Anaerobic Sampling Device with Compression Evacuation Valve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sampling devices for intestinal microbiota fail to maintain optimal anaerobic conditions for preserving anaerobic bacteria and do not ensure secure manipulation, risking operator exposure to biological material.

Innovation Solution

A sampling device with a transfer member that evacuates gases from the container by compression, achieving anaerobiosis without external mixers, and includes a microporous retaining membrane to prevent contamination, allowing secure handling and increased bacterial viability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the container is closed by the lid before putting the biological material in suspension by mixing with a diluting fluid, then the operator is protected from direct contact with the biological material, but the bacteria of the microbiota cannot be preserved under optimal anaerobic conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidpreservation of anaerobic bacteria

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into two functional parts: a sealed container body for protecting the operator from biological material, and an integrated evacuation member (one-way valve) that creates anaerobic conditions. This segmentation allows the container to simultaneously provide operator protection and maintain anaerobic environment without requiring external mixing equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The evacuation member acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables gas evacuation to create anaerobic conditions while maintaining the sealed state of the container. This one-way valve allows the system to achieve both operator safety (sealed container) and bacterial preservation (anaerobic conditions) through a mediating component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If external mixers and additional equipment are used to achieve anaerobiosis and mix the biological material, then anaerobic conditions can be established, but the device complexity increases and operator safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveachievement of anaerobiosisVSAvoidnumber of external equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The evacuation member is integrated directly into the container structure, merging the gas evacuation function with the container itself. This eliminates the need for external mixers and additional equipment, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to establish and maintain anaerobic conditions through simple compression of the container body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If the container body is made of rigid material, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the ability to compress the body to evacuate gases is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strength of containerVSAvoidcompressibility for gas evacuation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The container body is made of flexible material that can be compressed to evacuate gases through the one-way valve, yet maintains sufficient structural strength to contain the biological material and diluting fluid. This flexibility enables the operator to create anaerobic conditions by simple hand compression without requiring rigid structures or complex evacuation mechanisms.

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 device effectively preserves microorganisms by maintaining anaerobic conditions and preventing external contamination, enhancing bacterial viability and ensuring operator safety during manipulation.

Implementation Method 1

bringing the interior space of the container body into anaerobiosis by putting the evacuation organ in the open state, by compressing the body of the container so as to evacuate at least part of the gases contained in the interior space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

a microporous retaining membrane placed in the passage and adapted to retain the biological material while allowing the gases to pass

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3285654B1Procedure for the sampling of microorganisms, device for the sampling of microorganisms and kit comprising said device

Publication Date: 2021.08.25 MAAT PHARMA

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AI summary

A sampling method using a sampling device (2) comprising a container (5) comprising a body (6) consisting of a soft pouch, and a lid (30), in which at least one among the container (5) and the lid (30) is provided with a discharging member (40) suitable for, in an open state, discharging at least one part of the gases contained in the internal space (7) of the body (6) of the container (5), wherein the sampling method comprises the steps consisting in: - collecting a biological material in the body (6) of the container (5), and assembling the lid (30) on the neck (10) of the container (5), - and placing an internal space (7) of the body (6) of the container (5) under anaerobic conditions by placing the discharging member (40) in the open state, by compressing the body (6) of the container (5) and by placing the discharging member (40) in a closed state.