Microfluidic Disc Home Position Marks for Orientation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic systems face challenges in accurately identifying and positioning microfluidic devices due to defects or pollution near home position marks, leading to incorrect placement of injection needles and wastage of samples and reagents, and the inability to detect upside-down device insertion.
Innovation Solution
A set of home position marks is used on microfluidic discs, allowing for accurate identification and positioning by detecting multiple marks and determining the correct orientation, reducing false positives and enabling unique device identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single home position mark is used for positioning, then the device structure is simple, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to defects or pollution near the mark
Solution Approach 1:
The single home position mark is divided into multiple segments (first home position mark and second home position mark) arranged circumferentially. This segmentation allows the system to select alternative marks if one is defective or contaminated, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Different home position marks are assigned different characteristics (e.g., different angular positions, different detectable features) to serve specific purposes. The system can locally select the most appropriate mark based on its condition, ensuring high positioning accuracy without requiring all marks to be identical or overly complex.
2Reliability
If multiple home position marks are used to improve positioning accuracy, then positioning reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple home position marks serve universal functions: they all indicate the home position, provide redundancy against defects, and enable orientation detection. This multi-functionality increases reliability without requiring entirely separate systems for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes multiple home position marks with known characteristics before operation. During positioning, the controller preliminarily identifies which mark to use based on detection signals, avoiding the need for complex real-time decision-making and reducing operational complexity while maintaining high reliability.
3Speed
If home position marks are used for positioning, then positioning speed is fast, but the system cannot detect upside-down device insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The home position marks are arranged asymmetrically or have asymmetric characteristics (e.g., different angular positions, different detectable patterns) that change when the device is inserted upside-down. This allows the controller to quickly detect orientation errors by comparing detected mark characteristics against expected patterns, maintaining fast detection speed while adding orientation detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the detection of home position mark characteristics to determine both position and orientation. By analyzing the sequence, pattern, or characteristics of detected marks, the controller receives feedback that indicates whether the device is correctly oriented, enabling simultaneous position detection and orientation verification at high speed.
4Manufacturing precision
If a single home position mark is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the accuracy of injection needle placement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is segmented into marking multiple distinct home position locations rather than creating one complex mark. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing of each individual mark while improving overall placement accuracy through redundancy and selection of the best-quality mark for positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters such as the number, position, and detectable characteristics of home position marks to optimize both manufacturing ease and needle placement accuracy. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves high precision without requiring excessively complex manufacturing processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for determining the identity of a microfluidic device and a home position by means of a set of home position marks on the microfluidic device, which is of the type used in a microfluidic system. Said method comprises following phases: a microfluidic device scanning phase, wherein a microfluidic device is scanned for mark identifiers; a microfluidic device identifying phase, wherein at least one a characteristic feature of the set of home marks is/ are determined and used for identifying the identity of the microfluidic device; a home position determining phase, wherein the home position is determined by the use of at least a subset of the home position marks identified during said previous phases. The present invention relates to a set of home marks, a microfluidic device carrying such a set of home marks, a microfluidic system, a computer program product and a computer program on a computer usable medium.