Piezoelectric Microarray Well Addressing with Bottom-Surface Transducers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microarray plate technologies face challenges in individually addressing wells for fluid manipulation, mixing, and pre-concentration due to mechanical limitations and spatial constraints of interdigital transducers, leading to inefficiencies and high equipment costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular apparatus using piezoelectric chips with underside interdigital transducers and surface reflected bulk waves allows for individual and simultaneous well addressability, enabling flexible and efficient fluid manipulation, mixing, and pre-concentration without crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If surface acoustic wave technology is used to manipulate fluid in microarray wells, then fluid manipulation capability is improved, but individual well addressability is lost because all wells in the path of the acoustic wave are excited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the microarray plate into multiple independent zones, each with its own piezoelectric disc and interdigital transducer. This segmentation allows individual well addressability while maintaining fluid manipulation capability, as each zone can be independently controlled without affecting other wells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions interdigital transducers on the bottom surface of the microarray plate rather than the top surface. This dimensional change allows acoustic waves to be generated from beneath each well, enabling precise individual well addressing while avoiding interference with neighboring wells that would occur with top-surface transducers.
2Manufacturing precision
If interdigital transducers are placed on the top face of each well to enable individual addressing, then individual well addressability is improved, but the transducers occupy considerable space and interfere with neighbouring wells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing interdigital transducers on the bottom surface of the plate rather than the top face. This inversion allows transducers to be positioned directly beneath each well, minimizing their footprint and eliminating interference with neighboring wells while maintaining individual addressing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds the interdigital transducers within the structural footprint of each well by positioning them on the bottom surface. This nesting approach allows the transducer to occupy the same horizontal space as the well it serves, eliminating additional space requirements and preventing interference with adjacent wells.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional orbital shaking, magnetic stirring or ultrasonication is used for mixing, then mixing capability is improved, but individual well addressability is lost because the entire plate is vibrated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mixing function into individual zone-based operations. Each piezoelectric disc can independently generate acoustic waves to mix fluid in its corresponding well, allowing selective mixing of individual wells or groups of wells without affecting the entire plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of mixing operations by allowing independent activation and deactivation of individual piezoelectric discs. This dynamic capability enables flexible mixing strategies where specific wells can be mixed on demand while others remain undisturbed, adapting to different experimental requirements.
4Manufacturing precision
If robotic micropipetting is used for liquid handling, then individual well addressability is improved, but contamination risks and mechanical failures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical micropipetting system with an acoustic field-based system. Piezoelectric discs generate acoustic waves that manipulate fluid through non-contact acoustic radiation pressure, eliminating mechanical contact between pipettes and samples, thereby reducing contamination risks and mechanical failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary between the control system and the fluid. Instead of direct mechanical contact, acoustic energy serves as the mediator to transfer momentum and manipulate fluid, reducing mechanical complexity and improving reliability by eliminating fragile mechanical components.
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 apparatus achieves precise, flexible, and efficient fluid actuation in microarray plates, minimizing contamination and mechanical failures, and supporting a range of liquid handling processes, including mixing and droplet ejection, with reduced equipment complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
Each chip 17 has a bottom transducer surface 19 upon which is applied an interdigital transducer 21. Application of an electric signal to each IDT 21 results in acoustic energy being generated within each chip 17.
Implementation Method 2
Application of an electric signal to each IDT 21 results in acoustic energy being generated within each chip 17. The acoustic energy is primarily in the form of surface reflected bulk waves (SRBW) 25 which propagate though the chip 17 to the working surface 23.
Implementation Method 3
The microarray plate 5 is in contact with the top working surfaces 23 of each chip 17... the acoustic energy is primarily in the form of surface reflected bulk waves (SRBW) 25 which propagate though the chip 17 to the working surface 23 where they are transmitted into the wells 7.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
An apparatus, including at least one piezoelectric chip (17) having a working surface (23), and an opposing at least substantially parallel transducer surface (19); and at least one interdigital transducer (21) applied to the transducer surface of the chip for generating acoustic energy within the chip in response to an application of an electrical signal to the interdigital transducer; wherein the working surface of the chip is, when in use, in contact with a fluid receptacle (7, 8) to thereby acoustically actuate fluid accommodated within said fluid receptacle, the chip being directly in contact with the receptacle or in contact with a fluid coupling medium (30) that is in contact with the receptacle.