Modular Oligonucleotide Synthesizer with Recirculating Fluid Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional solid-phase synthesizers for oligonucleotides face limitations in flexibility, efficiency, and waste management, particularly when scaling up or down, due to their rigid design and inefficient fluid handling systems, leading to significant waste and imprecision in reagent delivery and reaction control.
Innovation Solution
A modular synthesizer system with interconnectible modules that allow for flexible scaling, efficient fluid management, and recirculation of reagents, minimizing waste and optimizing reagent usage by sharing excess reagents between parallel reaction vessels, while maintaining precise control over reagent delivery and reaction conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional solid-phase synthesizers use inter-connected tubing, pumps, and valves to control fluid flow, then reagent delivery is achieved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing precision deteriorates due to imprecise reagent delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the synthesizer into multiple independent modular units, each capable of autonomous operation. Each module contains its own fluid handling capabilities, eliminating the need for complex inter-connected tubing and valve systems while maintaining precise reagent delivery through standardized modular interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular synthesizer units are designed with universal interfaces and standardized configurations that allow them to perform multiple functions. Each module can operate independently or be combined with other modules, providing both standalone and scaled-up synthesis capabilities without requiring different system architectures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional synthesizers are designed with fixed capacity, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability deteriorates when scaling up or down
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed-capacity design to dynamic reconfigurability through modular architecture. Modules can be easily added, removed, or reconfigured to match production requirements, allowing the system to adapt its capacity dynamically without complex reconfiguration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular units are designed to nest or connect with each other in standardized configurations, allowing small-scale and large-scale systems to be built from the same basic building blocks. This nesting capability enables seamless scaling while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized interfaces.
3Reliability
If traditional synthesizers flush excess reagents from reaction vessels, then reaction control is achieved, but substance loss increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The modular design enables excess reagents to be recovered and reused in subsequent reactions. Instead of flushing reagents to waste, the system captures and recycles them through the modular fluid handling architecture, maintaining reaction control while significantly reducing substance loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by recycling and reusing reagents across multiple reaction cycles. The modular architecture allows for continuous operation where reagents are continuously recovered and fed back into the system, eliminating the need for disruptive flushing operations.
4Reliability
If traditional synthesizers use separate reaction vessels for each reaction, then reaction control is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The modular synthesizer units combine multiple reaction capabilities into single integrated modules. Each module integrates reaction vessel, fluid handling, and control systems, allowing multiple reactions to be performed in compact configurations that reduce overall footprint while maintaining independent reaction control.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for synthesizing organic polymers utilizing one or more independent synthesizer elements of similar design configured to interconnect to one another for combined operations. The synthesizer module contains at least two small-cavity pumps in a symmetric valve and tubing arrangement for delivery, blending and/or recirculation of synthesis reagents. The synthesizer module allows it to operate independently to perform synthesis chemistry, or two or more modules can be combined.