Microfluidic Control Chip with Nested Microcavities for Gene Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Microfluidic control chips struggle with accurate quantitative detection of diseased gene fragments due to their small proportion after amplification, leading to undetectable or inaccurate results, especially when the number of diseased gene fragments is low.

Innovation Solution

The microfluidic control chip design includes a chip functional layer with a chamber unit featuring a main flow channel, secondary flow channels, and microcavity structures, where gene fragments are amplified and divided into multiple microcavity structures, allowing for increased detection accuracy. Additionally, a hydrophilic layer and hyperbranched molecular layer with biological functional units enhance liquid flow and capture capabilities, and a temperature controller ensures precise reaction conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If gene fragments are amplified in a single amplification chamber, then the amplification efficiency is improved, but the detection accuracy of diseased gene fragments deteriorates due to their small proportion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamplification efficiencyVSAvoiddetection accuracy of diseased gene fragments

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The amplification chamber is divided into multiple sub-chambers, each containing microcavity structures. Gene fragments are distributed into these sub-chambers for parallel amplification, increasing both efficiency and detection accuracy by reducing the proportion of diseased genes in each individual reaction while maintaining total amplification capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Microcavity structures serve as intermediaries to distribute and isolate gene fragments into multiple reaction compartments. These microcavities act as intermediate reaction spaces that enable parallel processing while maintaining individual reaction integrity, solving the contradiction between bulk amplification and precise detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple microcavity structures are used to distribute gene fragments, then the detection sensitivity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidchip structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple microcavity structures are nested within a single amplification chamber, creating a hierarchical structure where microcavities are contained within the larger chamber. This nesting approach increases detection sensitivity through multiple reaction sites while minimizing device complexity by organizing components in a compact, integrated manner

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple microcavity structures are combined within a unified amplification chamber design, integrating multiple functions (amplification, distribution, detection) into a single chip structure. This merging reduces overall device complexity compared to using separate independent chambers while maintaining enhanced detection sensitivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables accurate quantitative detection of diseased gene fragments by amplifying and distributing them into multiple microcavity structures, improving detection sensitivity and precision, and the hyperbranched molecular layer and temperature control enhance the chip's biological functionality and reaction accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

a hydrophilic layer is provided on surfaces of the chamber unit, the inlet flow channel, and the outlet flow channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophilic effect: Hydrophile

Implementation Method 2

Quantitative detection of the gene fragments is realized by first amplifying the gene fragments using the microfluidic control chip

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIsothermal amplification: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS11517899B2Microfluidic control chip, microfluidic apparatus, and manufacturing method thereof

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 BEIJING BOE TECH DEV CO LTD

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a microfluidic control chip. The microfluidic control chip may include an upper cover, a lower cover, and a chip functional layer between the upper cover and the lower cover. The chip functional layer may include a first region. The chip functional layer in the first region may include at least one chamber unit, an inlet flow channel to the chamber unit, and an outlet flow channel from the chamber unit. The chamber unit may include a main flow channel, a plurality of secondary flow channels, and a plurality of microcavity structures. The chamber unit may be configured to allow a liquid to flow from the main flow channel to the plurality of secondary flow channels, and then to the plurality of microcavity structures.