Microscopic Body Enclosure in Substrate Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for detecting markers such as nucleic acids, proteins, viruses, and cells are not efficient for quickly and sensitively detecting substances at very low concentrations, such as those found in diseases, due to limitations in enclosing and detecting microscopic bodies in extremely small volumes.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that enclose microscopic bodies in cavities on a substrate by introducing a first liquid containing the body and a solvent, followed by a second immiscible solvent to form droplets, allowing for highly sensitive detection through optical, electrical, or magnetic means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flow cell structure with lower and upper layer sections is used to seal beads, then detection sensitivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of sealing beads from the complex flow cell structure and implements it using a simple array plate with receptacles. The array plate alone can seal beads when combined with a droplet of aqueous solution and oil, eliminating the need for the complex two-layer flow cell structure while maintaining the ability to detect target molecules with high sensitivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple steps are used to introduce liquids into cavities, then enclosure precision is improved, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of multiple liquid introduction steps into a single operation. By introducing both the aqueous solution containing beads and the oil phase simultaneously or in sequence through a single addition process, the system achieves precise enclosure of beads in cavities without requiring complex multi-step liquid handling procedures.
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 the detection of substances at extremely low concentrations with high sensitivity and simplicity, facilitating rapid diagnosis of diseases by forming droplets of microscopic bodies in small volumes for efficient detection.
Implementation Method 1
introducing a second liquid into the solution introduction space, wherein the second liquid includes a second solvent immiscible with the first solvent
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method of enclosing a microscopic body in at least some of a plurality of cavities formed in the surface of a substrate, including the step of arranging an insertion member above the cavity-formed surface of the substrate, determining relative positions of the insertion member and the substrate by a support section provided on the insertion member such that the bottom surface of the insertion member and the cavity-formed surface of the substrate face each other, thereby providing a solution introduction space between the bottom surface of the insertion member and the cavity-formed surface of the substrate, and providing a solution discharge space that is in communication with the solution introduction space, the solution discharge space being located above the bottom surface of the insertion member, and between the substrate and the insertion member, within the substrate and/or within the insertion member.