Microplate Well Plug with Vents and Sealed Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing diagnostic kits and microplates face challenges in ensuring complete sealing while allowing communication with the outside for operations like lyophilization, which can lead to contamination and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

An obturation element with a plug featuring an elastic deformation sleeve, truncated areas forming vents, and a sealed portion that ensures sealed closing, allowing for both lyophilization and sealed storage, while enabling quick and reliable access with a plastic pipette.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a plug with a central opening forming a vent is used to allow communication with the outside, then lyophilization operation is enabled, but complete sealing is not guaranteed leading to contamination risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelyophilization operation capabilityVSAvoidsealing completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The plug is divided into distinct functional zones: a sealed portion for hermetic sealing and a vented portion with central opening for gas escape. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of both sealing and venting functions without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the plug have different sealing characteristics - the sealed portion provides complete sealing when depressed, while the vented portion maintains opening for gas discharge. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between sealing and venting needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If a cap is withdrawn to allow sample expulsion and access, then sample access is enabled, but contamination of sample and work environment occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample access capabilityVSAvoidcontamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The venting function is extracted from the cap and integrated into the plug structure itself. The central opening in the plug allows gas discharge without requiring cap removal, thereby maintaining sample sealing and preventing contamination while enabling necessary venting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a plug with sleeve and head structure is used, then sealed closing is achieved, but penetration by pipette tips becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealed closingVSAvoidpipette penetration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The plug is designed to be dynamically deformable - the sleeve can be elastically deformed during insertion and the plug can be compressed during pipette penetration. This dynamic flexibility allows the plug to maintain sealing when needed while accommodating pipette tip insertion without requiring complex piercing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The obturation element effectively manages the sealing and venting needs for diagnostic kits, preventing contamination and improving operational efficiency by allowing secure access for pipette tips.

Implementation Method 1

a plug including a sleeve to be inserted into the well by elastic deformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

this insertion sleeve delimiting from the free end of the sleeve, at least one vent when the plug occupies a partial depressed position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

the plug including a sealed portion positioned such that in a more depressed position of the plug, relative to the partial depressed position, this portion cooperates with the well to ensure its sealed closing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 4

this cutout extending between two passage faces of the bottom wall, in contact against each other to ensure a sealing and authorize by elastic deformation, the passage of a tip of a pipette

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12337323B2Closure element for a microplate well having vents and a slot, and method for the use thereof

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 BIOMERIEUX SA

AI summary

An obturation element (1) for a well receiving a chemical or biological solution to be analyzed, including for each well, a plug (4) including an insertion sleeve (5) in the form of a cylinder provided with two truncated areas (15) arranged in a symmetrically opposite manner on the outside of the sleeve to form vents, this insertion sleeve (5) being provided with a bottom wall (9) in which a through-cutout (18) is arranged, oriented radially in the direction of the two truncated areas (15).