Automated Nucleic Acid Purification via Pressure Change Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nucleic acid isolation and purification methods lack automation, rapidity, and miniaturization, with difficulties in determining the completion of liquid discharge due to variations in nucleic acid-adsorbent solid phases and liquids used.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a pressure sensor to measure pressure changes, calculate pressure velocity and acceleration, and determine the timing of liquid discharge completion based on these parameters, ensuring accurate and rapid automation of nucleic acid isolation and purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If pressure sensor measurement and parameter calculation method is implemented, then automation and measurement precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical timing methods with an automated pressure sensor-based detection system. The pressure sensor measures pressure changes in real-time, and the control unit automatically calculates pressure velocity and acceleration to determine liquid discharge completion, substituting human judgment and mechanical timers with electronic sensing and computational analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the pressure changes naturally occurring during the liquid discharge process itself as the detection signal. The liquid discharge process generates pressure variations that are directly measured by the sensor, eliminating the need for separate detection mechanisms or additional reagents. The system essentially uses the process itself to provide the measurement signal.
2Productivity
If pressure-based automatic determination method is used, then productivity and speed are improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate due to variations in nucleic acid-adsorbent solid phases and liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calibration by establishing reference pressure change patterns for complete liquid discharge under various conditions (different nucleic acid-adsorbent solid phases, liquids, and apparatus configurations). These reference patterns are stored in advance, allowing the system to quickly compare actual measurements against known good patterns without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus maintaining both speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors multiple pressure parameters simultaneously (pressure, pressure velocity, pressure acceleration) rather than relying on a single parameter. By analyzing the temporal changes and relationships between these multiple parameters, the system can more accurately determine liquid discharge completion despite variations in the nucleic acid-adsorbent solid phase or liquid properties, as different variations affect the parameters differently.
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 accurate and rapid determination of liquid discharge completion, improving the efficiency and throughput of nucleic acid isolation and purification processes, regardless of variations in nucleic acid-adsorbent solid phases and liquids used.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor to measure a pressure change
Implementation Method 2
a pressure difference generated by a pressure generation means
Implementation Method 3
a solution for adsorbing nucleic acid on a porous film
Data Source
AI summary
A method of automatically isolating and purifying nucleic acid from a nucleic acid-containing specimen is provided, the method comprising: injecting a liquid into a cartridge for isolation and purification of a nucleic acid including at least two openings from one opening of the at least two openings, in which the cartridge includes a container having the at least two openings and containing a nucleic acid-adsorbent solid phase; passing the liquid through the nucleic acid-adsorbent solid phase by a pressure difference generated by a pressure generation means for generating a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container; and discharging the liquid from the other opening of the container to the outside of the container by a pressure difference generated by the pressure generation means, wherein a pressure generated in the inside of the container by the pressure generation means is measured, a pressure change velocity and a pressure change acceleration are calculated on the basis of the value of the measured pressure, and the timing of completion of discharge of the liquid from the container is determined by use of a temporal change pattern of at least one of the measured pressure, the pressure change velocity and the pressure change acceleration.