Tip Tray Assembly for Optical Sensors with Agitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for holding biosensors lack flexibility in arrangement, pre-wetting, and immobilization, and fail to provide effective flow mechanisms for molecular kinetic analyses, leading to limitations in customizing sensor arrangements and creating a valid environment for molecular binding studies.
Innovation Solution
A tip tray apparatus with a substrate and support member that holds discrete optical sensing assemblies in a format allowing customization and immersion in solutions, combined with an agitation assembly for creating orbital flow without the need for microfluidics or fluidic channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If discrete optical sensing assemblies are held in a fixed format without flexibility, then device structure is simple, but adaptability for customizing sensor arrangements is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is divided into multiple openings, each capable of holding a discrete optical sensing assembly independently. This segmentation allows flexible arrangement of sensors while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure, as each opening is a standardized unit that can be configured differently.
2Reliability
If sensors are held in contact with each other in the tray, then device structure is compact, but sensor damage during handling and storage increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each optical sensing assembly is held in a separate opening in the substrate, physically isolating them from one another. This prevents contact between sensors during storage and handling, reducing damage risk while keeping the device compact through the organized array layout.
3Productivity
If conventional flow mechanisms with microfluidics or fluidic channels are used, then flow control is precise, but device complexity and instrumentation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the complex microfluidics and fluidic channel systems from the device. Instead, it uses a simplified approach where solutions are applied directly to the substrate holding the sensors, and orbital agitation creates flow without requiring intricate fluid delivery infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses orbital agitation of the solution (hydraulic approach) to create flow over the sensor surfaces. This simple mechanical agitation method replaces complex microfluidic systems while still achieving the necessary flow for molecular kinetic analyses.
4Loss of time
If pre-wetting and immobilization are performed on-line, then process integration is high, but time required for assay preparation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate design allows sensors to be pre-loaded and stored in a ready state before the actual assay. Pre-wetting and immobilization can be performed in advance with the sensors already positioned in the substrate, separating preparation steps from the main assay execution and reducing overall assay time.
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 flexible arrangement and pre-wetting of biosensors, allows for off-line immobilization, and provides a valid environment for molecular binding kinetic analysis by ensuring continuous flow over the sensors, reducing the need for complex instrumentation and minimizing sensor damage during handling and storage.
Implementation Method 1
The change in interference signal is due to a phase shift between light reflected from the end of the fiber and from the binding layer carried on the fiber end
Implementation Method 2
light reflected from the end of the fiber and from the binding layer carried on the fiber end
Implementation Method 3
an agitation assembly for creating orbital flow without the need for microfluidics or fluidic channels
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for packaging of an optical sensing fiber is disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate with a plurality of openings, and each opening is configured for holding an optical sensing assembly. The assembly is positioned in the opening with a tip of the assembly extending through the opening to be suspended from the substrate. In addition, openings are arranged so the assembly positioned therein avoids contacting another assembly positioned therein. The apparatus can include a support member for supporting the substrate and positioning the substrate so the tip of the assembly suspended from the opening in the substrate contacts solution in one of a plurality of wells in a container adjacent to the substrate. The assembly can be configured for preparing of the optical assembly for assay. An agitation assembly for agitating the container to create flow of the solution in the container wells over an optical sensing assembly is also disclosed.