Microplate Temperature and Humidity Control During Microfluidic Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic dispensing systems lack the ability to control temperature during dispensing, which can lead to phase changes such as evaporation, especially when handling small volumes of samples at non-room temperatures, posing challenges in maintaining sample quality and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a temperature and humidity control system using a flow of gas, such as a blower producing a top-down curtain of gas, which can control temperature and humidity levels to maintain sample integrity and prevent evaporation, allowing for precise temperature adjustments above or below room temperature, including 37°C, and humidity control to prevent sample degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature control is added to microfluidic dispensing systems, then sample quality and stability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines temperature control, humidity control, and microfluidic dispensing functions into a single integrated system. The temperature control module and humidity control module are merged with the acoustic droplet ejection system, allowing simultaneous control of multiple environmental parameters without requiring separate standalone devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to perform multiple functions: temperature regulation, humidity regulation, and coordination of acoustic droplet ejection. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to address various sample stability requirements (thermal stability, humidity stability) while maintaining precise dispensing control, reducing the need for multiple separate control devices.
2Reliability
If humidity control is implemented during dispensing, then evaporation and sample degradation are prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The humidity control module is integrated with the temperature control module and acoustic droplet ejection system. This merging allows the system to control humidity levels while simultaneously managing temperature and dispensing operations, preventing evaporation and sample degradation without requiring a completely separate humidity control device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a controlled atmosphere as an intermediary environment between the sample and the external environment. By regulating humidity levels within the system chamber, it creates a protective atmospheric condition that prevents evaporation and degradation of samples during the dispensing process.
3Measurement precision
If temperature is adjusted to non-room temperatures during dispensing, then reaction accuracy is improved, but phase changes such as evaporation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by implementing humidity control before and during temperature adjustments. By maintaining appropriate humidity levels in advance and throughout the temperature-controlled dispensing process, it counteracts the harmful effect of evaporation that would otherwise occur during non-room temperature operations, thereby preserving reaction accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system simultaneously controls multiple parameters (temperature and humidity) to achieve the desired reaction conditions. By adjusting temperature to optimal reaction temperatures while concurrently regulating humidity levels, the system enables accurate reactions at non-room temperatures without causing phase changes or evaporation.
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 solution enables precise temperature and humidity control during microfluidic dispensing, preventing phase changes and maintaining sample quality, facilitating high-throughput screening and in-situ kinetics monitoring, while ensuring the stability and accuracy of chemical analysis, particularly beneficial for reactions at body temperature.
Implementation Method 1
phase changes such as evaporation
Implementation Method 2
a flow of gas, such as a blower producing a top-down curtain of gas
Data Source
AI summary
GT Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling humidity and/or temperature during chemical analysis of a sample material. Specifically, the present application relates to microfluidics systems and methods, e.g. involving ADE, open port interface (OPI) and/or mass spectrometry (MS), for controlling humidity and/or temperature during chemical analysis of a sample material. The present systems and methods allow a user to modify the temperature of a microplate during dispensing. This allows the user to study reactions that occur at temperatures different than room temperature, e.g. at body temperature. Additionally, modifying and/or controlling the temperature of a microplate during dispensing can allow a user to maintain quality of a sample through maintaining a proper temperature, e.g. a cool temperature to prevent degradation of a sample. As part of the present invention, Applicant determined how to avoid phase changes, e.g. evaporation, that are particularly concerning because of the small amounts of sample involved.