Photocurable Resin Sealing for Microdevice Sample Separation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microdevices for biological sample analysis using liquid photocurable resin face challenges such as sample solution leakage during thermal cycles due to bubble formation, contamination, and PCR inhibition, necessitating a more robust sealing method.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the introduction of a liquid photocurable resin into a microdevice, followed by irradiation to solidify it, effectively sealing sample solutions in wells, using a hydrophobic resin to prevent leakage and inhibit PCR interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If oil is used as a sealing material to prevent sample solution leakage, then sample separation is achieved, but bubbles are generated during heating and sample solution may leak out

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample solution sealingVSAvoidbubble formation and leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the sealing material from hydrophobic oil to hydrophilic photocurable resin. The resin parameters are specifically adjusted to have viscosity between 1-1000 cP and specific gravity between 0.98-1.05 g/cm³, which prevents bubble formation during heating while maintaining effective sample solution sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a disposable photocurable resin that is introduced, cured, and discarded after use. This single-use approach eliminates the need for repeated removal and reapplication of sealing materials, ensuring consistent sealing performance without the bubble formation issues associated with reusable oil-based materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If liquid photocurable resin is used as a sealing material, then sample solution leakage is prevented, but PCR inhibition may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample solution sealingVSAvoidPCR inhibition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls the chemical composition and physical parameters of the photocurable resin to ensure it does not interfere with PCR reactions. The resin is formulated with specific viscosity (1-1000 cP) and specific gravity (0.98-1.05 g/cm³) ranges, and is applied only as a sealing layer without contaminating the sample solution, thereby preventing PCR inhibition while maintaining effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The photocurable resin acts as an intermediary sealing layer that physically separates the sample solution from the external environment without chemically interacting with it. The resin's hydrophilic nature allows it to seal effectively while its controlled composition ensures it does not inhibit PCR reactions in the adjacent sample solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If hydrophobic substance is used for sample separation, then sample solution is separated into wells, but sample solution may be pushed away and leak during heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample solution separationVSAvoidsample solution containment

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the surface property parameter from hydrophobic to hydrophilic for the sealing material. This parameter change allows the sealing resin to adhere to the hydrophilic sample solution during heating, preventing the sample from being pushed away and leaking, while still achieving precise sample separation into individual wells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The method achieves highly robust sample solution separation with minimal leakage and no PCR inhibition, enabling accurate digital PCR measurements.

Implementation Method 1

irradiating the microdevice for biological sample analysis into which the liquid photocurable resin has been introduced with light to solidify the liquid photocurable resin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

using a hydrophobic resin to prevent leakage and inhibit PCR interference

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP4632387A1Sample solution separation method, sample solution separation device, and sample solution separation apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP

Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5

AI summary

In order to realize a highly robust sample solution separation technique using a liquid photocurable resin in a microdevice for biological sample analysis, the present disclosure proposes a sample solution separation method in a microdevice for biological sample analysis, the method including the steps of introducing a sample solution into a plurality of fractions included in the microdevice for biological sample analysis, introducing a liquid photocurable resin into a flow path of the microdevice for biological sample analysis and covering openings of the plurality of fractions with the liquid photocurable resin to separate the plurality of fractions into which the sample solution has been introduced, and irradiating the microdevice for biological sample analysis into which the liquid photocurable resin has been introduced with light to solidify the liquid photocurable resin (see FIG. 2).