Two-Way Pump Valve With Bypass Waste Routing for Biochip Assays
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manual handling of liquid and gas deposition on biochips for sequencing is slow, error-prone, and costly, with inefficient transitions between measurement samples due to the complexity of cleaning, resetting, and refilling components.
Innovation Solution
A nanopore-based sequencing chip with a fluid/gas delivery system featuring a radial valve and two-way pump system that allows for efficient selection and routing of reagents, waste, and gases, enabling automated and sequential operation without fully passing materials through the biochip, thus streamlining the assay process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual handling is used for liquid and gas deposition on biochips, then operation simplicity is maintained, but productivity is slow and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery system is segmented into multiple independent channels (first channel for reagent delivery, second channel for waste removal, third channel for gas delivery) that can operate simultaneously and independently. This segmentation allows automated parallel processing of multiple assay steps, significantly improving throughput while keeping each individual channel relatively simple in design.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold structure serves multiple functions: it acts as a distribution hub for reagents, a collection point for waste, and a routing mechanism for gases. The selective valve also performs multiple roles by directing fluid flow between different channels and the biochip chamber. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, improving productivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If automated fluid delivery system is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold combines multiple fluid delivery functions into a single integrated structure. Instead of having separate valve assemblies and pump connections for each channel, the manifold consolidates these functions into one component that distributes fluids from multiple sources to the biochip chamber. This merging reduces the total number of discrete components, making the automated system more efficient while limiting the increase in overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold acts as an intermediary component between the pump system and the biochip chamber. It provides a centralized interface that simplifies the connection architecture, allowing the pump to deliver fluids to multiple channels through a single routing point. This intermediary structure reduces the complexity of direct pump-to-chip connections while maintaining automated delivery efficiency.
3Reliability
If materials are passed completely through the biochip for each operation, then thorough cleaning is achieved, but loss of time occurs during transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The waste removal channel is extracted as a separate, dedicated pathway that bypasses the need for complete material passage through the biochip for cleaning purposes. Waste fluids can be removed directly through this dedicated channel, and the selective valve can route cleaning fluids through specific channels without requiring all materials to traverse the entire biochip path. This extraction of the waste function allows for quicker transitions while maintaining effective cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary routing of waste and cleaning fluids through the selective valve before they reach the biochip chamber. The valve can pre-position waste removal pathways and routing configurations, allowing for faster transitions between samples by having the fluid paths predetermined and ready rather than requiring complete material passage through the chip for each transition.
4Productivity
If selective valve and bypass channel are added, then productivity is improved through automated routing, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The selective valve introduces dynamic routing capability that allows the system to quickly switch between different fluid paths based on operational requirements. This dynamic switching enables fast transitions between sample processing, waste removal, and cleaning operations without requiring physical reconfiguration of the system. The bypass channel provides an additional dynamic pathway that can be opened or closed as needed, improving productivity through flexible routing while keeping the valve mechanism relatively simple in design.
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery system for a sensor chip includes a plurality of selectable ports and a two-way pump port selectively connectable to each of the selectable ports. The two-way pump port is configured to allow material to be drawn or delivered from or to the two-way pump port. The delivery system also includes a chamber and a bypass waste channel that is selectively connectable to the two-way pump port. The plurality of selectable ports includes a selectable chamber port connected to the chamber and the chamber has a chamber waste exit. Material may selectively flow through the chamber to a waste collection via the chamber waste exit or flow to the waste collection via the bypass waste channel that bypasses the chamber waste exit.