Wire-Shaped Sensor for Efficient Heat Transfer in Flowing Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat-transfer method (HTM) devices are inefficient as only a fraction of the provided heating power passes through the sensitive area and cannot operate under flow conditions, limiting their effectiveness in detecting and characterizing target bioparticles.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing a wire-shaped sensor element with an electrically conducting core, an electric isolating layer, and binding sites for target particles, which functions as both a heating and temperature-sensing element, allowing efficient heat transfer and operation in both liquid and gas phases, including flowing samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a chip-based HTM device is used with a copper block heat provider, then temperature control is achieved, but only a fraction of heating power passes through the sensitive area and the device cannot operate under flow conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical chip-copper block assembly with an electrical heating system. A wire-shaped sensor element with integrated heating capability is used, where heating power is controlled electrically rather than mechanically through a copper block. This substitution enables more efficient power transfer to the sensitive area and allows operation under flow conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the heating element and temperature sensor into a single integrated wire-shaped sensor element. This merging eliminates the separate copper block heat provider and chip assembly, allowing the entire heating power to pass through the sensitive area while maintaining temperature measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If a chip-based HTM device is used, then temperature gradient measurement is possible, but the device complexity increases and flow conditions cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of temperature control and measurement from the complex chip-copper block assembly and implements it through a simplified wire-shaped sensor element. This extraction maintains the thermal resistance measurement capability while dramatically reducing device complexity and enabling flow conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire-shaped sensor element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a heating element, a temperature sensor, and a structural support. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate copper block, chip, and thermal coupling materials, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
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 enables a significant portion of the heating power to be utilized effectively, allowing for efficient detection and characterization of target bioparticles, including in flowing samples, with reduced complexity and cost, making it suitable for bio-analytical and chemical analytics applications.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heating element for heating and/or measuring a temperature
Implementation Method 2
processing means configured for measuring an electric output of the at least one heating element and/or a change in electric output of the at least one heating element and/or its heating power
Implementation Method 3
obtaining a measurement of the thermal resistance at an interface between the heating element and the fluid... and for deriving, based on the measurement of the thermal resistance, a characteristic of the target particles
Data Source
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AI summary
A device suitable for the detection and/or characterization of target particles in a fluid is disclosed. The device comprises: at least one heating element for heating and/or measuring a temperature, the heating element comprising a core comprising at least one electrically conducting portion, an electric isolating layer provided at a surface of the core and electrically isolates the core from the sample, and a plurality of binding sites at/to which target particles can bind. The device further comprising a processing means configured to measure an electric output of the least one heating element, a change of the electric output of the at least one heating element and/or its heating power and for deriving, based thereon, a characteristic of the target particles.