Microfluidic Device Sealing Pattern Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic devices require complex and costly techniques to introduce fluid into a cell, limiting the number of holes and increasing production costs due to the need for precise hole-making in substrates.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic device design featuring a lower substrate with a water-repellent pattern and an upper substrate with a hydrophilic pattern, where the upper substrate is bonded to the lower substrate with a sealing pattern that includes gaps, allowing fluid to enter through capillary action without the need for holes in the upper substrate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If holes are made in the upper substrate for fluid introduction, then fluid can be introduced into the cell, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fluid introduction function from the upper substrate by removing holes from it. Instead, fluid introduction is achieved through gaps in the sealing pattern that is formed between the upper and lower substrates. This separates the introduction function from the substrate structure, allowing the upper substrate to be manufactured without complex hole-making processes while still enabling fluid introduction through the sealing pattern gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing pattern acts as an intermediary element that enables fluid introduction without requiring holes in the upper substrate. The sealing pattern, which bonds the upper and lower substrates, incorporates gaps that serve as fluid introduction pathways. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for direct hole-making in the upper substrate while maintaining the fluid introduction function.
2Ease of operation
If precise hole-making techniques are used in glass substrates, then fluid introduction is enabled, but substrate strength decreases and microcracks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes holes from the glass substrate entirely, extracting the fluid introduction function to the sealing pattern instead. This eliminates the source of microcracks and strength reduction that occur during hole-making processes in glass substrates, while still enabling fluid introduction through the gaps in the sealing pattern.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple holes are provided in the upper substrate, then multiple fluid introduction points are available, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing pattern serves multiple functions: it bonds the upper and lower substrates together and simultaneously provides multiple fluid introduction points through its gaps. This multi-functional design allows the sealing pattern to replace the upper substrate's hole-making function, enabling versatile fluid introduction without increasing manufacturing complexity.
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
Enables easier and more efficient fluid introduction into the microfluidic device, reducing production costs and eliminating limitations on the number of introduction points, while maintaining the structural integrity of the substrates.
Implementation Method 1
an upper water-repellent pattern (4A, 4B) and a lower water-repellent pattern (9A, 9B), wherein the upper substrate (2A, 2B) is bonded to the lower substrate (6A, 6B) with a sealing pattern (5) including gaps (12), so as to allow for easier introduction of fluid into a cell, and wherein the upper water-repellent pattern (4A, 4B) is provided with a hydrophilic pattern (16) at a position corresponding to a position of the gaps (12) in the sealing pattern (5), and/or the lower water-repellent pattern (9A, 9B) is provided with a hydrophilic pattern (17) at a position corresponding to a position of the gaps (12) in the sealing pattern (5)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
An embodiment of the present invention provides a microfluidic device into which fluid can be more easily introduced. A microfluidic device (1) is configured such that: (i) an upper substrate (2) is bonded to a lower substrate (6) via a sealing pattern (5) in such a manner that at least a portion of an edge of the upper substrate (2) is located inward of an edge of the lower substrate (6); and (ii) the sealing pattern (5) includes at least one gap (12) that is provided at a position where the edge of the upper substrate (2) is located inward of the edge of the lower substrate (6).