Rotating Cylinder Liquid Exchange Device for Automated Blotting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated blot-based assays require substantial reagent volumes and involve time-consuming, error-prone manual processes, with limited programmability and high consumable costs, particularly in devices using trays or concave trays.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a rotating cylindrical container for incubation, with direct pumping of reagents and a self-cleaning protocol, reducing reagent volume requirements and eliminating the need for consumable hardware, while allowing for easy programming and minimizing cross-contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If trays are used to incubate membranes, then the membrane can be treated with chemical solutions, but much more volume of reagents is required compared to rotating cylinders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotating cylindrical container instead of flat trays to hold the membrane during incubation. The curved cylindrical surface allows the membrane to conform to the shape, enabling more efficient contact with the chemical solutions. This curvature reduces the reagent volume required from 10-15 ml in flat trays down to only 3-5 ml in the cylindrical container, while maintaining effective membrane treatment.
2Quantity of substance
If concave trays are used to store reagents and dip samples, then low amounts of reagents are used for each step, but the device requires manual cleaning between experiments
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating cylindrical container is designed to be easily removable and replaceable between experiments. This self-service design allows users to quickly swap containers rather than manually cleaning the device between uses. The container can be removed from the rotating mechanism and replaced with a fresh container for the next experiment, eliminating time-consuming manual cleaning while maintaining the low reagent volume advantage of 3-5 ml per step.
3Loss of time
If disposable cartridges are used in automated blot processors, then no manual cleaning is required, but the cartridges are expensive, non-reusable and require advance planning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the incubation function into a separate, removable rotating cylindrical container that can be easily taken out and replaced. This extracted container serves as a reusable alternative to disposable cartridges. By separating the incubation chamber from the main device body, the system allows quick container replacement without manual cleaning, eliminating the need for expensive disposable cartridges while reducing logistics complexity and eliminating the need for advance cartridge planning.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple concave trays are used in the device, then each reagent can be stored separately, but the programming is limited by the hardware and number of trays
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating cylindrical container serves multiple functions: it can hold the membrane during incubation, receive different chemical solutions through ports during rotation, and be easily replaced between experiments. This universal container design eliminates the need for multiple specialized concave trays. The system achieves reagent storage flexibility through external solution delivery to the rotating container rather than requiring multiple internal trays, thereby simplifying programming and reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
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 significantly reduces reagent usage, saves time, and minimizes human error, providing a cost-effective and efficient automated processing method for biomolecules, with the potential to save up to 4 hours of work per experiment.
Implementation Method 1
The reaction vessel assembly comprises at least one rotating cylindrical container... The carrier is provided with means, such as a motor, preferably electrical motor, for powering the rotation of the rotating cylindrical container
Implementation Method 2
The device may further comprise at least one pump for pumping the liquid reagents to and from the container for bulk solutions via the hose
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a device and a method for automated liquid exchange in a horizontally rotating container that may be applied in automated sample treatment by using chemical solutions, in sequential order. Such applications include biomolecule staining on solid support or fixed samples such as western blot or tissue slice processing. Such sequential chemical reactions are usually performed on flat surfaces. Alternatively, these reactions can be completed with much less volume of reagents in horizontally rotating containers. Yet, it is difficult to automate these processes in rotating containers since the required tubing would twist due to the continuous rotation of the container. The present invention solves the problem of twisting of tubing by leading them through a stationary tubing carrier that passes through the rotating container. Hence, the rotation of the tubing, and therefore twisting, is avoided, thus enabling automated liquid exchange of various chemical solutions in rotating containers.