Capillary Sampling Device with Dual-Zone Protrusion for Flexible Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical diagnostic devices, such as test strips, are limited in their ability to facilitate easy sample application for both home monitoring and professional use, particularly in handling blood samples, as they often require specific dosing methods that are difficult to achieve with standard application devices like pipettes or capillaries.
Innovation Solution
A device with a capillary-active channel formed by a carrier, cover, and intermediate layer, where the carrier protrudes beyond the cover at the sampling site, creating a wide application zone for easy sample application, and the intermediate layer is displaced towards the determination site, allowing for both side and top dosing, with a funnel-shaped widening at the sampling site to accommodate different application methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the carrier and cover are aligned at the sampling site, then the device has a compact structure, but the application zone is limited and difficult to access for side dosing
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional zones: a first area where the carrier protrudes beyond the cover for side dosing application, and a second area where the cover protrudes beyond the carrier for top dosing application. This segmentation allows different sampling methods to be accommodated in different zones without requiring the entire device structure to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate layer is displaced in the longitudinal direction (dimensional change) to create vertical protrusions at different longitudinal positions. This creates a three-dimensional structure where the carrier and cover alternate in protruding, enabling both side and top dosing capabilities from different spatial dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the intermediate layer is positioned at the front, then the capillary channel is well-defined, but the application zone is restricted and cannot accommodate various dosing methods
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate layer has different positions at different longitudinal locations: it is displaced towards the rear in the first area to allow carrier protrusion for side dosing, and positioned differently in the second area to allow cover protrusion for top dosing. This local variation in positioning creates different capillary channel geometries adapted to different dosing methods while maintaining overall channel definition.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed sample application area is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate both home monitoring and professional field requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The device integrates multiple dosing capabilities into a single test element: side dosing for home monitoring use and top dosing for professional field use. The dual-area design with alternating protrusions allows the same device to accommodate different user needs and application methods, making it universally applicable across different usage scenarios.
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 convenient sample application from body surfaces and flexible dosing options, including pipettes or capillaries, making the device suitable for both home and professional use without increasing the minimum sample volume requirements, while preventing over-dosing through an excess sample structure.
Implementation Method 1
the sample is transported in a capillary-active channel from a sampling site to a determination site
Data Source
AI summary
A device for sampling liquid samples is provided comprising a capillary-active channel, a sampling site, and a determination site. The capillary-active channel is configured for transporting a sample from the sampling site to the determination site. The capillary-active channel is substantially formed by a carrier, a cover and an intermediate layer located between the carrier and cover. The carrier protrudes beyond the cover in the area of the sampling site. The intermediate layer is displaced towards the back in the direction of the determination site in the area of the sampling site so that the carrier as well as the cover protrude beyond the intermediate layer. The device allows sample to be applied from above onto the exposed area of the carrier in the area of the sampling site and also allows sample to be applied from the side.