Preloaded Microfluidic Devices Bed Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfluidic devices with hydrophilic porous beds face issues such as uncontrolled drying, air inclusion, and irreproducible binding activity during storage and transportation, leading to decreased sensitivity and reproducibility in assays.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating bed-preserving agents in the solid phase material before drying to stabilize and reconstitute the porous bed effectively, reducing adverse effects like channel formation and reactant inactivation, and using centrifugal force for improved bed formation and flow characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrophilic porous beds are used in microfluidic devices, then binding activity and sensitivity are improved, but uncontrolled drying and air inclusion occur during storage and transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical state of the porous bed from wet to dry through controlled drying processes. This transforms the bed into a stable form for storage and transportation, while maintaining the capability to restore function through reconstitution, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-drying the porous beds before device assembly and storage. This preliminary drying prevents uncontrolled drying and air inclusion during later storage and transportation, while the beds can be reconstituted when needed, maintaining both stability and reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If porous beds are dried for storage, then stability during transportation is improved, but channel formation and reactant inactivation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating stabilizing agents into the porous bed matrix before drying. These agents protect the bed structure and immobilized reactants from damage during drying and storage, preventing channel formation and reactant inactivation, thus maintaining both stability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining the porous bed matrix with stabilizing agents and protective compounds. This composite structure provides both the mechanical stability needed for dry storage and the chemical protection needed to maintain binding activity, resolving the contradiction between stability and reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If centrifugal force is used for bed formation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using centrifugal force generated during normal device operation rather than requiring a separate bed formation mechanism. The centrifugal force is naturally produced when the device is spun, automatically forming and compacting the porous beds without additional complexity, thus achieving high manufacturing precision without increasing device complexity.
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 significantly increases the yield of functional microfluidic beds, maintaining binding activity and sensitivity, and reducing inter- and intra-device variations, thereby enhancing the reliability of assays.
Implementation Method 1
transformation of a wet state of the solid phase material to a dry state
Implementation Method 2
reconstitution of the dry state to a wet porous bed
Implementation Method 3
using centrifugal force for improved bed formation and flow characteristics
Implementation Method 4
interaction between the solute and the solid phase material... the solute is retained on the solid phase material
Data Source
AI summary
A microfluidic device comprising one, two or more microchannel structures (101a-h), each of which comprises a reaction microcavity (104a-h) intended for retaining a solid phase material in the form of a wet porous bed. Each of said one, two or more microchannel structures comprises the solid phase material in a dry state together with a bed-preserving agent comprising one or more compounds having bed-preserving activity.