Aseptic Fluid Transfer Device Using Sub-ambient Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid transfer devices are not universally applicable for aseptic fluid transfer in laboratory environments, as they are specifically designed for blood collection and lack versatility for sample preparation and other industrial uses.
Innovation Solution
A fluid transfer device comprising a first reservoir with sub-ambient pressure, a second reservoir with a predetermined volume of fluid, and a chamber with an inlet and outlet, allowing for autonomous aseptic fluid transfer without external hardware or manual intervention, using sub-ambient pressure to purge and fill the chamber efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a blood collection device with sub-ambient pressure is used, then blood can be transferred efficiently into the container, but the device cannot be universally used for fluid transfer in laboratory environments
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with a universal chamber that can receive different fluid types (blood, chemicals, samples) from various sources (injections, tubes, vials). The chamber serves multiple functions: receiving fluid, purging air bubbles, filtering through membranes, and transferring to containers. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making a single device applicable to diverse laboratory scenarios rather than being limited to blood collection only.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into separable components: a reusable chamber with membrane filters and disposable containers. The chamber can be connected to different fluid sources and container types through standardized interfaces. This segmentation allows the same chamber to work with various fluid types and sources, enhancing versatility while maintaining efficient transfer through the sub-ambient pressure system.
2Ease of operation
If manual intervention and external hardware are used for fluid transfer, then flexibility is maintained, but aseptic transfer reliability and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables autonomous fluid transfer through its design. When the chamber is connected to a fluid source and container, the sub-ambient pressure automatically draws fluid through the membrane filters into the container without requiring manual pumping or external hardware. The system self-regulates the transfer process, maintaining aseptic conditions while eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses sub-ambient pressure (vacuum) to drive the fluid transfer process. The pressure differential automatically pulls fluid through the membrane filters and into the container without manual intervention. This pneumatic mechanism provides reliable aseptic transfer while maintaining operational simplicity, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and transfer reliability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid structures are used for reservoirs, then structural stability is improved, but deformability under pressure for efficient fluid transfer is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs flexible membranes as the core component of the chamber walls. These membranes are deformable under sub-ambient pressure, allowing the chamber to collapse slightly and draw fluid through the filters efficiently. The flexible membrane structure provides both the necessary deformability for efficient transfer and maintains structural integrity to preserve the vacuum seal, resolving the contradiction between stability and productivity.
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 ensures aseptic and efficient fluid transfer with reproducible volumes, minimizing contamination and waste, and can be easily reused or replaced, facilitating multiple transfer processes with high accuracy and low cost production.
Implementation Method 1
a first reservoir (1) having a predetermined sub-ambient pressure and volume
Implementation Method 2
extract at least a part of the fluid (M) contained in the second reservoir (2) into the internal space (6) of the chamber (3) by means of the sub-ambient pressure in the first reservoir (1)
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid transfer device comprising a first reservoir (1) having a predetermined sub-ambient pressure and volume and a presealed opening (1a), a second reservoir (2) containing a predetermined volume of a fluid (M) and having a presealed opening (2a), and a chamber (3) having an internal space (6) and an inlet (4) to the space (6) adapted to be connected to the opening (2a) of the second reservoir (2) and an outlet (5) from the space (6) adapted to be connected to the opening (1a) of the first reservoir (1).