Multiwell-Plate Thermal Insulation via Air Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multiwell-plates for thermocycled amplification reactions face issues such as vapor trapping leading to inaccurate measurements, high reagent volumes resulting in high costs, inefficient heat transfer, and limitations in well density, which hinder the reliability and cost-effectiveness of PCR processes.
Innovation Solution
A high-density multiwell-plate design featuring a rigid well-forming structure with horizontal well-covering areas and a thermal insulating air gap between the well-covering areas and a plane cover, allowing for efficient thermal insulation and reduced reagent volumes, while maintaining optimal temperature control and minimizing evaporation and condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional multiwell-plates are used for thermocycled amplification reactions, then the plate structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but vapor trapping occurs leading to inaccurate measurements and unreliable PCR processes
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is divided into multiple functional layers: a bottom layer for thermal contact, a well-forming structure with horizontal well-covering areas, and a separate cover. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally while preventing vapor trapping that compromises measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontal well-covering areas act as an intermediary structure between the liquid sample and the cover, creating a thermal insulating air gap that prevents direct thermal contact and vapor condensation on the cover, thereby eliminating vapor trapping and improving measurement accuracy.
2Reliability
If high reagent volumes are used in conventional multiwell-plates, then the reactions are reliable, but the costs per reaction increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The well volume is reduced from conventional sizes to 1-10 microliters by changing the geometric parameters of the well-forming structure. This parameter change maintains reaction reliability through optimized thermal contact and vapor management while significantly reducing reagent volumes and costs.
3Temperature
If conventional multiwell-plates are used, then the structure is simple, but heat transfer efficiency is poor leading to suboptimal temperature control in PCR processes
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom layer is designed with high thermal conductivity properties to optimize heat transfer from the thermal cycler, while the well-covering areas and air gaps provide localized thermal insulation. This local quality differentiation enables precise temperature control at the sample level while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
4Productivity
If conventional multiwell-plates are used, then manufacturing is simple, but well density is limited reducing throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The plate design utilizes vertical dimensionality with the well-forming structure rising from the bottom layer, allowing for higher well density within the same footprint. This dimensional approach increases throughput capability while keeping the overall plate structure relatively simple and manufacturable.
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 solution enables reduced reagent volumes, increased throughput, and lower costs per reaction, with improved thermal efficiency and accuracy in PCR processes, addressing the limitations of existing multiwell-plates by maintaining precise temperature control and minimizing sample loss and contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially plane cover placed above the well-forming structure providing a thermal insulating air distance between the well-covering areas and the cover
Data Source
AI summary
A high-density multiwell-plate for performing thermocycled amplification reactions of polynucleotides in liquid samples comprising a plurality of reaction wells is disclosed. In order to provide a better thermal insulation, the plate comprises a rigid well-forming structure placed above a bottom layer, wherein substantially horizontal well-covering areas cover the liquid sample comprised in the wells, and a substantially plane cover placed above the well-forming structure providing a thermal insulating air distance between the well-covering areas and the cover.