Self-Repairing Silicone Gel Microchip for Anaerobic Reagent Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microchips face challenges in stably supplying anaerobic reagents like antibodies to their reagent placement areas without irregularities and with minimal air contact, due to turbulent flows and bubble generation during reagent handling.
Innovation Solution
A microchip design with airtightly closed inlets and outlets using self-repairing silicone gel, and a reagent supplying apparatus featuring injection needle-shaped fluid releasing and recovering units that penetrate the gel to supply and recover reagents with minimal air exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional reagent supply methods are used with open inlets and outlets, then reagent handling is simple, but air contact causes bubbles and turbulent flow leading to unstable anaerobic reagent supply
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid bridge (intermediary fluid) is introduced between the external reagent supply system and the microchip's anaerobic environment. The liquid bridge acts as a mediator that transmits reagent while maintaining the anaerobic condition, eliminating air contact and bubbles without requiring complex sealing mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid bridge is designed as a temporary, consumable component that is formed, used, and then discarded. This disposable approach eliminates the need for permanent complex sealing structures, achieving reliable anaerobic supply through a simple, low-cost temporary solution
2Ease of operation
If inlets and outlets are kept open for easy reagent handling, then operation is simple, but antibody inactivation occurs due to air contact
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid bridge serves as an intermediary that allows reagent transfer while blocking air contact. It enables easy operation by maintaining an open interface appearance while actually protecting the anaerobic reagent from air exposure through the intermediary liquid medium
3Stability of the object's composition
If turbulent flow occurs in the channel, then reagent mixing is enhanced, but antibody fixation becomes disordered and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid bridge is designed to preliminary counteract turbulent flow by providing a controlled, laminar flow interface. The capillary-driven flow through the liquid bridge creates a stable, predictable flow pattern that prevents turbulent mixing while ensuring reliable antibody fixation
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 solution allows for stable, bubble-free supply and recovery of anaerobic reagents, preventing antibody inactivation by minimizing air contact and maintaining airtight seals during reagent handling.
Implementation Method 1
a self-repairing sealing member made from a material (e.g., from silicone gel to adhesive gel) that deforms upon application of a force and returns to an original shape upon release of the force
Implementation Method 2
a self-repairing sealing member made from a material (e.g., from silicone gel to adhesive gel) that deforms upon application of a force and returns to an original shape upon release of the force
Implementation Method 3
A reagent is supplied into the channel from an opening of the injection needle-shaped fluid releasing unit
Implementation Method 4
The reagent supplied into the channel is recovered from an opening of the injection needle-shaped fluid recovering unit
Data Source
AI summary
A microchip includes a reagent placement area to fix an anaerobic antibody therein. An inlet and outlet of the microchip that communicate with a channel having the reagent placement area are closed by thin plate sections and a sealing member. The sealing member is made from a silicone gel and possesses a self-repairing capability. To supply the reagent to the microchip, a fluid releasing unit having an aperture and a fluid recovering unit having an aperture are caused to penetrate the thin plate sections and the self-repairable sealing element, and enter a space including the reagent placement area. The free end of the fluid releasing unit is shaped like an injection needle, and the aperture serves as a fluid release opening. The free end of the fluid recovering unit is shaped like an injection needle, and the aperture serves as a fluid recovery opening.