Adjustable Pipette Gas Seal Ring for Nucleic Acid Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nucleic acid purification pipette modules are difficult to maintain and repair due to the inability to individually adjust or disassemble pipettes, leading to maintenance nuisances and increased costs when airtightness issues arise, and manufacturing is complicated by yield considerations and rework costs.
Innovation Solution
A pipette design featuring a tubular body with a gas seal ring and nut that allows for adjustable airtightness, enabling individual disassembly and repair, combined with a nucleic acid purification apparatus including a suction control module, lifting module, reagent placement module, and magnetic module for optimized pipette operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pipettes are integrally formed in a pipette module, then manufacturing is simplified, but individual repair and maintenance becomes nearly impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The pipette is divided into separable components including a pipette body, a shaft, and a gas seal ring assembly that can be individually disassembled and repaired. The gas seal ring is positioned in a seal slot and can be replaced independently without affecting other parts of the pipette module.
2Ease of repair
If the entire pipette module is disassembled for repair, then faulty pipettes can be repaired, but maintenance time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pipette module is segmented into independently serviceable units. When a pipette develops airtightness issues, only that specific pipette needs to be disassembled and repaired, while other pipettes in the module remain operational. This eliminates the need to disassemble the entire module for single-unit repairs.
3Reliability
If conventional pipette modules are used, then airtightness is maintained initially, but performance degrades after extended operation
Solution Approach 1:
The gas seal ring assembly incorporates a pressing edge that applies dynamic pressure to maintain optimal sealing contact during operation. The seal ring can be adjusted and replaced to maintain airtightness performance throughout the extended service life of the pipette module, adapting to wear and degradation over time.
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 solution allows for fine-tuning of airtightness in each pipette, reducing maintenance needs and manufacturing costs by enabling individual pipette adjustments and repairs, thus minimizing the impact of malfunctions on the overall process and optimizing the nucleic acid purification process.
Implementation Method 1
The gas seal ring is compressed and a ring inner edge of the seal ring expands towards the shaft to firmly abut the shaft body of the shaft
Implementation Method 2
The magnetic module is configured below the pipette rack proximate to the test tubes or the reagent placement module to magnetically attract a magnetic bead labeled cell in the presence of a tube wall
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure includes a nucleic acid purification apparatus and a pipette, the pipette comprises: a tubular body, at least a gas seal ring, a nut, and a shaft. A first opening and second opening arranged at two ends of the tubular body air communicable with the tubular body, thus forming a main chamber. The gas seal ring is disposed in a seal slot arranged proximate to the second opening. The nut is coupled to the second opening and has portions forming a cavity air communicable with the nut and second opening. An opening has a pressing edge. The shaft can movably dispose in the tubular body and the nut. The pressing edge presses against the gas seal ring via the firm coupling of the nut onto the second opening. As a result, individual adjustment can provide the optimum airtightness in nucleic acid purification devices.