Microfluidic PCR Device With Flexible Isolation Layer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic devices for multiplex real-time PCR lack sufficient parallelism, are prone to cross-contamination, and are not cost-effective for large-scale manufacturing, while also requiring small sample volumes and rapid results.
Innovation Solution
A disposable microfluidic device with staggered secondary channels and a flexible layer that can be moved to isolate wells, reducing cross-contamination and allowing for high parallelism and efficient use of small sample volumes, featuring a semiconductor body with multiple wells and channels formed by MEMS manufacturing techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple reaction chambers are formed in a same substrate to increase parallelism, then the number of simultaneous assays increases, but cross contamination between wells occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the reaction system into multiple independent reaction chambers (wells) that are spatially separated within the same substrate. Each well is isolated by sidewalls and separated from adjacent wells by at least 50 micrometers, creating discrete reaction zones that prevent cross-contamination while enabling parallel processing of multiple samples simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements localized isolation features at each well position, including raised sidewalls that extend above the substrate surface and create individual enclosed spaces. This local structural modification ensures that each reaction chamber maintains its chemical independence while the overall array provides high parallelism through multiple such localized units.
2Quantity of substance
If small volumes are used to reduce reagent consumption and cost, then the volume of reagents and sample decreases, but the manufacturing scalability and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable microfluidic device architecture where the entire chip including reaction chambers, channels, and isolation structures is designed as a single-use disposable unit. This approach eliminates the need for complex cleaning and sterilization processes, allows for high-volume manufacturing using standard microfabrication techniques, and ensures consistent small volume containment without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances across reusable components.
Data Source
AI summary
A microfluidic device (1000-1005), comprising: a semiconductor body (2) having a first side (2a) and a second side (2b) opposite to one another, and housing, at the first side, a plurality of wells (4), having a first depth; an inlet region (30) forming an entrance point for a fluid to be supplied to the wells; a main channel (6a) fluidically connected to the inlet region, and having a second depth; and a plurality of secondary channels (6b) fluidically connecting the main channel to a respective well, and having a third depth. The first depth is higher than the second depth, which in turn is higher than the third depth. According to an aspect, the microfluidic device further comprises a cover layer (8), arranged above the first side of the semiconductor body, configured for sealing the wells and provided with at least a first valve hole (54) which extends through the cover layer and overlaps, at least partially, the secondary channels; and a flexible layer (14), arranged above the cover layer and provided with at least a protrusion (74) extending through the first valve hole towards the semiconductor body and overlapping, at least partially, the secondary channels, the flexible layer being configured such that, when a pressure is applied on it, the protrusion contacts the semiconductor body and enters the secondary channels thus fluidically isolating the wells from one another.