Capillary Blood Collection Device with Vacuum Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blood sample collection techniques require high volumes of blood, making alternate sites less favorable and leading to patient apprehension and potential sample wastage, especially in cases where venipuncture is difficult or impractical.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a capillary tube with a nozzle and a self-healing cap that creates a vacuum effect to draw residual samples into a collection vessel, eliminating the need for mixing and reducing exposure to contamination, using anti-coagulant coatings within the tube and vessel to stabilize the sample.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional venipuncture is used to collect sufficient blood volume for testing, then adequate sample volume is obtained, but patient apprehension and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the blood collection process into multiple phases: initial collection in the capillary tube, transfer to the collection vessel, and final storage. This segmentation allows for minimal initial puncture (alternate site) while achieving sufficient total volume through the transfer and consolidation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The capillary tube is nested within the collection device housing, and the collection vessel is nested within the same assembly. This nested structure allows the small-capacity capillary tube to be part of a larger system that accumulates sufficient volume through the transfer mechanism, reducing the need for large-volume initial collection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If alternate site puncture is used to reduce patient discomfort, then patient compliance improves, but sufficient blood volume for testing is not obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The device maintains continuous useful action through the transfer mechanism that pulls residual blood from the capillary tube into the collection vessel. This continuous action ensures complete utilization of the collected sample, maximizing the effective volume obtained from the alternate site puncture.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses pneumatic principles through the vacuum mechanism to transfer blood from the capillary tube to the collection vessel. This hydraulic/pneumatic transfer ensures complete evacuation of the capillary tube, maximizing volume recovery from the small initial collection site.
3Ease of operation
If traditional collection techniques are used, then sample collection is straightforward, but sample wastage occurs due to residual blood remaining in the collection device
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs self-service through the automatic transfer mechanism that actively pulls residual blood from the capillary tube into the collection vessel without requiring external intervention. This self-acting mechanism ensures complete sample recovery while maintaining simple operation for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic vacuum mechanism creates a pressure differential that automatically draws residual blood from the capillary tube into the collection vessel. This pneumatic action ensures complete sample transfer without requiring manual manipulation, eliminating sample wastage while keeping the device easy to operate.
4Reliability
If manual mixing and handling steps are used to ensure sample stability, then sample quality is maintained, but contamination risk and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies preliminary action by pre-coating the capillary tube and collection vessel surfaces with anticoagulant before sample contact. This preliminary treatment ensures immediate sample stabilization upon collection, eliminating the need for subsequent manual mixing steps and reducing contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The sample stabilization process is made self-service through the pre-coated anticoagulant surfaces that automatically interact with the blood sample upon contact. This eliminates the need for manual mixing or additional stabilization steps, maintaining sample quality while minimizing handling and contamination risk.
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 method allows for efficient collection of smaller blood volumes with reduced contamination and wastage, improving patient compliance and sample yield, while eliminating the need for traditional needle-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
continued pulling of the vessel provides for vacuum force to be created within the sample vessel, due in part of the pulling of the sealed vessel away from the device to draw out residual sample
Implementation Method 2
this suction effect is created by the nozzle forming a seal with the self-healing cap
Implementation Method 3
A blood sample for use in laboratory testing is often obtained by way of venipuncture... Blood extracted by the hypodermic needle may be drawn directly into a syringe or into one or more sealed vials
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided for sample collection. In one example, a device is provided comprising at least one capillary tube or collection channel directed to a sample vessel, wherein in a one-step removal step of detaching the sample vessel from the collection channel, a vacuum force is created within the sample vessel, due in part of the pulling of the sealed vessel away from the device, wherein this vacuum force draw out residual sample that may still be resident in the collection channel.