Blood Sampler Vent Configuration for Smooth Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood sampler devices often cause a sudden 'double pop' sensation due to uneven resistance force profiles, leading to user error and inconsistent blood sample dispensing volumes, which can result in inaccurate test results.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a blood sampler device with a blood collector featuring vents with gradually sloped surfaces and ribs to smooth air flow and minimize friction, allowing for a consistent and airtight seal, reducing the impact of insertion speed on air pressurization and eliminating the 'double pop' sensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional blood collector design is used, then the device structure is simple, but the resistance force profile shows sudden jumps causing double pop sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The blood collector is divided into multiple functional segments: a sealing portion with seal surface, a vent portion with vent openings, and a handle portion. The vent portion includes multiple vent openings distributed around the circumference, each with its own flow path, allowing segmented air escape that prevents sudden pressure buildup and eliminates the double pop sensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent openings act as intermediaries between the internal chamber and external environment, providing a controlled pathway for air to escape during insertion. This intermediary structure mediates the pressure changes that would otherwise cause the double pop sensation, smoothing the resistance force profile while maintaining seal integrity.
2Productivity
If the blood collector is inserted quickly to improve productivity, then the sample dispensing speed increases, but air pressurization increases causing inconsistent sample volume
Solution Approach 1:
The vent openings are pre-configured in the blood collector before insertion, providing ready-made pathways for air to escape. This preliminary arrangement ensures that even during rapid insertion, air can immediately begin to vent through the pre-positioned openings, preventing pressure buildup that would otherwise cause inconsistent sample volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The design utilizes pneumatic principles by incorporating vent openings that allow air to escape from the internal chamber during insertion. The flow paths within the vents are designed to optimize air evacuation, using pressure differential and flow dynamics to maintain consistent sample volume even during rapid insertion by preventing excessive air pressurization.
3Reliability
If the seal surface area is increased to improve sealing, then the airtight seal is enhanced, but the insertion force increases causing user error
Solution Approach 1:
The blood collector features localized sealing elements rather than a continuous seal. The seal surface is positioned at specific locations where needed, and the vent openings are strategically placed to provide localized air escape pathways. This local quality approach maintains airtight sealing where required while providing venting where needed, reducing overall insertion force.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is segmented into discrete seal surfaces positioned at specific locations on the blood collector, rather than requiring a continuous seal around the entire circumference. This segmentation allows for reduced seal surface area at critical points while maintaining adequate sealing through strategic placement, thereby reducing insertion force.
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
This design significantly reduces user error and ensures consistent blood dispensing volumes, leading to more accurate test results by smoothing the resistance force profile and optimizing air escape during insertion.
Implementation Method 1
The vent is adapted to allow air to escape from the chamber as the blood collector is inserted into the sampler body
Implementation Method 2
The vent includes a top shoulder that forms a gradually sloped surface adapted to smooth a flow profile of air flowing over the gradually sloped surface
Implementation Method 3
The seal surface engages the seal ring to form a substantially airtight seal upon complete insertion
Data Source
AI summary
A blood sampler device includes a blood collector and a sampler body. The blood collector is designed to collect a sample of a fluid, such as blood, from a user and to be inserted into the sampler body, such that the collected blood can be discharged into a liquid chamber in the sampler body to mix with a liquid stored in the liquid chamber for testing. The blood collector includes vents that are designed to facilitate the flow of air out of the liquid chamber during this insertion, such that a lower and more consistent pressurization can be achieved within the liquid chamber. This design may also increase user comfort and enhance the accuracy of testing performed on the collected fluid.