Solid-Phase Microextraction Coating Geometry With High-Viscosity Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing solid phase microextraction devices, such as dip-coating, face challenges in achieving precise and reproducible coatings due to chemical incompatibility between particles and solvents, leading to uneven distributions and waste, especially when trying to create thin layers with specific geometries.
Innovation Solution
The use of stenciling techniques, including screen printing and stencil printing, allows for the application of high viscosity slurries, enabling precise control over coating distribution and geometry, reducing waste and improving reproducibility by using higher viscosity coatings that maintain particle suspension and facilitate complex bed shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If dip-coating is used to manufacture CBS devices, then automation and ease of manufacture are improved, but coating precision and geometry control deteriorate due to complete substrate immersion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the coating process from complete substrate immersion to selective area coating. By using a blade that contacts only a portion of the substrate surface, the coating is applied only to the desired region, preventing tip coating while maintaining automation benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements local quality by applying coating material to specific regions of the substrate rather than uniformly across the entire surface. The blade geometry and contact point are designed to deposit coating only on the body portion, leaving the tip uncoated for electrospray functionality.
2Volume of moving object
If low viscosity slurry is used for dip-coating, then coating thin layers is improved, but particle stability deteriorates due to rapid precipitation and separation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the viscosity parameter of the slurry from low to high. This parameter change allows the slurry to maintain particle suspension stability while still enabling thin coating deposition through controlled blade contact and reduced immersion depth.
3Stability of the object's composition
If high viscosity slurry is used with stenciling, then particle suspension stability is improved, but coating application complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the complex stenciling mechanical system with a simpler blade-based coating system. The blade directly contacts the substrate and deposits coating material through controlled movement, eliminating the need for stencils while maintaining high viscosity slurry benefits.
4Area of stationary object
If complete substrate coating is applied, then analyte collection area is maximized, but tip functionality deteriorates due to hampered electrospray generation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the substrate into two functional zones: a coated body region for analyte collection and an uncoated tip region for electrospray generation. The blade geometry and coating process are designed to deposit material only on the body portion, naturally creating this functional segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different surface properties to different regions of the substrate. The body portion receives the extractive coating for analyte collection, while the tip portion remains uncoated to maintain electrospray functionality, achieving local quality optimization.
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 enhances spatial resolution, reduces waste, and increases production capacity by allowing for intricate coating geometries and sophisticated chemistry combinations, while ensuring uniform particle distribution and adherence to the substrate.
Implementation Method 1
The use of stenciling techniques, including screen printing and stencil printing, allows for the application of high viscosity slurries, enabling precise control over coating distribution and geometry
Implementation Method 2
reducing waste and improving reproducibility by using higher viscosity coatings that maintain particle suspension and facilitate complex bed shapes
Data Source
AI summary
A solid phase microextraction device is disclosed, including a substrate having a planar surface and a sorbent layer disposed on the planar surface. The planar surface is defined by a base edge, a spray edge disposed distal across the substrate from the base edge, the spray edge including a tapering tip extending away from the base edge, a first lateral edge extending from the base edge to the tapering tip, and a second lateral edge extending from the base edge to the tapering tip, the second lateral edge being disposed distal across the substrate from the first lateral edge. The sorbent layer extends a sampling length from the spray edge toward the base edge and includes sorbent particles. A method for forming the solid phase microextraction device is disclosed, including applying the sorbent layer on the planar surface utilizing at least one of screen printing, stencil printing, or additive manufacturing.