Microfluidic Chip With Expandable Membrane for Sterile Liquid Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic chips face challenges in actuating liquids while maintaining sterility, particularly when handling sensitive biological reagents, due to difficulties in liquid storage and exchange.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic chip design featuring a recess for a liquid reservoir with an expandable membrane and an actuator that uses volume displacement to separate the actuation side from the liquid side, ensuring sterility and simplifying liquid handling through a pressure channel adjacent to the membrane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If liquids are stored in a sealed manner on the chip itself or fed via hoses, then liquid storage is simplified, but actuating the liquid and ensuring sterility becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate components: a microfluidic chip and a liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir contains the liquid and can be sealed independently, while the chip contains the fluidic channels. This segmentation allows the liquid to be stored in a sterile, sealed reservoir and only connected to the chip when needed, maintaining sterility while simplifying storage.
Solution Approach 2:
An expandable membrane acts as an intermediary between the actuator and the liquid. The membrane can be deformed by the actuator to transfer force to the liquid without direct contact between the actuator and the liquid, ensuring sterility is maintained while enabling liquid actuation.
2Device complexity
If a liquid reservoir is integrated with the chip, then the system structure is simplified, but the liquid reservoir cannot be easily exchanged or kept sterile
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid reservoir is designed as a separate, detachable component from the microfluidic chip. The reservoir has a rigid wall area with connection features (grooves/tongues) that interface with corresponding features on the chip. This segmentation enables easy exchange of reservoirs while maintaining a simple overall system structure when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the liquid reservoir and chip is designed to be dynamically changeable - easily connectable and disconnectable. The rigid wall area provides structural stability when connected, while allowing for simple attachment and detachment operations, enabling flexible exchangeability without compromising structural integrity during use.
3Reliability
If an expandable membrane is used to separate actuation side from liquid side, then sterility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An expandable membrane (flexible thin film) is used to separate the actuation side from the liquid side. The membrane can be deformed by the actuator to transfer force to the liquid without direct contact between the actuator and liquid. This simple flexible barrier effectively maintains sterility while adding minimal structural complexity.
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 design allows for robust and sterile liquid actuation, enabling simpler operation and adaptable storage by separating the actuation and liquid sides, preventing contamination and ensuring efficient liquid transfer.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator and a liquid channel access adjoining the recess, wherein the expandable membrane is expandable by the actuator with volume displacement into the recess
Implementation Method 2
the actuator comprises a pressure channel adjacent to the expandable membrane
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The microfluidic chip (1) has a recess (3) for receiving a fluid reservoir. A distensible diaphragm (4) adjoins the recess. An actuator (5) and a fluid channel inlet (6) adjoins the recess. The distensible diaphragm is distensible into the recess by the actuator with volume displacement taking place. The actuator includes a pressure channel adjoining the distensible diaphragm. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a microfluidic fluid reservoir; (2) a microfluidic kit; and (3) a microfluidic kit operating method.