Monolithic Carrier Fluid Routing for Digital Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital titration systems face challenges in efficiently and precisely dispensing small volumes of fluid into micro- or multi-well plates due to limitations in the design and functionality of digital titration cassettes, particularly in terms of fluid routing and the number of reservoirs versus fluid dispense devices.
Innovation Solution
The use of a monolithic carrier structure with integrated fluid routing and reservoirs that can be molded or separately attached to fluid dispense devices, allowing for flexible configuration of reservoirs and fluid dispense devices, enabling efficient fluid delivery to a dense array of wells, even when the number of reservoirs is less than the number of fluid dispense devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple fluid dispense devices are used to dispense fluid into multiple wells, then the density and capacity of the well plate increases, but the complexity of fluid routing and reservoir configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid routing system is segmented into multiple independent channels, with each channel independently connecting a reservoir to a fluid dispense device. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized independently, reducing overall routing complexity while maintaining high dispensing capacity across multiple wells
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier structure is designed with universal fluid routing features that can accommodate different numbers and configurations of reservoirs and fluid dispense devices. The standardized channel architecture allows the same basic structure to serve multiple functions across different well plate configurations
2Productivity
If the number of reservoirs is less than the number of fluid dispense devices, then device density increases, but fluid delivery reliability becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fluid routing channels are merged into a single carrier structure that integrates reservoirs, channels, and fluid dispense devices. This merging ensures that even when reservoirs are shared or fewer in number, the integrated structure maintains reliable fluid delivery through dedicated pathways for each dispense device
Solution Approach 2:
Each fluid routing channel is designed with local quality optimizations, including dedicated pathways and connection points tailored to specific reservoir-die pairs. This ensures that each fluid delivery path maintains high reliability even in high-density configurations where reservoirs outnumber dispense devices
3Ease of manufacture
If discrete components are used for reservoirs and fluid dispense devices, then ease of manufacture improves, but device complexity and fluid routing efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously discrete components (carrier structure, reservoirs, fluid routing channels, and fluid dispense devices) into a single integrated monolithic structure. This merging reduces assembly complexity and improves manufacturing efficiency through single-step molding processes, while maintaining the functional benefits of having distinct reservoir and dispense regions
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a digital dispense apparatus includes molding a monolithic carrier structure, forming cut outs into a planar top surface of the monolithic carrier structure, the cut outs including a reservoir extending into part of a thickness of the monolithic carrier structure and fluid routing to connect the reservoir with a fluid dispense device, and overmolding the fluid dispense device into the monolithic carrier structure on a side of the monolithic carrier structure that is opposite to the reservoir to fluidically connect to the fluid routing.