Modular Light Engine for Microplate Bio-inactivation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterilization methods in clinical and laboratory settings, including chemical-based and illumination-based techniques, are inadequate for effectively inactivating resistant microorganisms and molecular contaminants, particularly enzymes like RNase A, which can survive standard UV exposure and reactivate over time, and may not provide uniform disinfection, leading to contamination issues in DNA sequencing and amplification protocols.
Innovation Solution
A bio-inactivation device with a modular light engine emitting germicidal radiation, including UV-C light, is used to sterilize microplates and surfaces, employing multiple wavelengths to target different aspects of microorganisms and enzymes, ensuring complete and irreversible inactivation through controlled exposure and real-time feedback from photodetectors measuring fluorescence or reflectance changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard chemical disinfection methods are used, then many microorganisms and contaminants are easily removed or inactivated, but some microorganisms are resistant to standard sterilization techniques and chemical-based methods may not be suitable for use with certain surfaces/materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical-based disinfection methods with illumination-based UV-C radiation. The system uses a light engine with multiple light emitting diodes that emit UV-C radiation to inactivate microorganisms and contaminants on surfaces and in liquids, eliminating the need for chemical disinfectants that may be incompatible with certain materials.
2Reliability
If standard UV exposure is used, then some microorganisms are inactivated, but enzymes like RNase A can survive standard UV exposure and reactivate over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of UV exposure by using multiple wavelengths (254 nm and 275 nm) simultaneously instead of a single wavelength. This multi-wavelength approach provides more comprehensive inactivation of microorganisms and enzymes, preventing reactivation and ensuring long-term persistence of inactivation effects.
3Device complexity
If single-wavelength UV radiation is used, then the device structure is simple, but uniform disinfection is not achieved and resistant contaminants remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UV radiation source into multiple light emitting diodes emitting different wavelengths (254 nm and 275 nm). Each wavelength targets specific aspects of microorganisms and contaminants, achieving comprehensive and uniform disinfection across all surfaces and in liquid samples.
4Reliability
If multiple wavelengths are used to target different aspects of microorganisms and enzymes, then complete and irreversible inactivation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light emitting diodes emitting different wavelengths into a single integrated light engine. This combined multi-wavelength system achieves complete and irreversible inactivation of microorganisms and enzymes while maintaining a compact and manageable device structure through the integration of multiple functions into one unit.
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 multi-wavelength approach effectively inactivates microorganisms and enzymes, preventing reactivation and ensuring the purity of reagents and surfaces, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reproducibility of high-throughput sequencing and amplification methods by eliminating false positives and increasing signal-to-noise ratios.
Implementation Method 1
an array of light emitting diodes configured to emit germicidal radiation... the germicidal radiation may be directed towards a microplate... resulting in disruption of contaminants present in the reagent mix
Implementation Method 2
the closed loop control system comprising the photodetector may measure fluorescence of the surface before and after treatment
Implementation Method 3
a closed loop control system using a photodetector to measure reflectance from the surface before and after treatment
Data Source
AI summary
A system for irradiating a microplate may include a modular light engine with one or more light emitting devices. The light emitting devices are configured to emit germicidal radiation to irradiate the microplate, which is configured to be positioned below the modular light engine inside a chamber of the microplate irradiation system. In this way, a uniform intensity of germicidal radiation may be output by light emitting devices, resulting in disruption of contaminating nucleic acids present in the microplate.