Microwell Filling Speed Control for Uniform Target-Capture Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detection methods for target substances in microwells suffer from low filling efficiency and uneven distribution, leading to reduced detection sensitivity and inaccurate results.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for filling microwells with a target-capturing substance by controlling the introduction speed of a dispersion medium based on capturing substance information, using a filling system that includes a capturing substance information acquisition unit, speed determination unit, and capturing substance filling unit to ensure uniform and efficient filling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a dispersion medium is introduced onto a base material to fill micrawells with target-capturing substance, then the micrawells can be filled with target-capturing substance, but the filling efficiency is low and the distribution is uneven

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling efficiencyVSAvoiduniformity of distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the introduction speed of the dispersion medium as a critical parameter to optimize filling efficiency and uniformity. By adjusting the speed at which the dispersion medium is introduced onto the base material, the system achieves both high productivity and even distribution of target-capturing substances across micrawells

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a speed determination unit that uses capturing substance information to dynamically adjust the introduction speed of the dispersion medium. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal filling conditions are maintained, resolving the contradiction between filling efficiency and distribution uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the introduction speed of dispersion medium is not controlled, then the filling process is simple, but the detection sensitivity is reduced due to low filling efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidcomplexity of filling system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual or uncontrolled mechanical introduction of dispersion medium with an automated system that uses information processing and speed control. The filling system incorporates units for acquiring capturing substance information, determining optimal speeds, and controlling the introduction process, substituting simple mechanical operations with a more complex but reliable automated system that enhances detection sensitivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system determines the optimal introduction speed automatically based on capturing substance information, without requiring manual intervention or complex external control. The filling process self-regulates by using the properties of the target-capturing substance to optimize its own filling parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4667101A1Filling method and filling system
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 CANON KK
  • EP4667101A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4667101A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4667101A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a filling method for filling a microwell (404) with a target-capturing substance, the filling method including: a capturing substance information acquisition step of acquiring capturing substance information relating to a target-capturing substance to be used; a speed determination step of determining, based on the capturing substance information acquired in the capturing substance information acquisition step, an introduction speed at which a dispersion medium in which the target-capturing substance is dispersed is introduced to a region on a base material in which a plurality of the microwells (404) are formed, the region including the plurality of the microwells (404) formed therein; and a capturing substance filling step of filling one or more of the plurality of the microwells (404) with the target-capturing substance by introducing the dispersion medium to the base material at the introduction speed.