Tiltable Tube Thermal Convection Control for PCR
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional PCR devices face challenges in effectively controlling thermal convection velocity in the buffer, leading to incomplete nucleic acid amplification due to either excessive or insufficient thermal convection rates, which are difficult to manage using existing methods such as altering buffer viscosity or temperature differences.
Innovation Solution
A device with a movable tube, a heating source at the bottom or side, and a flow rate adjusting apparatus to control the thermal convection flow direction, allowing for adjustment of flow velocity and time to match the single thermal convection circulation period with the nucleic acid amplification period by tilting the tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If thermal convection velocity is increased to speed up the reaction process, then the reaction time is reduced, but the amplification becomes incomplete due to insufficient circulation period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the tube tiltable to adjust the thermal convection flow direction and velocity. The tube can be tilted at different angles (e.g., 30-60 degrees) to dynamically control the buffer flow rate, allowing optimization of both reaction speed and amplification completeness by matching the thermal convection circulation period with the amplification period.
2Reliability
If thermal convection velocity is decreased to allow complete amplification, then amplification completeness is improved, but the reaction time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tiltable tube design enables dynamic adjustment of thermal convection velocity by changing the tube angle. This allows the system to operate at lower velocities when amplification completeness is prioritized, or switch to higher velocities when reaction time is critical, providing flexibility to optimize both parameters as needed.
3Productivity
If buffer viscosity is changed to control thermal convection rate, then flow rate is adjusted, but control precision is poor due to difficulty in manipulating viscosity changes
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying buffer viscosity, the patent uses a mechanical approach with a tiltable tube to control thermal convection rate. The tube can be adjusted to specific angles (30-60 degrees) to precisely control flow direction and velocity, providing better control precision and ease of operation compared to chemical viscosity modification.
4Productivity
If temperature difference between tube top and bottom is controlled to adjust buffer flow rate, then thermal convection is influenced, but control precision is poor due to difficulty in manipulating temperature differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex temperature difference control with a simpler mechanical tilting mechanism. By adjusting the tube angle, the system directly controls thermal convection flow rate without needing to precisely manipulate temperature differences, thereby improving control precision and ease of operation.
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 the efficiency of nucleic acid amplification by ensuring the thermal convection circulation period is sufficient for complete amplification, improving the effectiveness of the PCR process.
Implementation Method 1
the metal block with thermal conductivity is disposed at the bottom of the sample tube to generate temperature difference in the tube to generate thermal convection circulation phenomenon in the internal buffer
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is related to a device for controlling thermal convection velocity of a biochemical reaction. The thermal convection velocity controlling device includes a base body for disposing a tube which is movable, wherein the tube is filled with a buffer of the biochemical reaction; a heating source located at a bottom of the tube or at a side of the tube to heat the buffer; and a flow rate adjusting apparatus for controlling a thermal convection flow direction of the buffer in the tube, whereby the flow rate adjusting apparatus changes a flow velocity and a flow time of the buffer. The present disclosure is also related to a method for controlling thermal convection velocity of a biochemical reaction using the device.