Biological Sample Receiver Single Sheet Envelope Cover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biological sample collection cards face challenges such as contamination risks due to exposed sample receipt areas and the need for additional handling steps like drying and sealing, which increase costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A biological sample receiver featuring a sample support medium housed in a windowed envelope protected by a removable cover, fabricated from a single piece of sheet material to minimize costs and simplify manufacturing. The envelope and cover are designed for easy separation and tamper evidence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lid or cover is added over the sample receipt area, then protection from contamination is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from contaminationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The envelope and cover are merged into a single piece of sheet material, forming an integrated structure that provides contamination protection while maintaining low manufacturing costs through simplified production processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single piece of sheet material is divided into functional zones: the envelope portion that holds the sample support medium and the cover portion that provides protection, with a weakening line enabling separation when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If additional features like moveable covers are added to protect samples, then contamination protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination protectionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover and envelope are combined into a single integrated structure made from one piece of sheet material, eliminating the need for separate moveable cover components while maintaining protection functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated envelope-cover structure is designed as a disposable unit that provides protection during sample collection and transport, then can be discarded or easily separated, avoiding the need for complex reusable mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If a simple flat card structure is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but contamination risk increases due to need for separate drying racks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The envelope structure combines sample containment and protective functions in a single integrated unit, eliminating the need for separate drying racks and reducing contamination risks during sample processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The envelope is pre-formed with the sample support medium already positioned inside, allowing samples to be deposited directly onto the support medium within the protected environment, eliminating the need for separate drying steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If a covered structure is used to protect samples, then contamination protection is improved, but handling in automated settings becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination protectionVSAvoidhandling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The weakening line divides the integrated structure into separable portions (envelope and cover), allowing the cover to be easily removed in automated settings while the envelope with sample remains for processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover portion is extracted from the integrated structure through the weakening line, allowing it to be separated and removed without affecting the envelope containing the sample, facilitating automated handling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20250067631A1In and relating to biological sample receivers

Publication Date: 2025.02.27 QIAGEN HEALTHCARE BIOTECHNOLOGIES SYST GMBH

AI summary

Disclosed is a biological sample receiver (100) comprising: a planar substrate (10) for receiving a biological sample including a surface area (11) for accepting a biological sample; an envelope (25) substantially surrounding the substrate, said envelope including an opening (34) for facilitating the deposit of a biological sample onto said surface area (11); and a protective cover (40,50,60) formed around the envelope said protective cover including a closure panel (60) moveable at least to a first position where the opening (34) of the envelope is at least partially concealed, and to a second position where the opening (34) is exposed at least sufficiently to allow said deposit, the protective cover (40,50,60) being arranged further to allow the slidable separation of the envelope from the cover; the device being characterised in that said envelope and said cover are formed from a single sheet (15) of folded material.