Reaction Container With Separate Quantification And Analysis Wells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fully automatic gene analysis systems lack the ability to quantify nucleic acid extracted from biological samples, leading to unreliable results, especially when detecting gene mutations, as the amount of nucleic acid obtained is unclear, and it is difficult to differentiate between insufficient nucleic acid and reaction inhibition.

Innovation Solution

A reaction container with separate analysis and quantification wells, where nucleic acid analysis reagents and quantification reagents are positioned on a light-transmitting base material, allowing for the distribution and quantification of nucleic acid, including a flow path and injection port for efficient nucleic acid distribution and measurement, enabling accurate nucleic acid quantification and analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a fully automatic gene analysis system is used, then the analysis process is automated and efficient, but the ability to quantify nucleic acid is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of analysis processVSAvoidnucleic acid quantification ability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reaction container is divided into separate functional regions: a first reaction chamber for nucleic acid amplification and a second reaction chamber for nucleic acid quantification. This segmentation allows the system to maintain full automation while preserving the ability to quantify nucleic acid, as each chamber performs its specific function independently within the integrated device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If nucleic acid amount is not confirmed, then the analysis can proceed automatically, but the reliability of analysis results decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis throughputVSAvoidanalysis result reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary nucleic acid quantification in the second reaction chamber before the main analysis in the first reaction chamber. By measuring the amount of nucleic acid extracted from the biological sample in advance, the system can determine whether sufficient nucleic acid is present for reliable analysis, thereby ensuring result reliability without compromising analysis throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If separate quantification process is added, then nucleic acid amount can be confirmed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenucleic acid quantification accuracyVSAvoidreaction container structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The quantification function is merged into the reaction container itself by incorporating a second reaction chamber with quantification reagents directly into the same device used for amplification. This integration allows nucleic acid quantification to be performed within the existing amplification device, avoiding the need for separate external quantification equipment and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reliable confirmation of nucleic acid amounts, improving the accuracy and reliability of nucleic acid analysis results, particularly in detecting gene mutations, by ensuring sufficient nucleic acid is present before amplification and analysis.

Implementation Method 1

a quantification reagent that specifically detects a nucleic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpecific detection:

Implementation Method 2

arranged on a light-transmitting base material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission:

Data Source

PatentEP3053998B1Reaction container, nucleic acid analysis device, and nucleic acid analysis method
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC
  • EP3053998B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3053998B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP3053998B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A reaction container includes a base material, an analysis well in which a nucleic acid analysis reagent used for a nucleic acid analysis is positioned, the analysis well being arranged on the base material and configured to analyze a sample containing a nucleic acid, and a quantification well in which a quantification reagent configured to specifically detect the nucleic acid is positioned, the quantification well being arranged on the base material and configured to quantify an amount of the nucleic acid contained in the sample, in which the nucleic acid contained in the sample is distributed into the quantification well and the analysis well.