Planar Spacer Filtration Device for Multi-Well Plate Seal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-well plates with molding imperfections cause seal issues and non-planar filters, leading to sample contamination and reduced imaging quality in analytical methods.
Innovation Solution
A filtration device with an open-bottomed multi-well plate, a planar spacer with apertures, and a porous capillary membrane, where the spacer is bonded to both the plate and membrane using adhesive to create a liquid-tight, flat surface, addressing imperfections and maintaining filter planarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a membrane is affixed directly to the bottom of a molded multi-well plate, then the device structure is simple, but molding imperfections cause seal issues and non-planar filter surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
A planarizing layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the molded multi-well plate and the membrane. This layer compensates for molding imperfections and warpage in the plate, providing a flat, planar surface for membrane attachment. The planarizing layer acts as a mediator that absorbs the geometric irregularities of the plate while delivering a precise, planar bonding surface, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple device structure and high filter planarity.
2Device complexity
If a membrane is affixed directly to the multi-well plate, then the device has fewer components, but seal quality deteriorates due to plate imperfections causing sample contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The planarizing layer serves as a mediator that creates a reliable seal between the multi-well plate and the membrane. By providing a flat bonding surface, it ensures uniform adhesive distribution and complete contact, eliminating gaps and defects that would otherwise compromise seal quality. This intermediary layer compensates for plate imperfections, preventing sample contamination while adding only one additional component to the system.
3Device complexity
If the filter is non-planar due to plate imperfections, then fewer components are needed, but imaging quality decreases as particles fall out of focal plane
Solution Approach 1:
The planarizing layer acts as a mediator that transfers the geometric imperfections from the multi-well plate to itself, while presenting a perfectly planar surface to the membrane and imaging system. This ensures that all particles retained on the membrane remain within the focal plane of the imaging device, maintaining high measurement precision and imaging quality without requiring complex correction mechanisms.
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 configuration reduces sample-to-sample contamination and increases the amount of membrane within the focal plane of the imaging device, significantly improving experimental results by minimizing data discard due to out-of-focus particles.
Implementation Method 1
a porous capillary membrane
Implementation Method 2
the planar spacer is bonded to both the multi-well plate and the porous capillary membrane via an adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides, among other things, a filtration device comprising an open bottomed multi-well plate, a planar spacer that comprises apertures, and a porous capillary membrane. In the device, the planar spacer is sandwiched between the multi-well plate and the porous capillary membrane and the planar spacer is bonded to both the multi-well plate and the porous capillary membrane via an adhesive. Kits and methods of making the device are also provide.