Multi-Valve Fluid Cartridge With Bypass Circuit for Faster Fluid Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfluidic systems face challenges in efficiently transferring and processing multiple types of fluids due to limited space and the need for frequent fluid transfers, which increases operation time and risks cross-contamination.
Innovation Solution
A fluid cartridge apparatus with a fluidic circuit and a bypass fluidic circuit, featuring a first and second valve system that allows independent fluid operations, enabling simultaneous processing of different fluids and preventing cross-contamination by dedicated valve channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single flow control valve is used to select and direct multiple fluids, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases due to numerous sequential fluid transfers required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single valve system into multiple independent valves (first flow control valve, second flow control valve, third flow control valve), each responsible for specific fluid operations. This segmentation allows parallel fluid transfers to occur simultaneously through different valves, resolving the contradiction by trading increased device complexity for significantly improved productivity through concurrent operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bypass fluidic circuit that operates in parallel to the main fluidic circuit, creating an additional operational dimension. The third flow control valve manages fluid transfer through this bypass circuit, enabling simultaneous operations in both the main and bypass circuits, thus resolving the time constraint issue while maintaining manageable valve complexity
2Ease of operation
If a single flow control valve is used for all fluid operations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases due to increased risk of cross-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns dedicated valves to specific fluid operations: the first flow control valve for reagent fluid operations, the second flow control valve for wash fluid operations, and the third flow control valve for bypass circuit operations. This segmentation isolates different fluid pathways, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining ease of operation through automated control of multiple valves, thus resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and fluid separation integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass fluidic circuit acts as an intermediary pathway managed by the third flow control valve, providing an alternative route for fluid transfer that prevents direct mixing between different fluid streams. This intermediary circuit enables independent fluid operations while maintaining reliability through physical separation, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and fluid separation integrity
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a fluidic circuit, a bypass fluidic circuit, a first set of fluid wells, a second set of fluid wells, a first valve, and a second valve. The first valve operatively associated with the first set of fluid wells such that the first selectively fluidly connects any one of the first set of fluid wells to a first valve outlet. The second valve operatively associated with the fluidic circuit, the bypass fluidic circuit, the first valve outlet, and the second set of fluid wells such that the second valve selectively fluidly connects any one of the second set of fluid wells and the first valve outlet to the fluidic circuit or the first valve outlet to the bypass fluidic circuit.