PCR Cartridge Support for Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for analyzing large numbers of genes using DNA microarrays face challenges with thermal stress during temperature cycling in PCR processes, leading to mechanical stress and potential cartridge malfunction or breakage, especially when different materials are used for the microarray and cartridge.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge design with a fluid chamber and a support element that allows for thermal expansion of the microarray without inducing substantial mechanical stress, enabling the use of microarrays with varying thermal expansion coefficients, thus preventing bending or deflection and allowing for universal compatibility with different array materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a microarray is fixed rigidly in a cartridge for PCR processing, then the cartridge structure is simple and stable, but thermal expansion of the microarray during temperature cycling induces mechanical stress leading to cartridge malfunction or breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to adapt its position in response to thermal expansion of the microarray during PCR temperature cycling. This dynamic adjustment prevents mechanical stress accumulation while maintaining cartridge integrity throughout the thermal cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element's position parameter is allowed to change in response to temperature changes. As the microarray expands thermally during PCR, the support element moves accordingly, accommodating the dimensional changes without inducing stress that would lead to cartridge failure.
2Stress or pressure
If the microarray is allowed to expand freely during thermal cycling, then mechanical stress is reduced, but the microarray may bend or deflect affecting measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The support element provides localized support at specific points on the microarray rather than uniform support across the entire surface. This localized support strategy allows the microarray to expand freely in areas not supported, reducing overall mechanical stress while maintaining flatness and positioning accuracy in the supported regions critical for measurement.
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
This design ensures leakage-free and contamination-free operation, enabling precise optical detection and higher throughput by allowing both sides of the microarray to be used for hybridization and measurement, while reducing production costs and expanding the cartridge's applicability across various microarray materials.
Implementation Method 1
a change of a size of the microarray due to thermal expansion of the microarray is possible without inducing substantial mechanical stress to the cartridge
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to real-time array PCR cartridges. The cartridge (100) has a fluid chamber (101) for a fluid bath (102) and a first support element (200) for fixing a microarray (103) in the fluid chamber (101). Thereby the first support element (200) fixes the microarray (103) in such a way that a change of a size of the microarray (103) due to thermal expansion of the microarray (103) is possible without inducing substantial mechanical stress to the cartridge (100). Thereby the cartridge materials chosen independently from thermal expansion coefficients of different microarrays that are to be inserted and fixed into the cartridge (100).