Microplate Reader Magnetic Lid Lifter for Evaporation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microplate readers face challenges with evaporation and gas exchange issues when conducting long-term biological or biochemical experiments, as standard lid solutions hinder automated injection and optical detection, and manual lid removal is cumbersome and risky for sensitive samples.
Innovation Solution
A microplate reader with an integrated magnetic lid holding device that uses a single switchable permanent magnet to lift and place microplate lids, allowing for automated lid management and maintaining gas exchange during measurements, enabling the use of standard microplates and lids while supporting various measurement modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a lid or self-adhesive film is used to cover the microplate, then evaporation is reduced, but automated injection and optical detection are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamically controllable lid system where the microplate lid can be automatically opened and closed by a robotic mechanism. This allows the system to transition between covered and uncovered states: covered during incubation to prevent evaporation, and opened during measurement to enable automated injection and optical detection, thus resolving the contradiction between evaporation prevention and operational accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is opened in advance before automated injection and measurement operations are performed, and closed immediately after these operations are completed. This preliminary action of opening the lid beforehand ensures that automated injection systems and optical detectors can access the microplate wells without obstruction, while still maintaining evaporation protection during non-operational periods
2Loss of substance
If a lid or self-adhesive film is used to cover the microplate, then evaporation is reduced, but gas exchange is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the lid state based on operational requirements: the lid remains closed during incubation to prevent evaporation, and is automatically opened during measurement cycles to restore gas exchange between the microplate contents and the external environment, thereby resolving the contradiction between evaporation prevention and gas exchange adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is periodically opened and closed according to the experimental protocol, remaining closed during incubation phases to prevent evaporation and opening during measurement phases to enable gas exchange. This periodic action allows the system to alternatingly satisfy both evaporation prevention and gas exchange requirements
3Loss of substance
If a lid or self-adhesive film is used to cover the microplate, then evaporation is reduced, but optical detection is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The microplate lid is dynamically opened during optical measurement phases to eliminate interference with light paths, allowing accurate absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence readings. The lid is closed during non-measurement phases to prevent evaporation, thus resolving the contradiction between evaporation reduction and measurement precision
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual lid removal is performed, then gas exchange is improved, but sample contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs lid opening and closing operations automatically through a robotic mechanism integrated into the microplate reader, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This self-service capability maintains gas exchange during measurements while preventing sample contamination by avoiding manual handling, thus resolving the contradiction between gas exchange improvement and contamination prevention
5Loss of substance
If the microplate is covered during long-term experiments, then evaporation is reduced, but measurement cycles are blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The lid system is dynamically controlled to be opened automatically during measurement cycles and closed during incubation periods. This dynamic operation allows multiple measurement cycles to be performed during long-term experiments without manual intervention, maintaining evaporation protection while ensuring measurement productivity is not blocked
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 allows for automated injection and optical detection in microplate readers, reducing evaporation, maintaining gas exchange, and enabling repeated measurements without sample contamination, while using standard microplates and lids, thus improving experimental efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
uses a single switchable permanent magnet to lift and place microplate lids
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9D
AI summary
A microplate reader (1) with an optical measuring/detection device (2) comprises a housing (3), a microplate support (4), and a motion unit (5). The motion unit (5) is configured to move the microplate support (4) within the housing (3) in a substantially horizontal direction. The microplate reader (1) includes an integrated cover holding device (6) arranged within the housing (3) for lifting a microplate cover (7) from a microplate (8) positioned on the microplate support (4) and for placing a microplate cover (7) onto the same microplate (8). The cover holding device (6) for moving the microplate cover (7) and/or the microplate support (4) for moving the microplate (8) are each configured in a vertical direction.The movement unit (5) is also designed to move the microplate support (4) out of and into the housing (3) in at least one substantially horizontal direction. The cover holding device (6) is designed as a magnetic lifter (6') and comprises a switchable permanent magnet (11). Each microplate cover (7) to be lifted and placed comprises magnetizable material (12). A method for optically measuring a covered microplate (8) in such a microplate reader (1) is also disclosed and claimed.