Staggered Micro-Column Gel Card Layout for Faster Blood Typing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current micro-column gel cards are limited by the number of pore columns, leading to low detection speed when used with automated instruments, affecting the accuracy and efficiency of blood type tests.
Innovation Solution
A micro-column gel card design with staggered, centrosymmetric tubular columns and a sample adding mechanism that allows for non-overlapping placement and eccentric sample adding cavities, enabling efficient sample addition without interference and cross-contamination, and facilitating consistent sample positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of pore columns in micro-column gel card is increased to improve detection efficiency, then productivity increases, but device complexity and interference between columns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-row linear arrangement to a multi-dimensional staggered grid arrangement with two rows of columns. This spatial reconfiguration allows more columns to be packed into the same card area while maintaining adequate spacing, thus increasing productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric staggered positioning where columns in the first row are offset relative to columns in the second row. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes space utilization and reduces interference between adjacent columns compared to a symmetric grid, resolving the contradiction between high column density and low complexity.
2Productivity
If tubular columns are arranged closely to increase detection capacity, then productivity improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to interpretation interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different spatial relationships to different column pairs: adjacent columns in the same row maintain horizontal spacing, while columns in different rows maintain vertical staggered spacing. This localized optimization of spacing ensures sufficient separation for accurate interpretation while maximizing overall detection capacity.
3Ease of manufacture
If sample adding cavity is positioned concentrically with gel column for simple structure, then ease of manufacture improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to sampling error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately positions the sample adding cavity eccentrically relative to the gel column center, creating an asymmetric structure. This offset positioning ensures that samples are added at an optimal location that avoids the gel column core, preventing contamination while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized mold design.
4Device complexity
If micro-column gel card uses traditional single-row arrangement, then device complexity is low, but productivity remains limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the column arrangement into two distinct rows with different spatial characteristics. The first row provides a baseline arrangement while the second row adds detection capacity through staggered positioning. This segmentation allows the system to scale from simple to complex configurations while maintaining manageable structural 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 design increases detection efficiency, reduces interference and error rates, and ensures consistent sample addition across automated instruments, improving the overall performance of blood type testing.
Implementation Method 1
the gel column is configured to load a gel reagent
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a micro-column gel card, and a sample adding mechanism and method. The micro-column gel card includes a fixing plate and a plurality of tubular columns (3) arranged and fixed through the fixing plate. The tubular columns (3) are fixed to two sides of the fixing plate respectively, and the tubular columns (3) located on the two sides of the fixing plate are arranged in a staggered manner. Each tubular column (3) includes a sample adding cavity (301), a reaction cavity (302), and a gel column (303). The gel column (303) is configured to load a gel reagent. A central axis of the sample adding cavity (301) and a central axis of the gel column (303) do not coincide. The tubular columns (3) are designed in a double-row staggered manner.