Blood Sampling Probe Incline Mechanism to Prevent Separating Agent Blockage

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sampling and dispensing apparatuses face difficulties in smoothly sampling blood serum from test tubes due to the small amount of serum and short distance from the liquid level to the bottom face, often resulting in the sampling probe abutting the separating agent and being blocked.

Innovation Solution

A sampling and dispensing apparatus that includes a transport passage, a pinch mechanism to lift the test tube vertically, and turnable driving mechanisms to incline the test tube, increasing the distance between the liquid level and the bottom face, allowing for smooth sampling by a retractable sampling and dispensing probe.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If vacuum suctioning is carried out by the sampling and dispensing probe, then the blood serum can be sampled, but the distal end opening of the probe abuts against the separating agent and is blocked, preventing smooth sampling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling reliabilityVSAvoidsampling smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flattening member is inserted into the test tube before the sampling probe to push the separating agent downward in advance, creating sufficient space for the sampling probe to access the blood serum without abutting against the separating agent. This preliminary action prevents the blocking problem before sampling begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flattening member acts as an intermediary between the sampling probe and the separating agent. It performs the function of displacing the separating agent away from the probe's path, allowing the probe to smoothly access the blood serum without direct contact with the separating agent that would cause blocking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the blood serum is vacuum-suctioned by the sampling and dispensing probe, then sampling can be performed, but the distal end opening is blocked by the separating agent, disabling smooth sampling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling efficiencyVSAvoidsampling success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flattening member is inserted into the test tube before the sampling probe to push the separating agent downward in advance, creating sufficient space for the sampling probe to access the blood serum without abutting against the separating agent. This preliminary action prevents the blocking problem before sampling begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flattening member acts as an intermediary between the sampling probe and the separating agent. It performs the function of displacing the separating agent away from the probe's path, allowing the probe to smoothly access the blood serum without direct contact with the separating agent that would cause blocking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 apparatus enables smooth sampling of blood serum by increasing the distance between the liquid level and the bottom face, preventing blockages and ensuring efficient sampling.

Implementation Method 1

when vacuum suctioning is carried out by the sampling and dispensing probe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum suction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

a blood centrifugal separation process is carried out as preprocessing thereof... Blood serum β and a blood clot γ are separated from each other inside a test tube 11. This separation is carried out by a separating agent δ such as silicon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentUS7537736B2Sampling and dispensing apparatus

Publication Date: 2009.05.26 IDS CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus main body which is arbitrarily elevated is provided in the middle of a guide rail which transports a test tube containing a blood specimen. A first movable base which turns around a first rotary shaft is provided at the apparatus main body, and a second movable base which turns around a second rotary shaft is provided on the first movable base. A pinch mechanism which pulls up the test tube and a sampling and dispensing probe which is retractably driven with respect to the test tube to sample the blood specimen inside the test tube are provided on the second movable base. When the blood specimen is sampled by the sampling and dispensing probe, the first movable base is turned to incline the test tube, and the second movable base is turned to incline the test tube with respect to the axis of the sampling and dispensing probe.