V-bottomed Microtiter Plate Assembly for High-Density Sample Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microtiter plate formats for thermal cyclers are limited in sample throughput and flexibility, as they require significant reagent volumes and are not compatible with smaller, more efficient instrumentation, while microscope slides offer high density but lack individual sample manipulation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A microtiter plate assembly with individually addressable v-bottom wells, designed to fit into a standard microtiter plate tray, allowing for higher sample density, reduced reagent usage, and compatibility with existing instrumentation by combining the advantages of both formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If microtiter plates are used for thermal cyclers, then individual sample manipulation capability is maintained, but sample throughput is limited and reagent volume requirements are high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides a standard microtiter plate into multiple smaller plates, each containing a subset of the original wells. This segmentation allows smaller plate formats to be used, which reduces reagent volumes while maintaining the ability to process multiple samples in parallel, thereby increasing throughput without requiring excessive reagent quantities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single large plate format to multiple smaller plate formats arranged in a modular system. This dimensional reorganization allows for better utilization of instrumentation space and enables processing of more samples simultaneously across multiple plates, improving throughput while using smaller, more efficient instrumentations.
2Productivity
If microscope slides are used for high density arrays, then sample density is increased, but individual sample manipulation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the high-density array into multiple smaller plates, each with manageable numbers of wells. This allows individual sample manipulation using standard liquid handling devices while maintaining high overall sample density across the complete set of plates. Each small plate can be individually addressed and manipulated.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a modular plate system as an intermediary between the high-density array concept and standard liquid handling equipment. The small plate formats serve as intermediaries that are compatible with existing robotic liquid handlers and pipetting devices, enabling individual sample manipulation while achieving high density through the use of multiple plates.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard microtiter plate formats are used, then compatibility with existing instrumentation is maintained, but sample throughput and processing efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the processing workload across multiple smaller plates rather than using a single large plate. This segmentation enables the use of smaller, more efficient instrumentation while maintaining compatibility with standard plate formats. The modular approach allows for increased processing efficiency through better utilization of instrument capabilities and reduced thermal mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a universal system where small plates can be used across multiple different instrumentation platforms. The standardized small plate formats are designed to be compatible with various liquid handlers, thermal cyclers, and detection systems, allowing the same plate format to serve multiple functions and work with different instruments, thereby improving processing efficiency without sacrificing adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a v-bottomed sample plate, a frame for sample plates and a kit and method for processing biological samples. The kit comprises a tray assembly and a plurality of sample plates designed to fit into the tray assembly. The tray assembly comprises a frame having a central plate receiving portion having a width and length, whereby said tray assembly is capable of accommodating the sample plates side by side in the plate receiving portion. Each of the sample plates contains a plurality of individual sample wells arranged in a grid, the dimension of the plate in a first direction being at maximum the width of the frame and the dimension of the plate in a second direction being at maximum half of the length of the plate receiving portion of the of the frame, and means for enabling automated handling of the plates. The invention enables more efficient biomedical processing of samples.