Microparticle Screening Apparatus Liquid Level Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microparticle screening apparatuses face challenges in accurately and efficiently replacing liquids in vessels retaining microparticles, leading to decreased sorting accuracy and reagent dilution, particularly when replacing culture media and introducing reagents on a cell-by-cell basis.
Innovation Solution
A screening apparatus with a measurement chip made of a light-permeable material, featuring a well for retaining liquid, a measuring section for acquiring optical information, an analyzing section for extracting optical data, a liquid retaining section with controlled drainage and introduction mechanisms, and a temperature control system to manage liquid levels and temperatures, ensuring precise liquid replacement and enhanced sorting accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If liquid replacement is performed in existing microparticle screening apparatuses, then culture media can be changed and reagents can be introduced, but liquid replacement is not accurate and efficient, leading to sorting accuracy degradation and reagent dilution
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid retention system is segmented into multiple independent wells, each capable of retaining liquid separately. This segmentation allows precise control over liquid replacement in individual wells without affecting others, enabling accurate liquid exchange while preventing reagent dilution through controlled drainage and introduction pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus performs preliminary drainage of liquid from wells before introducing new liquid. This preliminary action ensures that old culture media are completely removed prior to reagent introduction, preventing dilution and maintaining sorting accuracy by ensuring proper liquid replacement sequence and completeness.
2Productivity
If liquid replacement is performed rapidly to improve efficiency, then productivity increases, but liquid level stability decreases, affecting optical measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid replacement process employs periodic actions with distinct phases: drainage phase, intermediate stabilization phase, and liquid introduction phase. This periodic structure allows rapid overall replacement while ensuring liquid level stability during critical measurement periods, maintaining both productivity and measurement precision through timed operational cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary drainage and stabilization before introducing new liquid. This preliminary action ensures that wells are properly prepared and liquid levels are stabilized before optical measurements begin, enabling rapid replacement cycles without compromising measurement accuracy through proper sequencing of operations.
3Device complexity
If temperature control is not implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but condensation occurs on the measurement chip, affecting optical measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control system dynamically adjusts temperature parameters based on operational phase and environmental conditions. By changing temperature parameters appropriately, the system prevents condensation formation on the measurement chip without requiring complex hardware, using software-controlled thermal management to eliminate harmful condensation effects.
4Device complexity
If liquid retention without control is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but liquid level instability occurs, reducing sorting accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid retention system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor liquid levels and adjust drainage and introduction rates accordingly. This feedback control maintains stable liquid levels during replacement operations, improving sorting accuracy through precise liquid level management while using relatively simple control logic to avoid excessive device 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
The apparatus enables accurate and efficient liquid replacement, improving sorting accuracy by maintaining stable liquid levels, reducing reagent dilution, and preventing condensation, thus enhancing the detection of microparticles' optical information and maintaining optimal cell conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a measurement chip (60) made of a light-permeable material and having a well (61) therein
Implementation Method 2
detecting a microparticle to be a target sample based on fluorescence emitted from the microparticle
Implementation Method 3
a temperature control system to manage liquid levels and temperatures
Implementation Method 4
a draining section that is configured to drain a liquid retained in the liquid retaining section
Data Source
AI summary
A screening apparatus for searching for a predetermined microparticle based on optical information emitted from microparticles to selectively pick up the microparticle searched for includes a measurement chip that is made of a light permeable material, the measurement chip having a well formed therein that retains a liquid including at least one microparticle, a measuring section that is configured to acquire optical information emitted by the microparticles retained in the measurement chip, an analyzing section that is configured to analyze the optical information to extract optical information associated with the microparticles retained in the well, a liquid retaining section provided on the measurement chip, a draining section that is configured to drain a liquid retained in the liquid retaining section, an introducing section that introduces a liquid into the liquid retained section, and a liquid level controlling section that controls a liquid level of the liquid retaining section.