Pipette Chip Reciprocating Motion for Bubble-Free Liquid Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid feeding methods in micro flow paths, such as those used in surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy (SPFS), often result in bubble formation during liquid injection and suction, which can prevent accurate detection of fluorescent light and hinder biochemical reactions.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a pipette chip that sucks liquid from a liquid injection section without gaps, moves reciprocally along the axial direction to remove residual liquid, and injects new liquid without gaps to prevent bubble formation in the flow path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid is injected and suctioned using a fixed-position pipette chip, then liquid can be fed into the flow path, but residual liquid remains in the flow path causing bubble formation
Solution Approach 1:
The pipette chip is made movable along the flow path direction, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position between injection and suction operations. This dynamic positioning enables the chip to reach residual liquid at different locations along the flow path, effectively removing it and preventing bubble formation while maintaining efficient liquid feeding.
2Ease of operation
If pipette chip is fixed at predetermined position, then injection and suction operations are simple, but residual liquid cannot be completely removed from flow path
Solution Approach 1:
The solution adds a positional dimension to the pipette chip operation. Instead of relying solely on fixed-position injection and suction, the chip can now move along the flow path (adding a spatial dimension to the operation), enabling complete liquid removal while keeping the operational procedure relatively simple through automated movement control.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If new liquid is injected without removing residual liquid, then continuous liquid supply is maintained, but bubbles form between residual and new liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary suction operations to remove residual liquid from the flow path before injecting new liquid. This preliminary action eliminates the condition that would lead to bubble formation, allowing continuous liquid supply to proceed without generating harmful bubbles.
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 approach effectively removes liquid from and introduces it into the flow path without causing bubbles, ensuring accurate biochemical reactions and fluorescent light detection.
Implementation Method 1
a first step of sucking, by a pipette chip, liquid in a liquid injection section to remove liquid in a flow path
Implementation Method 2
moving the pipette chip in a reciprocating manner two or more times along an axial direction of the pipette chip while ensuring that no gap occurs between the opening section and the pipette chip, the two or more times including at least one time where fluid in the liquid injection section is sucked by the pipette chip
Implementation Method 3
a third step of, after the second step, injecting the liquid from the pipette chip into the liquid injection section to introduce the liquid into the flow path
Implementation Method 4
in a state where no gap is between an opening section and the pipette chip
Data Source
AI summary
A detection chip comprises a flow path and a liquid injection unit connected to one end of the flow path, and by means of a pipette chip inserted into the liquid injection unit of the detection chip, the liquid in the liquid injection unit is aspirated to remove the liquid in the flow path. Subsequently, the pipette chip is made to carry out a reciprocating motion two or more times along the axial direction of the pipette chip, and at least one of those times, the fluid in the liquid injection unit is aspirated by the pipette chip. Subsequently, a liquid is injected from the pipette chip into the liquid injection unit, and the liquid is introduced into the flow path.