Microfluidic Disc Capillary Segmentation for Residual Liquid Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ELISA methods require large volumes of cleaning solution and occupy significant space on microfluidic discs, leading to reduced detection efficiency and economic benefits due to residual reagents and lengthy processing times.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic-based analyzer with a microfluidic disc design featuring a drive module, injection chamber, mixing chamber, waste chamber, and capillary structure, utilizing rotational speed control to efficiently drain residual liquids and reduce cleaning solution usage, allowing for high cleaning efficiency and sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cleaning solution is injected into the mixing chamber to replace residual liquid in the reaction chamber, then the cleaning effect is improved, but the cleaning solution mixes with residual reagents in the mixing chamber causing contamination and requiring larger volumes and multiple rinsing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary is segmented into three distinct sections with different radial positions: a first section connected to the mixing chamber, a second section connected to the waste chamber, and a turning section connecting them. This segmentation allows the cleaning solution to be directed through specific pathways, preventing mixing with residual reagents and enabling efficient cleaning with minimal solution volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension of the rotating microfluidic disc to solve the cleaning problem. By positioning capillary sections at different radial distances from the rotation center, the invention creates spatial separation that prevents contamination during the cleaning process, allowing cleaning solution to flow from the mixing chamber through the turning section to the waste chamber without mixing with residual reagents.
2Reliability
If large volume of cleaning solution is used to ensure thorough cleaning, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the available space on the microfluidic disc is reduced, decreasing the number of inspections per chip
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary is segmented into three distinct sections with different radial positions: a first section connected to the mixing chamber, a second section connected to the waste chamber, and a turning section connecting them. This segmentation allows the cleaning solution to be directed through specific pathways, preventing mixing with residual reagents and enabling efficient cleaning with minimal solution volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension of the rotating microfluidic disc to solve the cleaning problem. By positioning capillary sections at different radial distances from the rotation center, the invention creates spatial separation that prevents contamination during the cleaning process, allowing cleaning solution to flow from the mixing chamber through the turning section to the waste chamber without mixing with residual reagents.
3Measurement precision
If multiple rinsing steps are performed to eliminate residual reagents, then detection accuracy is improved, but the processing time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary structure is pre-configured with turning sections positioned at different radial distances from the rotation center. This preliminary design ensures that during rotation, the cleaning solution automatically follows the correct pathway through the turning section from the mixing chamber to the waste chamber, eliminating residual reagents in a single step without requiring multiple sequential rinsing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The turning section of the capillary acts as an intermediary structure that mediates the flow of cleaning solution. Positioned at a specific radial distance, it serves as a transition zone that directs the cleaning solution from the mixing chamber to the waste chamber while preventing backflow and mixing with residual reagents, thereby achieving thorough cleaning in one step.
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
The solution effectively reduces the amount of cleaning solution needed, enhances detection sensitivity, and increases the number of tests on the disc, maintaining accuracy while minimizing human error and processing time.
Implementation Method 1
a capillary, including: a first access connected to the mixing chamber, wherein the first access is configured on a first radius; a second access connected to the waste chamber, wherein the second access is configured on a second radius; and a turning section connected to the first access and the second access, wherein the turning section is configured on a third radius
Implementation Method 2
utilizing rotational speed control to efficiently drain residual liquids and reduce cleaning solution usage
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic-based analyzer, including a drive module and a microfluidic disc. On the microfluidic disk, a capillary is connected between a mixing chamber and a waste chamber. More particularly, the capillary is connected to the mixing chamber through a first access on the first radius of the microfluidic disc, and the capillary is connected to the waste chamber through a second access on the second radius of the microfluidic disk. Specifically, a turn of the capillary is disposed between the first access and the second access, in which a folding is configured on a third radius of the microfluidic disc. Overall, the aforementioned microfluidic-based analyzer is able to be operated in different rotational speeds and is capable of evacuating the mixing chamber and enhancing the washing efficiency.