Sensor Chip Closed Space Water Content Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to reduce measurement variance and prevent defects such as circular protrusions on metal thin films in sensor chips used for detecting extremely small substances, as these defects can significantly reduce assay performance in SPR and SPFS devices.
Innovation Solution
A sensor chip design featuring a transparent support with a metal thin film and a closed space-forming member that adjusts the water content within the closed space to satisfy the condition X/Y < 10 (μg/mm²), preventing the formation of circular protrusions and maintaining assay performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a sensor chip is stored in a high-humidity condition, then the storage environment is more stable, but water or the like forms circular protrusions on the metal thin film, causing defects and reducing assay performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inert atmosphere principle by creating a controlled storage environment with restricted water content. A packaging body is used to encapsulate the sensor chip, maintaining an internal atmosphere where water content is limited to 10 μg/mm² or less of the metal thin film area. This prevents high-humidity conditions that would otherwise cause circular protrusions on the metal thin film while preserving storage stability, thereby eliminating defects and maintaining assay performance.
2Measurement precision
If the reaction section is washed or replaced for each sample detection, then detection accuracy is maintained, but the complexity of operation increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the preliminary action principle by performing protective measures during the manufacturing stage. The sensor chip is packaged in a controlled environment with predetermined water content limits before leaving the factory. This preliminary packaging action ensures that the metal thin film remains free from circular protrusions during storage and transport, allowing the reaction section to be used repeatedly without washing or replacement, thus maintaining detection accuracy while improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor chip includes: a transparent support; a metal thin film formed on one surface of the transparent support; and a reaction section in which a ligand is immobilized on an other surface of the metal thin film that is not in contact with the transparent support, wherein the sensor chip also includes a closed space-forming member which forms a closed space such that at least the reaction section is housed in the closed space, and water content in the closed space is adjusted to satisfy: X/Y<10 (μg/mm2) (wherein, X represents the water content in the closed space; and Y represents the surface area of the metal thin film in the closed space).