Capillary Blood Collection Device with Vacuum Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for collecting and separating small amounts of body fluids, such as blood, are inefficient, often resulting in unnecessary blood collection, difficulty in obtaining plasma or serum, and challenges in preserving and transporting samples for accurate analysis.
Innovation Solution
A sample collection and separation device with a sample collection unit having a graduated inner diameter and a sealing mechanism that allows for capillary action or negative pressure to collect and store samples, enabling precise collection and separation of serum or plasma without waste, and facilitating transportation and centrifugation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional blood collection methods (syringe with needle) are used, then sufficient blood can be collected for analysis, but the collection process causes strong pain and places a heavy burden on the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The blood collection device is segmented into multiple capillary tubes with different inner diameter specifications, allowing collection of only the necessary small amount of blood (e.g., 10-50 μL) rather than large volumes, thereby reducing patient burden while obtaining sufficient sample for analysis
Solution Approach 2:
A capillary tube serves as an intermediary between the patient's blood vessel and the analysis system, enabling painless blood collection through capillary action without requiring needle insertion, thus eliminating the harmful pain factor while maintaining collection effectiveness
2Object-affected harmful factors
If small amount of blood is collected using capillary tubes, then patient burden is reduced, but the collected blood cannot be preserved and separated for later analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple functions into a single integrated system: capillary blood collection, vacuum sealing, and centrifugal separation capabilities are combined in one device, allowing small blood samples to be collected, preserved under vacuum, and later separated into serum/plasma for reliable analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The blood sample is sealed under vacuum conditions immediately upon collection, performing the preservation action in advance before any degradation can occur, ensuring the sample remains stable for later separation and analysis
3Ease of operation
If blood is collected and mixed with chemical solution in collecting bottle, then blood collection is simplified, but plasma cannot be separated and specific component measurement becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the blood collection and separation processes into distinct functional stages: first collecting blood in a sealed capillary tube, then performing centrifugal separation to divide the sample into serum/plasma and cellular components, enabling accurate measurement of specific components without premature mixing
Solution Approach 2:
The device extracts and separates the serum or plasma portion from the whole blood sample through centrifugal force, removing the cellular components that would interfere with accurate measurement of specific blood components, thereby maintaining measurement precision
4Quantity of substance
If conventional blood collection requires large amount of blood, then sufficient sample is obtained for analysis, but unnecessary blood is wasted and requires excessive collection burden
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses dynamic vacuum pressure control to regulate blood flow into the capillary tube, stopping collection automatically when the tube is filled to its specific capacity (e.g., 10-50 μL), thereby obtaining exactly the necessary amount for analysis without waste
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 the collection of small amounts of body fluids like blood without waste, allowing for accurate measurement and analysis using conventional reagents and apparatus, with improved preservation and transportation capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
body fluid is collected by allowing an absorbent composed of fiber to absorb body fluid
Implementation Method 2
the absorbent having absorbed blood is immersed in separating liquid, then, plasma is separated from the absorbent
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a sample collection and separation device comprising a sample collection unit having a sample collection portion that uses capillary action and an analyte storage unit having a housing into which the sample collection unit is inserted, whereby the sample collection unit containing the collected sample is integrated by means of insertion, so as to permit centrifugation and storage or transport of the sample, and the target sample can be recovered following centrifugation.