Well Plate Lid Channel Venting for Pressure-Safe API Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional well plate designs experience API leakage and gasket detachment due to high pressure during titration experiments, leading to non-uniform distribution and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A well plate assembly with an interior channel system in the lid, featuring inlet and outlet valves, and lid clips to manage pressure and secure the gasket, ensuring uniform API distribution and preventing leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional well plate design is used during titration, then the structure is simple, but API bursts out of wells due to high pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAPI containmentVSAvoidwell plate structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is segmented into multiple functional components including inlet valves, outlet valves, and an interior channel system that distributes pressure uniformly across all wells. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific pressure management tasks, preventing API bursts while maintaining overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interior channel system acts as an intermediary between the inlet and outlets, distributing fluid pressure uniformly across all wells. This mediator prevents pressure concentration in individual wells that would cause API bursts, while the valve system mediates pressure release to maintain containment reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If high pressure is applied during API injection, then injection speed is fast, but gasket detaches from the plate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection speedVSAvoidgasket attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet valves provide feedback control for pressure management. When pressure exceeds a threshold during fast injection, the outlet valves open to release excess pressure, preventing gasket detachment. This feedback mechanism allows maintaining high injection speed while ensuring gasket reliability through automatic pressure regulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes pressure parameters through the valve system. During injection, pressure is maintained high for fast productivity, but when thresholds are exceeded, the outlet valves adjust the pressure parameter by releasing excess fluid, thereby preventing gasket detachment while preserving injection efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If silicon plate with puncture method is used, then API distribution is forced into wells, but uniform mix is prevented due to splatter

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAPI distribution methodVSAvoidAPI mix uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful puncture method is extracted and replaced with a valve-based distribution system. The outlet valves control API release in a regulated manner, eliminating the splatter problem inherent in puncture methods while maintaining ease of operation through automated fluid distribution across all wells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The interior channel system uses hydraulic principles to distribute API uniformly through controlled fluid flow. The channel network delivers fluid pressure evenly to all wells via the outlet valves, replacing the mechanical puncture method with a hydraulic distribution system that achieves both ease of operation and mixing uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 solution ensures efficient, uniform distribution of API into individual wells, enhances user safety by preventing API release, and maintains reproducible experimental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

If the pressure within the channel system exceeds a threshold level, the outlet valve opens and allows air to escape the lid safely

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure threshold activation: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

Pressure under a specified tolerance passes through the inlet valves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11872558B2Well plate assembly with pressure release mechanism

Publication Date: 2024.01.16 MERCK SHARP & DOHME LLC

AI summary

A well plate assembly with an interior channel system in the well plate lid provides a more efficient and uniform distribution of fluid into a receptacle positioned below the well plate lid. The channel system in the lid allows air, or other fluid, to pass through with the use of a pump to each of a plurality of channels in the receptacle. Inlet and outlet valves in the lid prevent a gasket positioned between the lid and the receptacle from releasing contact with the receptacle due to high pressure experienced during the injection of fluid into the assembly. Specifically, pressure under a specified tolerance passes through the inlet valves, and if the pressure within the channel system exceeds the limit of the outlet valve, the outlet valve opens and allows air to escape the lid safely without disturbing the fluid flow into the channels below.