Evaporative Control Lid with Wettable Insert for BLI Trays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bio-layer interferometry (BLI) analysis is affected by evaporative loss of liquid from sample wells in multi-well sample trays due to continuous movement, leading to decreased accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An evaporation control cover for multi-well sample trays with a design that includes a top and bottom, featuring sample holes and upwardly projecting ports, optionally with a wettable insert, to reduce evaporative loss while allowing continuous movement and BLI analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the multi-well sample tray is continuously moved to maintain suspension, then the biomolecular interaction analysis is enabled, but evaporative loss of liquid material occurs leading to decreased accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
A humidifying insert is introduced as an intermediary component between the sample wells and the environment. The insert absorbs and releases water vapor to maintain humidity levels, acting as a mediator that prevents evaporative loss while allowing the tray to move continuously during BLI analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the humidity parameter within the sample tray environment by introducing a humidifying insert that actively maintains optimal humidity levels. This parameter change prevents evaporative loss without requiring the tray to be stationary, thus resolving the contradiction between movement and evaporation control.
2Loss of substance
If an evaporation control cover is added to prevent evaporative loss, then fluid retention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporation control system is segmented into separate functional components: a cover element and a humidifying insert. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall design while maintaining effective evaporation control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a flexible or removable cover element that can be easily placed over the sample tray. This thin-film approach provides evaporation control without adding significant structural complexity, making the system easy to implement and remove when needed.
3Loss of substance
If the sample tray structure is modified to include evaporation control features, then evaporative loss is reduced, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporation control cover is designed to be dynamically removable and reconfigurable. The cover can be easily placed over or removed from the sample tray, allowing flexible operation depending on whether evaporation control is needed. This dynamic design maintains ease of operation while providing evaporation protection when required.
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 evaporation control cover significantly enhances fluid retention in sample wells, maintaining accuracy and consistency of BLI analysis by retaining over 90% of the original fluid volume, reducing variability between wells.
Implementation Method 1
a wettable insert capable of absorbing and releasing a liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A cover configured to reduce evaporation from a multi-well sample tray while permitting sampling of material housed in separate wells of the tray. The cover may directly engage the sample tray and move with the sample tray or the cover may be stationary while permitting movement of the sample tray relative to the cover.