Microfluidic Perfusion Coupler Alignment Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional perfusion tubing for microfluidic devices is difficult and time-consuming to insert precisely into microfluidic channels, often resulting in incorrect positioning, which can lead to blockages, leaks, or contamination.
Innovation Solution
A support frame with a recessed region and rigid couplers with pegs that guide and fix the position of perfusion tubes relative to the microfluidic device, ensuring precise alignment and secure attachment without damage, using either pegs or screws for attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional flexible perfusion tubing is manually inserted into microfluidic channels, then the device can be assembled, but precise alignment is difficult and time-consuming, often resulting in incorrect positioning
Solution Approach 1:
A rigid alignment coupler with guide pins serves as an intermediary tool between the flexible perfusion tubing and the microfluidic device. The guide pins fit into registration holes in the coupler, providing mechanical guidance that automatically aligns the tubing with the microfluidic channels during insertion, eliminating the need for manual precision alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid alignment coupler is pre-assembled with the flexible perfusion tubing attached to it before insertion. This preliminary assembly ensures that the tubing is already positioned and oriented correctly relative to the coupler's guide pins, so that when the coupler is inserted into the microfluidic device, the tubing automatically aligns with the channels
2Reliability
If manual insertion of perfusion tubing is used, then assembly is simple, but the risk of blockages, leaks, or contamination increases due to incorrect positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid alignment coupler acts as a mediator that ensures proper positioning of the flexible tubing relative to the microfluidic device. By providing mechanical guidance through guide pins and registration holes, it prevents misalignment that would cause blockages or leaks, thereby improving connection reliability without adding complexity to the assembly process
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment coupler with its guide pins and registration holes provides a pre-configured alignment mechanism that prevents incorrect positioning before insertion occurs. This beforehand preparation ensures that the tubing is correctly positioned relative to the microfluidic channels, preventing blockages and leaks before they can occur
3Manufacturing precision
If rigid couplers with guide pins are used, then precise alignment is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid alignment coupler is a separate intermediary component that provides precise alignment functionality without modifying the microfluidic device itself. The guide pins fit into registration holes in the coupler, creating a simple mechanical guidance system that achieves precise positioning while keeping the overall assembly process straightforward and not overly complex
Data Source
AI summary
In illustrative implementations of this invention, microfluidic perfusion tubing is easily and precisely inserted into a microfluidic device. The tubing is inserted in a manner that aligns one or more holes in the perfusion tubing with one or more channels in the microfluidic device. For example, a hole in the tip of a perfusion tube may open into a channel in the microfluidic device. Or, multiple holes in a tube may open into different channels in a microfluidic device. The system may include a microfluidic device, two or more couplers, and a support frame. The microfluidic device may be inserted into a recessed region of the support frame, and the couplers may be attached to the support frame. The effect of doing so is to fix the position of the components relative to each other, and to precisely align holes in the tubes with channels in the microfluidic device.