Multi-well plate with segmented sealing for cross-contamination prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-hole plates for high-throughput analysis suffer from cross-contamination between adjacent holes due to inadequate sealing, which affects the accuracy of adsorptive material separation processes and membrane characterization.
Innovation Solution
A multi-hole plate design featuring a filter medium fixed between upper and lower parts by sealing means, such as ring-shaped sealing beads or O-rings, prevents cross-contamination by ensuring individual isolation of each hole, allowing for precise analysis and high fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing means are added to isolate individual holes, then cross-contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing means are segmented into individual hole-specific seals rather than a continuous seal, allowing each hole to be isolated independently while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. This segmentation approach prevents cross-contamination between adjacent holes without requiring complex systematic changes.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual membranes are fitted in each hole, then filtration precision is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The membranes are pre-cut to the required size and shape before assembly, and the sealing means are pre-installed in the plate. This preliminary preparation simplifies the final assembly process while ensuring precise filtration performance, as membranes are already sized correctly and sealing components are in place before the membranes are inserted.
3Reliability
If adhesive is used to seal filter sheet, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is completely removed from the sealing process. Instead, mechanical sealing means such as O-rings or gaskets are used to create seals between the filter sheet and the plate. This extraction of the adhesive component eliminates the source of contamination while maintaining effective sealing through purely mechanical means.
4Reliability
If narrow outlet holes are used, then cross-mixing is reduced, but fluid flow decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing geometry is optimized locally at each hole outlet to prevent cross-mixing, while the overall fluid flow path is maintained separately for each hole. The sealing means are positioned and shaped to create localized containment zones that prevent lateral mixing, but do not restrict the vertical flow path, thus maintaining high fluid flow rates while preventing cross-contamination.
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 effectively prevents cross-contamination, ensuring accurate material balance and high fluid flow, making it suitable for high-throughput analysis and membrane characterization in adsorptive separation processes.
Implementation Method 1
sealing means which, arranged in pairs on the upper and lower part, fix the filter medium
Implementation Method 2
characterize membranes for adsorptive material separation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a multi-well plate (1), comprising an upper part (2) having a multiplicity of wells (3), a lower part (4) having a multiplicity of wells (5) which communicate with the wells (3) of the upper part (2), and at least one filter medium (6) which can be fixed between the upper part and lower part (2, 4), wherein the upper part (2) and the lower part (4), on the sides (8, 9) thereof facing the filter medium (6), have sealing means (7a, 7b) passing around the wells, and wherein the filter medium (6) can be fixed along the upper side and lower side thereof in each case pairwise by the sealing means (7b) of the upper part (2) and by the sealing means (7a) of the lower part (4). The multi-well plate according to the invention prevents cross-contamination between adjacent wells due to radial cross diffusion of analytes. The invention further relates to a method for characterizing filter media using the multi-well plate (1) and a use of the multi-well plate (1) according to the invention for high throughput analysis for characterizing filter media for separating matter by adsorption.