Blood Sample Stabilization via Inert Atmosphere Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dried blood spot (DBS) methods fail to maintain enzyme activity, protein structure, and consistent concentration for precise and sensitive blood tests, limiting their use in routine chemistries and high-precision analyses.
Innovation Solution
A system that stabilizes blood samples by removing oxygen and moisture using a desiccant and oxygen scavenger within a sealed environment, allowing for the preservation of blood samples at ambient temperature for several weeks and subsequent extraction at near-neat volume levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If dried blood spot (DBS) methods are used for sample preservation, then storage and transportation at ambient temperature is enabled, but enzyme activity and protein structure are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by sealing blood samples in containers filled with inert gas (nitrogen or argon) to displace oxygen. This prevents oxidative degradation of enzymes and proteins while allowing ambient temperature storage. The inert gas environment maintains sample integrity without requiring refrigeration, resolving the contradiction between easy storage and enzyme activity preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the atmospheric parameters (oxygen concentration, humidity) within the storage container by introducing inert gas and controlling moisture levels. This parameter modification protects biological samples from degradation while maintaining ambient temperature conditions, enabling both convenient storage and preservation of enzyme activity.
2Ease of operation
If dried blood spot (DBS) methods are used for sample preservation, then transportation by common mail service is enabled, but protein structure and analyte precision are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inert gas atmosphere in sealed containers to protect protein structure and analyte integrity during transportation. This allows samples to be mailed via common services without special refrigeration while maintaining measurement precision, as the inert environment prevents degradation during transit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable sealed containers with inert gas atmosphere that can be easily mailed and processed. These single-use containers provide adequate protection for transportation while being cost-effective and logistically simple, resolving the contradiction between transportation ease and measurement precision.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If blood samples are dried for long-term storage, then storage duration is extended, but enzyme activity and protein conformation are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends storage duration by maintaining samples in inert gas atmosphere, which prevents oxidative degradation over time. This allows long-term storage at ambient temperature while preserving enzyme activity and protein conformation, as the inert environment continuously protects samples throughout the extended storage period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary protection by sealing samples in inert gas atmosphere before storage begins. This pre-established protective environment prevents degradation mechanisms from acting on the samples during extended storage, maintaining protein structure integrity over long durations without requiring later intervention.
4Loss of energy
If routine DBS procedures are used, then transportation cost is reduced, but sample integrity for high-precision testing is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves cost-effective transportation by using simple sealed containers with inert gas atmosphere, avoiding expensive refrigeration logistics. This approach maintains sample integrity for high-precision testing while keeping transportation costs low, as the inert gas protection is sufficient without requiring complex cold chain infrastructure.
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 system effectively maintains the integrity of blood samples for extended periods, enabling accurate and precise testing of various analytes without significant degradation of enzymes or proteins, and allows for higher concentration recovery if needed.
Implementation Method 1
providing a modified atmosphere environment within said sealable container by placing, into said sealable container, a desiccant compound to remove residual moisture
Implementation Method 2
providing a modified atmosphere environment within said sealable container by placing, into said sealable container, a deoxygenation compound to remove residual oxygen
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Blood samples are maintained in a modified atmosphere sealed environment, where moisture is reduced using a desiccant and oxygen is removed using a deoxygenation compound, thus resulting in the preservation of numerous blood analytes, for delayed (e.g., 14 days from collection) blood testing, such as for enzymatic activity, concentration of protein and measurement of other blood components in human and veterinary blood test applications.