Multi-Sealed Biologic Container for QC Sample Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biological material storage containers are bulky due to protruding ports, prone to failure during handling, and lack efficient quality control mechanisms, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors in separating QC samples.

Innovation Solution

A container design with multiple sealed portions defined by layers and frangible regions allows for easy separation of materials into distinct volumes, enabling robust storage, handling, and quality control without external tools, while maintaining hermetic seals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a port is included to allow fluid conveyance into or out of the container, then the container enables rehydration and material transfer, but the container size increases and storage efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid conveyance capabilityVSAvoidcontainer size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The port is extracted from the container body and integrated into a removable cap assembly. This allows the port functionality to be separated from the main container structure, enabling the container to maintain a compact form while still providing fluid conveyance capability when the cap is attached.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The port is nested within the cap structure, which itself nests over the container opening. This nested arrangement allows the port, cap, and container to be compactly organized, minimizing the overall volume while maintaining operational functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If a rigid port extends from the container end, then the container provides structural support for fluid transfer, but the port becomes a point of failure during handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural support for fluid transferVSAvoidcontainer robustness during handling

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container system is segmented into distinct functional components: the flexible container body, the cap assembly, and the port. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while reducing stress concentration points. The flexible container body without a rigid protruding port is less susceptible to damage during handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container body is constructed from flexible material that can deform during handling without creating stress concentration at a rigid port. The flexibility of the container wall distributes mechanical stresses more evenly, improving overall reliability during transport and handling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate containers are used for storage and quality control samples, then sample separation is possible, but the system becomes cumbersome and time-consuming to operate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample separation capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is segmented into multiple sealed compartments within a single unit. Each compartment can hold different materials or samples, enabling separation of storage and quality control samples while maintaining a simple single-container structure that is easy to handle and process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple storage compartments and quality control sample areas are merged into a single integrated container unit with unified sealing and handling mechanisms. This combination eliminates the need for multiple separate containers and complex valve switching systems, simplifying the overall operation while maintaining sample separation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If separate containers are used for harvested cells and washed cells, then quality control can be maintained, but the handling and processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality control assuranceVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into separate sealed compartments for harvested cells and washed cells, maintaining quality control through physical separation. However, the segmented design is integrated into a single container unit that can be handled and processed as one piece, eliminating the time required to transfer materials between separate containers while still ensuring quality control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260083120A1Container for biological materials having multiple sealed portions

Publication Date: 2026.03.26 INSTANT SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

An apparatus is disclosed having a first layer coupled to a second layer via a plurality of seals to define a storage volume that is separable by at least one intermediate seal into a first volume and a second volume. The intermediate seal is applicable after a material is introduced into the storage volume storage. The apparatus includes a first opening into the storage volume and a second opening into the storage volume. The first opening and the second opening are positioned near opposite edges. The apparatus also includes a first frangible region positioned along the intermediate seal and configured for separation of the first volume and the second volume.