Biopsy Container Assembly with Inverted Crown and Membrane Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biopsy container assemblies face issues with sample loss due to sticky samples adhering to container bottoms, incomplete sealing of preservation liquids, complex handling, and exposure to formaldehyde fumes, which complicates safe and effective sample preservation and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A biopsy container assembly featuring a container with a crown and cap design, where the crown can be turned upside down to introduce a sample into a buffer liquid, and the cap screws onto the container to break a membrane, allowing formalin to flow into the container under pressure, ensuring complete immersion and preventing reflux, while the cap's design prevents sample loss and exposure to formaldehyde fumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the container is turned upside down to allow liquid to flow to the sample, then the sample becomes immersed in the preservation liquid, but the liquid flows back into the top member and the sample sticks to the bottom of the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic valve mechanism that automatically opens when the container is inverted, allowing preservation liquid to flow to the sample, and automatically closes when returned to upright position, preventing liquid reflux and sample adhesion. This dynamic response eliminates the need for fixed orientation during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is designed to automatically respond to container orientation changes without external intervention. The valve opens/closes based on gravity-induced pressure differential, and the sample remains suspended or floats rather than adhering to surfaces, providing self-regulating behavior during transport.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a membrane is sealed in the top member to contain formaldehyde, then operator exposure to formaldehyde fumes is reduced, but the membrane must be punctured requiring complex actuation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is pre-positioned and pre-sealed in the top member during manufacturing, creating an integrated formaldehyde containment system. The valve mechanism is pre-configured to automatically puncture or open the membrane upon inversion, eliminating the need for separate manual actuation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve acts as an intermediary element between the sealed formaldehyde reservoir and the external environment. It provides controlled access - remaining closed during normal handling to prevent exposure, and automatically opening when needed, simplifying the overall system compared to manual puncture mechanisms.
3Reliability
If narrow slots are provided in the cap to prevent sample dispersion, then small biopsies are retained, but formalin can fall from the cap into the container through the same slots
Solution Approach 1:
The containment system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the cap with retention slots for sample holding, the valve mechanism for controlled liquid flow, and the sealed formaldehyde reservoir. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - slots retain samples while the valve controls formalin flow, preventing harmful leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve serves as an intermediary control element between the formaldehyde source and the container. It selectively allows formalin passage only when properly activated (upon inversion), while the cap slots passively retain samples. This intermediary mechanism resolves the conflict between retention and leakage prevention.
4Reliability
If two separate containers are used for sample and preservation liquid, then the preservation liquid can be sealed separately, but the containers must be precisely aligned and handled with complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sample container, preservation liquid reservoir, and valve mechanism into a single integrated assembly. The top member contains both the formaldehyde reservoir and the valve mechanism, while the container holds both sample and buffer. This unified structure eliminates alignment issues between separate containers and simplifies handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The preservation liquid reservoir is nested within the cap structure, and the valve mechanism is integrated into the same component. The container with sample and buffer is nested within the overall assembly. This nested configuration allows compact design while maintaining sealed containment, eliminating the need for separate container alignment.
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 container assembly effectively preserves bioptic samples, ensuring they remain immersed in the preservation liquid, preventing sample loss, and reducing operator exposure to harmful fumes, making it practical, reliable, and easy to use.
Implementation Method 1
the crown can be turned upside down to introduce a sample into a buffer liquid
Implementation Method 2
the cap screws onto the container to break a membrane, allowing formalin to flow into the container under pressure
Implementation Method 3
the liquid passes through the membrane and flows from the top member to the container in order to cover the sample
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A biopsy container assembly (1) comprises: a container (2) with a lower chamber (C1) suitable for containing a buffer liquid (L1), a cap (4) coupled with the container (2); the cap being provided with a chamber (C3) that contains a biopsy liquid (L2) sealed by means of a membrane (5), and a crown (3) with a toothing (33) suitable for tearing off said membrane (5) of the cap; the crown (3) being also suitable for being disposed in the container in an initial position, wherein the toothing (33) is directed downwards in order not to interfere with the membrane (5) of the cap when the cap is closed on the container, and in an operating position, wherein the toothing (33) is directed upwards in order to tear off the membrane (5) of the cap when the cap is closed on the container.