Reusable Magnet Unit for Disposable Sample Analysis Substrate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sample analysis substrates incur high costs due to the disposal of magnets and balancers, which are either non-removable and discarded with the substrate or require costly operations for removable ones.
Innovation Solution
A sample analysis device with a rotating turntable, motor, drive circuit, and actuators that move a magnet unit to attract magnetic particles for B/F separation, allowing the substrate to be reused and reducing operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If magnets and balancers are non-removably attached to the sample analysis substrate, then the substrate can be used conveniently without management operations, but the costs increase because the magnets and balancers are discarded with the substrate each time
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into disposable and reusable parts. The sample analysis substrate (with chamber and base substrate) is disposable, while the magnet unit and balancer are reusable and separately managed. This segmentation allows the expensive components to be reused across multiple substrates, reducing overall cost while maintaining operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnet unit is extracted from the disposable substrate and made into a separate, reusable component of the analysis device. This extraction allows the magnet to be used across multiple substrates rather than being discarded with each substrate, directly addressing the cost issue while preserving ease of operation through automated retention.
2Loss of substance
If magnets and balancers are removable from the sample analysis substrate, then the costs of magnets and balancers are reduced through reuse, but costs increase due to operations and management such as attachment, detachment, washing, and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet unit automatically retains magnetic particles on the substrate during the analysis process without requiring manual attachment or detachment operations. The system performs the magnetic retention function autonomously as part of the analysis workflow, eliminating the need for complex management operations while enabling reuse of the magnet unit across multiple substrates.
3Reliability
If a magnet is provided on the sample analysis substrate to enable B/F separation, then the separation function is achieved, but the substrate structure becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet function is extracted from the disposable substrate and implemented as a separate magnet unit in the analysis device. This extraction simplifies the substrate structure to only what is necessary for the analysis (chamber, base substrate) while maintaining the B/F separation function through the external magnet unit, thereby reducing substrate complexity and cost.
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 device reduces costs by reusing the substrate and enhances measurement accuracy through effective agitation and washing of samples.
Implementation Method 1
a first magnet unit to generate a force for attracting the magnetic particles
Data Source
AI summary
A sample analysis substrate mountable and detachable to a sample analysis device and includes: a plate-shaped base substrate; and a chamber, the chamber being a space in which to cause a binding reaction, The sample analysis device includes: a motor to rotate the sample analysis substrate; a first magnet unit to attract the magnetic particles; a first actuator to move the first magnet unit to change relative positions of the first magnet unit and the sample analysis substrate; and a control circuit to control the motor, the drive circuit, and the first actuator. The first magnet unit shaped as a whole shape or a partial shape of a circle or a ring. During a B/F separation for separating reacted substance from unreacted substance, the first actuator moves the first magnet unit to a position where the magnetic particles in the chamber are attracted by the first magnet unit.