Process Tube Asymmetric Securement for Thermal Cycler Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The handling and transport of process tubes in racks for nucleic acid amplification processes are inefficient and prone to human error due to the conical or cylindrical shape of the tubes, which leads to tilting and potential loss of samples or reagents.
Innovation Solution
A process tube design featuring an annular ledge, a protrusion, and a neck, which allows for secure fitting into a carrier tray with adjustable ports, enabling the tubes to tilt and adjust for accurate alignment with thermal cycler heaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If process tubes are placed in a rack for handling and transport, then the tubes can be securely stored, but the conical or cylindrical shape causes the tubes to tilt and shift during handling, leading to potential sample loss and misalignment with thermal cycler heaters
Solution Approach 1:
The process tube is designed with an asymmetric securement region featuring a protrusion and an annular ledge at specific positions along the tube body. This asymmetric geometry creates a corresponding asymmetric port structure in the carrier tray, which prevents the tube from tilting or shifting during handling while maintaining secure fitting. The asymmetric design ensures the tube remains stable and properly aligned with thermal cycler heaters.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier tray acts as an intermediary structure between the process tube and the thermal cycler heater. The tray's port structure with its specific geometric features (protrusion and annular ledge) serves as a mediator that secures the tube in place during handling and transport, while allowing the tube to be easily inserted into the thermal cycler heater without tilting or misalignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If process tubes are placed individually in the thermal cycler, then alignment with heaters is precise, but the process is time-consuming and difficult to automate
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple process tubes are merged into a single carrier tray structure that can be handled and loaded as one unit. The tray holds multiple tubes in precise alignment with corresponding heater positions in the thermal cycler, allowing simultaneous processing of multiple samples. This merging eliminates the need for individual tube placement while maintaining precise alignment through the tray's rigid structure and geometric port design.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier tray serves multiple functions: it secures process tubes during handling and transport, maintains precise alignment with thermal cycler heaters, facilitates automated loading, and enables simultaneous processing of multiple samples. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate alignment and securing operations, significantly improving processing efficiency while maintaining precision.
3Ease of operation
If process tubes are not securely connected to the rack, then handling is flexible, but the tubes may become dislodged during marking or transport
Solution Approach 1:
The securement region of the process tube is designed with localized geometric features (protrusion and annular ledge) at specific positions along the tube body. These localized features interact with corresponding features in the carrier tray port to create secure fitting without requiring the entire tube structure to be complex. The local quality design provides reliable securing at critical points while maintaining overall handling flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a system and method to safely and efficiently store and transport process tubes in a carrier tray comprising prior to and during amplification of nucleotides in the process tubes. The process tube disclosed includes a securement region having an annular ledge, a neck, and a protrusion. The securement region of the process tube can secure the process tube in a port of the carrier tray, but still allows the process tube to adjust or float in order to align the process tube into a rigid heater well of a thermal cycler.