Blockchain-Enabled Test Tube for Contamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional test tubes are prone to contamination due to open mouths and lack the ability to trace and detect the source of the liquid they contain, failing to provide a hermetically sealed environment for accurate testing and tracing.
Innovation Solution
A test tube design that includes a hermetically sealed biodegradable plastic body, a cover with drip tubes, a chipset with a blockchain tracer for tracing the liquid's source and history, a detection module for measuring liquid properties, and a wireless module for transmitting data to an external computer, ensuring contamination prevention and accurate tracing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mouth of the glass tube body is left open for easy access and operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the liquid in the tube body becomes vulnerable to contamination by microorganisms from outside, worsening the reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the opening function from the tube body by introducing a separate cover component. The cover can be removed to access the liquid for testing, then replaced to seal the tube body, thereby separating the access function from the containment function and preventing contamination while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as a flexible sealing element that can be opened when access is needed and closed to protect the liquid. This flexible sealing mechanism allows the tube to transition between open and sealed states, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and contamination prevention.
2Device complexity
If conventional test tubes are used without tracing capabilities, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to trace and detect the source of the liquid is lost, worsening the measurement capability
Solution Approach 1:
The test tube is transformed into a multi-functional device by integrating a chipset that combines blockchain tracer, positioning element, temperature detecting element, and RFID tag. This single device now performs both traditional liquid containment and modern tracing/detection functions, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the traditional glass tube body with electronic tracing components (chipset, blockchain tracer, positioning element, temperature sensor, RFID tag) into a single integrated test tube system. This combination enables source tracing and real-time monitoring without requiring separate external systems.
3Reliability
If a hermetically sealed test tube with tracing capabilities is implemented, then the reliability and tracing capability are improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like chipset, blockchain tracer, and detection modules
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components (blockchain tracer, positioning element, temperature detecting element, RFID tag) are merged into a single integrated chipset that is disposed on the tube body. This integration reduces the physical space required and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining all tracing and sealing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The chipset serves as a universal hub that coordinates multiple functions: hermetic sealing control, blockchain data recording, positioning tracking, temperature monitoring, and RFID identification. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A test tube for containing a liquid and electrically connected to a blockchain network is provided. The test tube includes a tube body, a cover, at least one overlay unit, a chipset and a detection module. The tube body contains the liquid. The cover is disposed at the top of the tube body and including at least one drip tube. The overlay unit covers the drip tube. The chipset is disposed on the tube body and includes a blockchain tracer. The blockchain tracer records the source of the liquid and a transportation history of the test tube in the blockchain network for tracing. The detection module is disposed on the tube body and electrically connected to the chipset, for measuring a liquid property of the liquid.