Microtiter Plate Segmentation via Weld Line Weakness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microtiter plates for PCR are often underutilized due to the need for a small number of reactions, leading to partially used plates with unused wells, and existing designs are complex, difficult to adapt, and pose risks of unintentional breakage and contamination during disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A microtiter plate with a weld line weakness created by injection molding, allowing for easy segmentation without sharp edges, using a fiber-reinforced semi-crystalline plastic with a V-shaped groove for controlled fracture behavior, and optionally different plastics for segments to influence fracture properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a microtiter plate is designed with a large number of wells to maximize utilization, then the quantity of substance processed increases, but the complexity of the device increases and adaptation to different reaction numbers becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The microtiter plate is divided into multiple segments by weakening lines that allow the plate to be easily separated into different configurations. This enables the plate to be adapted to different reaction numbers by breaking off unused segments, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the capability to process various quantities of substance.
2Strength
If a microtiter plate is made from a single piece of plastic to ensure structural integrity, then strength is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to inability to create segmentation features
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is manufactured as a single piece of plastic with varying wall thicknesses. The weakening lines are created by reducing the wall thickness in specific areas, allowing the plate to be easily separated along these lines while maintaining full structural integrity in the non-weakened areas. This approach maintains strength while enabling easy segmentation during manufacturing.
3Ease of operation
If a microtiter plate includes features to facilitate breaking into segments, then ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases due to risk of unintentional breakage and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The plate features localized weakening lines with reduced wall thickness that are strategically positioned to guide breaking. These localized weak points allow controlled separation along predetermined paths while the rest of the plate maintains full strength, preventing unintentional breakage and contamination during normal handling and operation.
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 targeted disassembly into segments without unintentional breakage, reducing the risk of injury and contamination, and allowing for efficient use of resources by facilitating the use of only the required number of wells.
Implementation Method 1
a weld line which forms when different segments of the plate are injection molded together and connects the plate at the line of weakness
Implementation Method 2
a V-shaped groove in the bottom of the plate that widens towards the bottom of the plate
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The microtiter plate (1.1) is made of plastic and has multiple cavities (4.1) in a plate (2.1), where cavities have degradation lines (20.11,20.21,20.31), where the degradation line divide the plate in different segments (18.1,18.2,18.3,18.4). The degradation line has binding lines (19.11,19.21,19.31) which is formed by different segments of the plate. The plate is manufactured from an amorphous plastic. The plate is made of polycarbonate, cyclo-olefin-copolymer, cyclo-olefin polymer, polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate, fiber-reinforced polypropylene, polyethylene or polyolefin. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing a microtiter plate.