Nucleic Acid Analysis Cell Flow Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nucleic acid analysis systems face challenges in achieving uniform flow rates, leading to prolonged washing times for reagent removal and potential errors in detection due to non-uniform flow rates and reagent residual issues.
Innovation Solution
A nucleic acid analysis reaction cell with a branch member at the inflow port and in the detection outer area, where the width narrows towards the end, to ensure a uniform flow rate and reduce washing time for reagent removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a columnar member is provided to reduce cross section in the biochemical reaction cassette, then the flow rate uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is divided into a detection area and a detection outer area, with the branch member specifically positioned in the detection outer area. This segmentation allows the invention to address flow rate uniformity issues without adding complexity to the detection area, thereby resolving the contradiction between improving flow uniformity and increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The branch member is strategically placed only in the detection outer area where flow rate adjustment is needed, rather than throughout the entire flow path. This local application of the flow control structure improves flow rate uniformity in the critical detection region without unnecessarily increasing overall device complexity.
2Productivity
If the inflow port is narrowed to reduce dead volume, then the reagent removal efficiency is improved, but the flow rate becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into detection area and detection outer area, with the branch member positioned in the detection outer area. This segmentation allows the inflow port to be narrowed for improved reagent removal efficiency while the branch member compensates for flow non-uniformity by redistributing flow in the detection outer area, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and flow rate uniformity.
3Productivity
If the detection area is made wider to increase sample capacity, then the analysis throughput is improved, but the flow rate uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is divided into detection area and detection outer area, allowing the detection area to be widened for increased sample capacity and improved analysis throughput. The branch member is positioned in the detection outer area to manage flow distribution, ensuring flow rate uniformity is maintained despite the wider detection area, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and flow rate uniformity.
Data Source
AI summary
A nucleic acid analysis reaction cell and a nucleic acid analyzer are provided, in which a uniform flow rate is realized, so that a portion where a flow rate is low is removed and washing time for reagent removal is shortened.A flow path (103) is provided which includes a detection area (108) for detecting sequence information of a nucleic acid fragment and detection outer areas (107) disposed at both ends of the detection area (108). An inflow port (105) is provided in one of the detection outer areas (107) and a discharge port (106) is provided in the other of the detection outer areas (107). The detection outer areas (107) disposed at both the ends of the detection area (108) are areas whose widths become narrow toward ends, and guides (104) for branching a liquid are provided in at least the detection outer area (107) in which the inflow port (105) is provided.