Nanoliter Sample Chip Selective Fluid Access Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complex and time-consuming preparation and processing of nanoliter sample chips for assays, particularly in transferring large collections of fluid samples into high-density arrays, is challenging due to the need for precise formatting and loading of reagents and samples without cross-contamination.
Innovation Solution
A fluid access structure and introduction mechanism that selectively populates a subset of sample wells in a nanoliter sample chip array, using microfluidic circuits, masks, or membranes to prevent unselected wells from being filled, while minimizing dead volume and cross-contamination, and allowing for efficient loading and alignment with microplate formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bulk transfer or discrete transfer methods are used to load samples into nanoliter sample wells, then sample loading can be performed, but the process is complex and time-consuming with high risk of cross-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The sample chip is divided into multiple sub-arrays of sample wells, with each sub-array being loaded independently through dedicated fluid access structures. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple samples simultaneously, reducing total loading time while maintaining precise control over each region to prevent cross-contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
Fluid access structures serve as intermediary components between the sample source and the sample wells. These structures include fluid introduction mechanisms and access channels that selectively deliver samples to specific sub-arrays, simplifying the overall loading process while preventing direct contact between samples and reducing cross-contamination risks.
2Reliability
If all sample wells are loaded uniformly, then complete coverage is achieved, but cross-contamination between adjacent wells occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the sample chip are assigned different properties through hydrophobic and hydrophilic patterning. The fluid access structures and sample well openings are strategically positioned to allow selective loading of specific sub-arrays. This local differentiation enables independent control of sample delivery to each region, ensuring complete coverage of selected wells while preventing cross-contamination through hydrophobic barriers.
3Ease of operation
If traditional microplate formats are used, then ease of handling is maintained, but sample volume efficiency and array density are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The nanoliter sample chip is designed to nest within or align with standard microplate formats. The fluid access structures can be positioned to interface with conventional microplate handling mechanisms, allowing the high-density nanoliter array to be manipulated using familiar tools and techniques. This nesting approach maintains ease of handling while achieving superior sample volume efficiency through the compact nanoliter well design.
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
Enables efficient, precise, and minimally error-prone loading of microfluidic samples into nanoliter sample chips, reducing dead volume and cross-contamination, and facilitating the use of nanoliter arrays in applications like PCR and ELISA analysis.
Implementation Method 1
Capillary action or surface tension of the liquid samples may be used to load the sample wells 12
Implementation Method 2
the target area of the receptacle, interior walls 42, may have a hydrophilic surface that attracts a sample fluid
Implementation Method 3
the exterior planar surfaces 14 of chip 10 and a layer of material 40 around the openings of sample wells 12 may be of a hydrophobic material
Data Source
AI summary
An interface is provided for storing microfluidic samples in a nanoliter sample chip. A fluid access structure provides a fluid access region to a selected subset of sample wells from an array of sample wells. A fluid introduction mechanism introduces a sample fluid to the fluid access region so that the sample wells in the selected subset are populated with the sample fluid without the unselected sample wells being populated with the sample fluid.