Sample Test Cards With Overflow Reservoirs and Air Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sample test cards face challenges in increasing well capacity while maintaining low inter-well contamination, as the number of reaction wells is limited by the need for longer well-to-well distances to prevent contamination, which restricts the number of antibiotics and reactions that can be evaluated in a single card.
Innovation Solution
The design of sample test cards with a fluid channel network and over-flow reservoirs that create an air barrier or air lock, allowing for a shorter fluid flow path between wells, thereby increasing the number of sample wells to 80-140 within standard dimensions without significant changes to existing instruments, and using non-aqueous fluids to further reduce contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of reaction wells on a test card is increased, then the throughput and variety of reactions that can be evaluated is improved, but the distance between adjacent wells decreases, leading to increased inter-well contamination
Solution Approach 1:
Hydrophobic barriers are introduced as intermediary elements between adjacent sample wells. These barriers consist of hydrophobic material that repels aqueous sample fluids, creating a physical-chemical boundary that prevents cross-contamination while allowing the card to maintain high well density. The hydrophobic barriers act as mediators that block the harmful fluid migration between wells without requiring increased well spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the surface energy parameters of the card material by incorporating hydrophobic regions with specific contact angles (greater than 90 degrees). This parameter change creates a differential wettability across the card surface, where hydrophobic barriers repel aqueous samples while hydrophilic regions allow proper sample flow into wells. This parameter modification enables high well density without contamination.
2Quantity of substance
If the well capacity is increased to 80-140 wells within standard dimensions, then the number of antibiotics and reactions that can be evaluated is improved, but the fluid flow path between wells becomes shorter, increasing the risk of contamination
Solution Approach 1:
Hydrophobic barriers serve as intermediary elements positioned between adjacent sample wells throughout the card. These barriers create localized hydrophobic zones that block aqueous fluid migration between wells, enabling the card to accommodate 80-140 wells in standard dimensions while preventing cross-contamination through the shortened fluid flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The card incorporates localized hydrophobic regions with specific spatial distribution patterns. Each hydrophobic barrier is positioned at critical locations where fluid migration between adjacent wells is most likely to occur. This local quality modification creates a heterogeneous surface with alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic zones, enabling high well capacity while maintaining contamination prevention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-aqueous fluids are used in the fluid channel network, then the contamination between wells is reduced, but the complexity of the fluid handling system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Hydrophobic barriers act as intermediaries that enable the use of non-aqueous fluids in the fluid channel network. These barriers create hydrophobic zones that are compatible with non-aqueous fluid properties, allowing the system to utilize alternative fluids for sample delivery. The hydrophobic barriers mediate between the non-aqueous fluid and the aqueous sample environment, reducing contamination while managing fluid handling complexity.
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
This design effectively increases the well capacity of sample test cards while maintaining strict contamination standards, allowing for more reactions and antibiotics to be evaluated in a single card, enhancing overall throughput and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The design of sample test cards with a fluid channel network and over-flow reservoirs that create an air barrier or air lock
Implementation Method 2
The design of sample test cards with a fluid channel network and over-flow reservoirs that create an air barrier or air lock
Implementation Method 3
Each of the fill channels of the 64 well test card descend to and enter sample wells at an angle, which results in the natural flow of the sample fluid down through the fill channels by gravity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to sample test cards having an increased sample well capacity for analyzing biological or other test samples. In one embodiment, the sample test cards of the present invention comprise one or more fluid over-flow reservoirs, wherein the over-flow reservoirs are operatively connected to a distribution channel by a fluid over-flow channel. In another embodiment, the sample test cards may comprise a plurality of flow reservoirs operable to trap air thereby reducing and/or preventing well-to-well contamination. The test card of this invention may comprise from 80 to 140 individual sample wells, for example, in a test card sample test cards of the present invention have a generally rectangular shape sample test card having dimensions of from about 90 to about 95 mm in width, from about 55 to about 60 mm in height and from about 4 to about 5 mm in thickness.