Biological Particle Capture Device with Foam Pressure Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for capturing biological particles in liquid media face challenges in achieving a homogeneous cell sample for cytological analysis, leading to unreliable detection of diseases due to clumping or stacking of cells, which can obscure cells of interest.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a container with a filter membrane, a porous foam pad, and an absorbent block that swells to control fluid flow, combined with a spring to maintain contact and prevent deformation, ensuring uniform pressure and distribution of biological particles on the filter membrane, resulting in a more homogeneous sample.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an absorbent block is placed directly on the filter membrane to control liquid flow, then the flow rate can be controlled to retain sufficient cells, but the absorbent block deforms and creates non-uniform pressure distribution causing cell clumping and stacking
Solution Approach 1:
A porous foam pad is introduced as an intermediary component between the absorbent block and the filter membrane. This pad distributes the pressure from the absorbent block uniformly across the filter membrane surface, preventing direct contact between the deformable absorbent block and the membrane. The result is homogeneous cell distribution without clumping while maintaining controlled liquid flow for sufficient cell retention.
2Productivity
If the absorbent block is allowed to expand freely to absorb liquid medium, then flow control is achieved, but the block deforms and displaces causing non-uniform cell distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The porous foam pad provides a stable, non-deforming interface that maintains uniform structural properties across the contact area with the filter membrane. While the absorbent block expands and absorbs liquid, the pad ensures that the pressure distribution remains uniform locally across the entire membrane surface, preventing displacement and deformation effects from propagating to the cell layer.
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 solution improves the homogeneity of the biological particle layer on the filter membrane, leading to a more reliable cytological analysis by maintaining uniform pressure and preventing cell clumping, thus enhancing the accessibility of cells for analysis.
Implementation Method 1
the absorption of water by the absorbent block makes it possible to control the flow entering the tube through the filtering membrane
Implementation Method 2
an absorbent block resting on the tampon and able to absorb said liquid medium when it is in contact with said liquid medium
Implementation Method 3
the ability of the pad foam to deform to compensate for the deformation of the absorbent block. This deformation therefore does not substantially modify the distribution of the pressure exerted on the face of the pad resting on the filtering membrane, which remains uniform over the entire area of support of the pad on the filtering membrane
Implementation Method 4
a spring hindering the expansion and/or the displacement of the absorbent block away from the lower opening of the container
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~4d
Figure 4e~4i
AI summary
A device for capturing biological particles suspended in a liquid medium, the device comprising: - a container (12) with axis X opening at the lower and upper ends through lower and upper openings, respectively; - a filter membrane (14) attached on the container in such a way as to close the lower opening; and inside the container: - a buffer (16) made of a porous foam having a flat face resting on the filter membrane; - an absorbent block (18) resting on the buffer and capable of absorbing the liquid medium when it is in contact with the liquid medium; and - a spring (30) impeding the expansion and/or the movement of the absorbing block toward the upper end of the container.