Breath Sample Container Valve for Irreversible Single-Use Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breath-sample containers are prone to contamination and inaccurate analysis due to reuse across multiple samples and patients, leading to reduced accuracy in analyte detection.
Innovation Solution
A breath-sample container with a valve that configures irreversibly to a second open configuration for sample extraction, preventing reuse and minimizing contamination by ensuring a one-use design, combined with a valve opener for gas-tight sample transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If breath-sample containers are reused across multiple samples and patients, then productivity increases, but measurement precision deteriorates due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a disposable breath-sample container with a one-way valve that allows the container to be used for multiple breath samples from the same patient (first through fourth breath samples) but prevents reuse across different patients. The valve irreversibly changes state after extraction, ensuring the container is discarded after single-patient use, thereby maintaining measurement precision while enabling efficient collection of multiple samples during the collection process.
2Device complexity
If a simple container design is used, then device complexity decreases, but reliability worsens due to contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contamination prevention function from the container design by incorporating a separate valve mechanism between the collection chamber and the external environment. The valve is configured to open during breath sample collection and extraction, but closes and irreversibly changes state to prevent contamination during storage and transport, thereby maintaining sample integrity without significantly increasing overall container complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the valve remains open for sample extraction, then ease of operation improves, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to potential contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the valve to open automatically when a breath sample is introduced into the container, eliminating the need for manual opening during sample collection. The valve then closes automatically after extraction, and the irreversible state change ensures contamination prevention is already in place before the container leaves the controlled environment, thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A breath-sample contained (100) comprising an inlet (102) for receiving a breath sample, a wall (104) at least partially defining a chamber (106) for containing the breath sample, and a valve (110) between the inlet (102) and the chamber (106). The valve (110) is in fluid communication with the inlet (102) and the chamber (106), and is configurable between at least a first open configuration (110a) for flow of breath sample from the inlet (102) to the chamber (106) up to a first flow rate, and a second open configuration (110b) for flow of breath sample from the inlet (102) to the chamber (106) at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate. Once the valve (110) has been configured in the second open configuration (110b), the valve (110) cannot then reconfigure itself to the first open configuration (110a).