Blood Sample Transport System Deceleration Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pneumatic dispatch systems for transporting items in tube systems are inefficient as they require items to be placed in capsules, leading to resource wastage and potential damage to blood samples during transport due to unsuitable dimensions and acceleration, which can cause haemolysis and depreciation of sample quality.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for transporting blood samples in a tube system with internal diameters greater than the external diameter of the samples, where physical dimensions, weight, and bar code/chip checks ensure fitment, and air pressure is balanced for optimal transport, with deceleration mechanisms to prevent abrupt stops, allowing successive dispatch without capsules and minimizing sample damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If blood samples are transported in a conventional pneumatic dispatch system using capsules, then the samples can be sent through the tube system, but the system requires resources for packing and unpacking items and cannot send items in immediate succession

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuccessive dispatch capabilityVSAvoidcapsule packing and unpacking requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the blood sample directly from the collection tube and transports it without encapsulation. The tube system is designed with dimensions that directly accommodate the blood sample container, eliminating the intermediate capsule step entirely. This resolves the contradiction by removing the packing/unpacking complexity while maintaining successive dispatch capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The blood collection tube serves multiple functions: it acts as both the sample container and the transport medium. The tube is designed with specific dimensional characteristics that allow it to function directly in the pneumatic transport system without requiring separate packaging, thereby eliminating the capsule-related complexity while enabling continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the tube system internal diameter is reduced to match capsule dimensions, then capsules can be efficiently transported, but blood samples may be damaged due to unsuitable dimensions and acceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoidhaemolysis and sample damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the dimensional parameters of the tube system to specifically accommodate blood samples rather than standardized capsules. The internal diameter and length parameters are optimized to match blood sample container dimensions, creating a transport environment that prevents haemolysis while maintaining efficient successive transport capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If air pressure is increased to accelerate blood samples through the tube system, then transport speed increases, but haemolysis occurs due to excessive acceleration up to 16G

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport speedVSAvoidhaemolysis from excessive acceleration

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements dynamic pressure regulation where the air pressure is adjusted based on the specific transport requirements and sample characteristics. The system maintains optimal pressure levels that provide sufficient transport speed while preventing excessive acceleration forces that would cause haemolysis, creating a dynamically balanced transport process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables efficient, successive transportation of blood samples without capsules, ensuring they fit the tube system, preventing haemolysis and maintaining sample quality by ensuring correct dimensions, weight, and balanced air pressure, and reducing resource wastage.

Implementation Method 1

the blood sample is sent from the dispatch station by means of dispatching air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurised air: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

conveying systems with a number of tube systems wherein items are sent from a dispatch station to a receiver station by means of vacuum or pressurised air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentEP3778445A1Blood samples transport system

Publication Date: 2021.02.17 SARSTEDT APS

Figure 1

AI summary

A method of slowing down blood samples before a receiver station in a tube system with an internal diameter that is greater than an external diameter of the applied blood samples and lesser than the lengths of the applied blood samples, the method including at least the following steps: A: a blood sample is introduced in a tube system that includes a dispatch station and a receiver station, and wherein B: the blood sample is dispatched from the dispatch station, characterised in that the method further includes at least the following step: D: the blood sample is slowed down before the receiver station by constriction of the tube by using - at least two rollers/balls in the circumference of the tube, or - a spring loaded spring-loaded funnel, or - slide rails/lamellae disposed conically in the tube.