Specimen Processing Chip Interface for Particle Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional specimen processing chips face challenges in moving particles, such as magnetic particles, due to low fluid velocity near the inner wall of the flow-path, leading to particle adhesion and aggregation, which results in incomplete transfer and collection of target components.
Innovation Solution
The method involves forming an interface within the flow-path with the rim on the inner wall and moving it to forcibly convey particles retained in the process liquid, using a fluid introduced into the chip to prevent particle adhesion and aggregation, thereby enhancing the collection efficiency of target components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If particles are moved by liquid flowing in the flow-path, then particles can be transferred to a desired place, but particles adhere and aggregate on the inner wall due to low liquid velocity near the wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic action by moving the interface back and forth along the inner wall of the flow-path rather than using steady liquid flow. This dynamic interface movement actively dislodges particles adhering to the wall and transports them to the collection region, resolving the contradiction between transfer efficiency and collection completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an interface as an intermediary between the liquid flow and particles. This interface, formed by introducing a fluid different from the process liquid, acts as a mediator that contacts particles on the inner wall and transports them without requiring high liquid velocity throughout the flow-path, thus preventing particle adhesion while ensuring complete collection.
2Ease of manufacture
If magnetic particles are caught and then released by removing the magnet, then particles can be processed, but particles remain in the flow-path and are difficult to transfer or collect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an interface as an intermediary to transport particles after magnetic release. Instead of relying on liquid flow alone to move released particles, the interface actively sweeps along the inner wall to collect and transport particles to the collection region, ensuring complete particle recovery without complicating the magnetic processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous particle transport action by having the interface continuously move back and forth along the inner wall during and after the magnetic catch-release cycle. This continuous action ensures that all particles are eventually transported to the collection region, preventing particle remaining in the flow-path.
3Measurement precision
If additional processing is performed to condense the sample, then particle concentration can be increased, but processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the specimen processing chip self-sufficient by integrating the particle concentration function directly into the chip structure. The collection region with increased cross-sectional area automatically concentrates particles as they are transported by the interface, eliminating the need for external condensation processing and reducing overall processing time while maintaining measurement precision.
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 approach effectively prevents particle retention in the flow-path, increasing the collection rate of target components and improving measurement sensitivity by ensuring a higher concentration of particles in the collected sample without the need for additional processing.
Implementation Method 1
forming an interface within the flow-path with the rim on the inner wall
Implementation Method 2
moving it to forcibly convey particles retained in the process liquid
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method of processing a specimen in which a target component in a specimen is processed using a specimen processing chip provided with a flow-path, the method including: introducing a fluid into a flow-path to form an interface that divides the fluid from a process liquid used for the processing of the target component with a rim of the interface on an inner wall of the flow-path, the process liquid containing particles including the target component; and moving the formed interface along the flow-path with the rim of the interface on the inner wall so as to force out the particles retained in the process liquid by the fluid.