Reciprocal Light Paths for Sensitive Capillary Electrophoresis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capillary electrophoresis devices suffer from low detection sensitivity due to a small irradiated region with measurement light and require long analysis times, leading to low throughput.
Innovation Solution
A capillary electrophoresis device design that reciprocally transmits light through the capillary using a light source unit, irradiation optical unit, and first light detection unit to enhance sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a capillary with extremely thin inner diameter is used to suppress Joule heat generation, then temperature control is improved, but detection sensitivity is lowered due to extremely small irradiated region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-pass linear light transmission to multi-pass reciprocal light transmission through the capillary. By introducing reflection surfaces that cause the light to traverse the capillary multiple times (forward and backward paths), the optical path length is effectively doubled without increasing the physical capillary dimensions, thereby maintaining temperature control while enhancing detection sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous light transmission through the capillary in both forward and backward directions rather than a single pass. The light continuously traverses the capillary length multiple times, maximizing the interaction between light and sample molecules, which enhances detection sensitivity while the thin capillary continues to suppress Joule heat generation.
2Productivity
If measurement is performed by rotating disc substrates with multiple channels, then throughput is improved, but irradiation time per channel is shortened and sensitivity is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic reciprocating light transmission where light travels forward through the capillary, reflects, and travels backward through the same capillary in a periodic cycle. This periodic action allows each capillary channel to receive sufficient light exposure for high sensitivity detection while enabling multiple channels to be measured in sequence, achieving both high throughput and high sensitivity.
3Productivity
If high-speed rotation of disc substrate is used to measure multiple samples, then productivity is improved, but channel length is shortened and separation performance is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the temporal dimension of light path multiplication through reciprocal transmission. Instead of physically extending the capillary length for better separation, the system uses optical path length extension through multiple passes of light through the same physical capillary length, achieving enhanced detection sensitivity without compromising separation performance or requiring high-speed rotation that would shorten effective channel length.
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 design improves detection sensitivity and throughput by doubling the optical path length and reducing noise, allowing for simultaneous high-sensitivity analysis of multiple samples.
Implementation Method 1
a light source unit; an irradiation optical unit that causes light emitted from the light source unit to be reciprocally transmitted through a capillary
Implementation Method 2
a first light detection unit that detects an optical signal based on the light reciprocally transmitted through the capillary
Implementation Method 3
a sample such as an antibody is injected into a capillary and electrophoresed, so that the sample is separated according to a molecular weight and the amount of charge
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide a highly sensitive capillary electrophoresis device, a light source, a mirror configured to cause light emitted from the light source to be reciprocally transmitted through a capillary, and a measurement photodiode detecting an optical signal based on the light reciprocally transmitted through the capillary are provided.