and waste efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pipetting is used to load reagents into microfluidic devices, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but time consumption increases and contamination risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the reagent loading process into discrete positions on the rotating platform, with each position having dedicated reservoirs and access ports. This segmentation allows automated, position-specific loading while maintaining the flexibility to handle different reagent types and volumes at each position.
Solution Approach 2:
Reagents are pre-loaded into reservoirs on the rotating platform before the assay begins. The system prepares all necessary reagents in advance at their designated positions, eliminating the need for manual pipetting during the actual assay execution, thus reducing time consumption while maintaining operational flexibility.
2Productivity
If automated robotic dispensing systems are implemented, then productivity and precision are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating platform system is self-sufficient, with all reagents, reservoirs, and access ports integrated directly onto the platform itself. The system loads and processes reagents without requiring external robotic arms or complex automated dispensing equipment, thereby achieving high productivity while keeping device complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating platform serves multiple functions: it holds reservoirs, provides access ports for loading, enables centrifugal flow control, and facilitates waste removal. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate automated dispensing systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high productivity.
3Ease of operation
If integrated waste reservoirs are included on the chip, then waste management is simplified, but chip area and design complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The waste reservoir is extracted from the main chip area and positioned separately on the rotating platform. This separation allows the main chip to remain compact while waste is collected in a dedicated reservoir at a different location, simplifying waste management without consuming valuable chip area.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the rotational dimension of the platform to manage waste. The waste reservoir is positioned at a different angular position on the rotating platform, allowing waste collection to occur in a spatial dimension separate from the main chip operations, thereby reducing chip area requirements while maintaining ease of waste management.
4Reliability
If contact-free liquid transfer is implemented, then contamination risk is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses centrifugal force (a hydraulic principle) to transfer liquids between reservoirs and access ports. By utilizing the rotational motion of the platform to generate centrifugal pressure, the system achieves contact-free liquid transfer through pressure-driven flow, reducing contamination risk while avoiding the need for complex mechanical contact-free transfer mechanisms.
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
Enables precise, automated liquid transfer and waste management, reducing manual intervention, minimizing contamination risks, and simplifying chip design, suitable for various bioassays beyond standard laboratory settings.
Implementation Method 1
a stationary nozzle positioned above said rotor top surface for dripping liquid into said microfluidic chip
Implementation Method 2
a centrifugal microfluidic platform including a rotatable rotor configured to receive at least one lab-on-chip on a top surface of said rotor
Data Source
AI summary
A centrifugal microfluidic platform is combined with a stationary liquid pumping system which pumps liquids into microfluidic chips by dripping through a stationary dispensing nozzle without any physical contact or coupling between the nozzles and the microfluidic chips.