PCR Analytical Device with Modular Temperature-Controlled Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional PCR methods are labor-intensive, require complex reaction mixtures, and are prone to errors, contamination, and equipment-specific conditions, making them unsuitable for user-friendly, efficient, and reliable nucleic acid detection, especially in low-sample volumes and limited infrastructure settings.
Innovation Solution
An analytical device with a denaturation chamber, amplification chamber, and annealing chamber, allowing for temperature control and sample transfer between chambers, along with a receiving chamber for sample introduction and a readout chamber for analysis, using a lyophilized analytical reagent and a mixing chamber for reagent dissolution, enabling efficient PCR without complex mixture preparation and minimizing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional PCR methods are used with complex reaction mixtures and multiple equipment requirements, then detection accuracy can be maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple specialized chambers (receiving chamber, mixing chamber, denaturation chamber, annealing chamber, amplification chamber, readout chamber) that can be separated or integrated. Each chamber performs a specific PCR function, allowing the system to maintain complex functionality while simplifying operation through modular design and pre-packaged reagents.
Solution Approach 2:
PCR reagents are pre-packaged in lyophilized form within the device, and the device structure is pre-configured with temperature-controlled chambers and fluid pathways. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for users to manually prepare complex reaction mixtures, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining detection accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If conventional PCR requires manual preparation of reaction mixtures and cyclical incubation, then detection precision can be achieved, but loss of time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple PCR steps (denaturation, annealing, amplification) are combined into a single integrated device with temperature-controlled chambers that can perform all operations in one location. The device automates fluid transfer between chambers and maintains precise temperature cycling, eliminating manual intervention and reducing total analysis time while preserving detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The device maintains continuous temperature cycling and fluid flow throughout the PCR process without manual interruption. Multiple samples can be processed simultaneously in parallel chambers, and the automated system ensures continuous operation from sample introduction through readout, minimizing idle time and increasing productivity.
3Reliability
If conventional PCR is performed with multiple chambers and temperature cycling, then detection reliability improves, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature control is applied locally to specific chambers rather than heating the entire device. Each chamber (denaturation, annealing, amplification) is equipped with independent temperature control, allowing only the necessary regions to be heated or cooled at any given time, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reaction reliability.
4Measurement precision
If samples are packaged and shipped to specialist laboratories for PCR analysis, then detection accuracy can be maintained, but loss of time increases and reliability deteriorates due to transport risks
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to be self-contained with all necessary reagents, temperature control, and detection capabilities integrated into a single portable unit. Users can perform PCR analysis locally without sending samples to external laboratories, eliminating transport risks and maintaining both sample integrity and detection accuracy.
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
Facilitates rapid, efficient, and reliable PCR with reduced reagent and energy consumption, allowing for parallel processing of multiple samples with minimal effort and time, while protecting against contamination, and enabling flexible diagnostics with minimal infrastructure requirements.
Implementation Method 1
introducing the liquid sample into a denaturation chamber of the analytical device, then denaturing the sample
Implementation Method 2
transferring the liquid sample from step a) into the annealing chamber, then annealing
Implementation Method 3
transferring the liquid sample from step b) into the amplification chamber, then amplifying
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an analytical apparatus comprising a denaturation chamber, an amplification chamber and an annealing chamber, wherein the temperature of the denaturation chamber can be set to a temperature between 90 °C and 105 °C, preferably is set to a temperature between 60 °C and 80 °C, preferably is set to a temperature between 40 °C and 67 °C, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that a liquid sample can be introduced into the denaturation chamber and transferred back and forth between the denaturation chamber, the amplification chamber, the annealing chamber and optionally further chambers.