Microfluidic Interface Seal and Needle for Fluid Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for processing and transferring biological specimens into microfluidic cassettes are prone to user error, require specialist equipment and training, and are susceptible to contamination, making them unsuitable for point-of-care settings, especially in resource-limited areas where accurate and low-cost diagnostic testing is needed.
Innovation Solution
An interface for microfluidic devices featuring a seal portion that moves within a reservoir in response to applied force, accompanied by a hollow needle for precise fluid transfer, which reduces user error and eliminates the need for specialist equipment or training, allowing for accurate and reliable fluid measurement and transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual fluid transfer techniques are used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device allows the user to simply attach the container to the interface, after which the system automatically draws the precise volume of fluid through the needle into the reservoir without requiring manual measurement or complex user actions. The seal portion and needle work together to self-regulate the fluid transfer process.
2Device complexity
If manual fluid transfer techniques are used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The interface acts as an intermediary device between the fluid container and the microfluidic cassette. It includes a needle that pierces the container seal and a reservoir that receives the fluid, mediating the transfer process to ensure reliable and contamination-free fluid movement without requiring complex manual operations.
3Ease of operation
If the cassette is open to the local environment, then ease of operation is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The interface uses a seal portion that can be moved within the reservoir, and a needle that pierces through seals, creating a closed pathway for fluid transfer. This prevents the cassette from being open to the environment during fluid introduction, thereby preventing contamination while maintaining ease of use.
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 interface enables accurate and reliable fluid transfer with minimal user error, improving diagnostic test accuracy and suitability for remote point-of-care applications without requiring specialized equipment or training, while minimizing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
The seal portion is moveable from a first position to a second position within a reservoir in response to an applied force
Implementation Method 2
when the seal portion moves from the first position to the second position, a predetermined volume of fluid is drawn through the needle into the reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
An interface for a microfluidic device such as a microfluidic cassette has a seal portion moveable from a first position to a second position within a reservoir in response to an applied force. Movement of the seal portion within the reservoir causes the volume of the reservoir to increase. The interface also has a hollow needle with a first end and a second end, the first end locatable in fluid communication with the reservoir and the second end located outside of the reservoir and arranged for piercing. The seal portion and the needle are arranged such that when the seal portion moves from the first position to the second position, a predetermined volume of fluid is drawn through the needle into the reservoir.