Absorbent Strip Sample Collection Card for Serum Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for collecting and processing biological fluids, such as blood, face challenges including sample instability, container breakage, complex equipment requirements, and inefficient separation of serum and plasma, which can lead to inaccurate test results and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A fluid sample collection card with an absorbent strip that separates components into distinct portions visible through viewing windows, allowing for direct observation of sample volume and easy separation of serum and plasma, reducing the need for centrifugation and complex equipment, and enabling stable transport and analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If centrifugation is used to separate serum or plasma from blood cells, then separation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to requiring expensive centrifugation equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with a chemical/biochemical separation mechanism using an agglutination agent in a filter. The agglutination agent causes red blood cells to clump together, enabling separation through filtration rather than centrifugal force, thus eliminating the need for expensive centrifugation equipment while maintaining separation effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an agglutination agent as an intermediary substance that mediates the separation process. This agent binds to red blood cells to form clumps that can be easily filtered, serving as a bridge between the blood sample and the filtration mechanism, thereby achieving separation without complex equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If dried whole blood collection on filter paper is used, then transport and handling are simplified, but red blood cell hemolysis occurs mixing membrane cholesterol with serum cholesterol, compromising sample integrity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport convenienceVSAvoidsample integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary separation of serum or plasma from red blood cells before the drying process. By separating the components beforehand and then drying only the serum/plasma portion on the filter paper, the method prevents hemolysis during drying while maintaining transport convenience, as the separated serum/plasma is less prone to cellular degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If multiple vials of liquid blood are collected, then sufficient sample quantity is ensured for testing, but risk of container breakage, leakage, and infection increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample quantityVSAvoidleakage and infection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sample collection functions into a single integrated filter paper device. Instead of using multiple separate vials, the filter paper can collect and concentrate blood samples in one container, reducing the number of containers needed while maintaining sufficient sample quantity for testing, thereby lowering leakage and infection risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a flexible filter paper membrane as the collection container instead of rigid glass or plastic vials. This thin film structure is more resistant to breakage while maintaining sample containment, and the filter paper's absorbent properties help prevent leakage, thus reducing harmful factors associated with liquid sample storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 card provides a simple, cost-effective means to collect and separate biological samples, ensuring accurate results and reducing the time and complexity of the separation process, while allowing for visual verification of sample volume and stable transport without additional shipping charges.

Implementation Method 1

an absorbent strip including a sample application portion, a first absorbent strip portion extending directly from the sample application portion, and a second absorbent strip portion extending directly from the sample application portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS10610862B2Multiple path sample collection card

Publication Date: 2020.04.07 ADVANCE DX INC

AI summary

A fluid sample collection card in one embodiment includes an absorbent strip including a sample application portion, a first absorbent strip portion extending directly from the sample application portion, and a second absorbent strip portion extending directly from the sample application portion and spaced apart from the first absorbent strip portion by the sample application portion, a non-absorbent layer positioned beneath the absorbent strip, and a sample application portion indicium configured to identify the sample application portion.