Open-Well Flow Cell Lid With Snap-Joint Sealing Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for sealing open well flow cells in biomedical assays suffer from inadequate sealing force, leading to evaporation and optical distortions, particularly when using imaging optics, due to the use of sealing tapes that do not provide robust sealing and can cause bending issues.
Innovation Solution
A stackable lid with a cover and snap joint elements that engage with a sample device to form a sealed fluidic chamber, ensuring a robust seal by using a skirt, flange, and crossbars with snap joint elements to align with the well's perimeter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing tape is used to cover the well opening, then evaporation is prevented, but the sealing force is insufficient and bending issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into multiple functional segments: a cover portion for evaporation prevention, a skirt for positioning, a flange for sealing contact, and crossbars with snap joint elements for applying distributed sealing force. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while working together to achieve robust sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism transitions from a two-dimensional tape placed on the surface to a three-dimensional structure that engages with the well opening from multiple dimensions. The flange provides vertical sealing contact, while the snap joint elements provide lateral engagement, creating multi-dimensional sealing force that prevents both evaporation and bending.
2Strength
If clips are added to provide improved sealing forces, then sealing force increases, but the sealing forces induce bending that does not align with the bending of the open well flow cell, causing partial or failed sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The crossbars are positioned asymmetrically relative to the well opening, with specific spacing and orientation that matches the natural bending profile of the open well flow cell. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the sealing forces are distributed in a pattern that aligns with the well's structural deformation, preventing mismatched bending and ensuring complete sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap joint elements are designed with specific geometric parameters (length, thickness, engagement angle) that can be adjusted to match different well configurations. By optimizing these parameters, the sealing force distribution can be tuned to align with the specific bending characteristics of each open well flow cell design.
3Area of stationary object
If a cover is placed flush with the opening of the well, then the well is covered, but robust sealing is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The skirt extends below the cover portion to engage with the well opening perimeter before the flange applies sealing force. This preliminary engagement positions the flange correctly and pre-loads the sealing interface, ensuring that when sealing force is applied, it acts on a properly positioned and aligned sealing surface, achieving robust sealing.
Data Source
AI summary
A lid for forming a sealed fluidic chamber includes a cover having a planar outer surface and an inner surface separated from the planar outer surface by a thickness, and a skirt extending about a perimeter of the inner surface, where the skirt and the inner surface define a recess. The lid further includes a flange extending about a perimeter of the skirt, where the flange is parallel to the planar outer surface. The lid further includes a first crossbar and second crossbar extending parallel to the first and second side, respectively. The first crossbar and second crossbars have a first and second pair of snap joint elements, respectively.