Adaptor With Segmented Bung And Disposable Pipettes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptors for containers, particularly in scientific apparatus, face challenges in allowing multiple fluid transfers while minimizing disruption and avoiding contamination, are difficult to clean and reuse, and pose a risk of injury during assembly due to fragile components.
Innovation Solution
An adaptor with a central spigot and two sleeves, providing independent fluid pathways between the container interior and exterior, allowing for separate fluid additions and withdrawals, and featuring a design that reduces the risk of breakage and facilitates cleaning, with a diffuser for gas separation and a retaining mechanism for secure assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If glass tubes are forced through a rubber bung to enable fluid transfer, then fluid transfer capability is achieved, but the risk of glass tube breakage and injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fragile glass tubes with disposable plastic pipettes that are pre-attached to the bung. These plastic components are inexpensive, cannot break during insertion, and can be easily replaced after use, eliminating the injury risk associated with glass tubes while maintaining fluid transfer functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The bung is designed as a segmented structure with multiple pre-formed holes that accept disposable pipettes. This segmentation allows each fluid transfer channel to be independently configured with safe, break-resistant plastic components rather than forcing glass tubes through a solid bung.
2Adaptability or versatility
If glass tubes are inserted through a rubber bung, then multiple fluid transfers are enabled, but cleaning and reuse of the bung becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bung features multiple pre-formed holes that are spatially separated and independently accessible. Each hole can accommodate a separate disposable pipette, allowing multiple fluid transfers to occur simultaneously or sequentially without cross-contamination, and the bung can be easily cleaned by removing and replacing the disposable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The design employs disposable pipettes that are discarded after single use, while the durable bung is recovered and reused. This separates the contaminable component (pipette) from the reusable component (bung), making cleaning simple and enabling repeated use of the bung across multiple experiments.
3Ease of operation
If glass tubes are forced through a rubber bung, then fluid transfer pathways are created, but the bung and tubes must frequently be replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive disposable plastic pipettes instead of fragile glass tubes. The pipettes are discarded after single use while the durable bung is reused, significantly increasing equipment reuse frequency. The low cost of the disposable components makes this replacement strategy economically viable.
Solution Approach 2:
The bung is designed as a universal component with multiple pre-formed holes that can accommodate various types of disposable pipettes and adapters. This multi-functionality allows the same bung to be reused across different experiments and configurations, increasing productivity while the disposable tips are replaced as needed.
4Device complexity
If glass tubes are inserted into a rubber bung, then assembly is possible, but the process is dangerous and requires technical staff preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable plastic pipettes are designed to be pre-attached to pre-punched holes in the bung, eliminating the need for students to force glass tubes through the bung. This pre-prepared configuration removes the dangerous assembly step while maintaining the capability for students to assemble the complete apparatus under supervision.
Solution Approach 2:
The bung is prepared in advance with pre-formed holes and can have pipettes pre-attached before reaching the student. This preliminary preparation of the dangerous components removes the hazard from the student's assembly process, allowing them to safely complete the apparatus assembly without handling fragile glass tubes.
Data Source
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AI summary
An adaptor is provided which is suitable for fitting to a container closure. The adaptor comprises a central spigot, a first sleeve, and a second sleeve. The first sleeve fits around the central spigot to define at least one first longitudinal conduit therebetween. The second sleeve fits around the first sleeve to define at least one second longitudinal conduit therebetween.