Microfluidic Reservoir Design for Evaporation Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfluidic devices face significant challenges in suppressing the evaporation of liquids, leading to concentration variations that are more pronounced than in conventional culture plates due to their smaller size and thinner structure.
Innovation Solution
The microfluidic device incorporates a reservoir with an opening that stands above the main surface, allowing it to be mounted deeper than traditional designs, thereby storing a larger amount of liquid and maintaining high humidity around the openings, effectively suppressing evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a reservoir is provided inside a thin plate to suppress evaporation, then evaporation suppression is achieved, but the reservoir cannot store sufficient liquid due to limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is designed to extend in the vertical dimension (depth) rather than being constrained within the thin plate's horizontal plane. By positioning the reservoir bottom below the plate's lower surface and extending it upward through the plate thickness, the reservoir utilizes the vertical dimension to achieve sufficient liquid storage capacity while maintaining evaporation suppression functionality.
2Productivity
If the plate is made thinner and smaller for microfluidic applications, then microfluidic functionality is achieved, but evaporation suppression becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is nested within the holder structure that supports the plate, allowing the reservoir to occupy space outside the plate boundaries while still providing evaporation suppression for the plate's liquid volume. This nested configuration enables the reservoir to store sufficient liquid without increasing the plate's footprint or thickness.
3Quantity of substance
If the reservoir opening stands above the plate surface, then the reservoir can store larger amount of liquid, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: the plate for microfluidic processing, the holder for structural support, and the reservoir for liquid storage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the plate maintains its thin structure for microfluidic functionality while the reservoir extends vertically to provide sufficient storage capacity.
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
This configuration significantly reduces liquid evaporation in microfluidic devices, minimizing concentration variations and ensuring a stable experimental environment for cell culture and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporation of liquid components from the liquid injected into the opening can be effectively suppressed
Implementation Method 2
maintain the atmosphere in the opening area at high humidity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The microfluidic device (100) of the present invention includes a plate (1) having a first main surface (1a) that has an opening area in which a plurality of openings (21) for injecting fluid are formed, a second main surface (1 b) being the opposite side of the first main surface (1a), and an outer side surface (1c) communicating the first main surface (1a) and the second main surface (1b); and a reservoir (3) that has an opening with a bottom and is capable of storing liquid (38), the opening standing above the first main surface (1a) outside the opening area.