Gastrointestinal Sampling Capsule Multi-Hole Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gastrointestinal sampling capsules face issues with high sampling failure rates due to blockages and air suction during active sampling, which limits their effectiveness and accuracy in collecting sufficient liquid samples for diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
The gastrointestinal sampling capsule features a sampling port with multiple holes and a connecting passage, a filter structure between the holes and the passage, and a magnetic component to adjust the capsule's posture, ensuring liquid collection and reducing blockages and air suction by using a camera to monitor the environment and control sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If active sampling method is used to provide sampling power and improve sampling speed, then sampling effectiveness is improved, but sampling hole or sampling tube gets blocked and air is sucked during sampling
Solution Approach 1:
The single sampling hole is segmented into multiple sampling holes (at least two) distributed on the sampling surface. This segmentation allows liquid to enter through multiple pathways, reducing the probability that all holes will be blocked simultaneously, thereby maintaining sampling reliability while preserving sampling speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling holes are distributed on a sampling surface (two-dimensional distribution) rather than a single point. This dimensional expansion increases the spatial coverage of sampling entry points, making it less likely that residues will block all sampling pathways simultaneously.
2Reliability
If sampling hole diameter is increased to prevent blockages, then sampling reliability is improved, but air may be sucked during sampling
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large sampling hole, the system uses multiple smaller sampling holes. The total cross-sectional area of multiple small holes can equal or exceed that of a single large hole, maintaining sampling flow capacity while reducing the risk of air suction and blockages.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sampling surface have sampling holes with optimized local characteristics. The distribution pattern and size of each hole can be tailored to local flow conditions, ensuring reliable liquid intake while minimizing air suction in different operational scenarios.
3Reliability
If empty intestine is performed before sampling to reduce residues, then blockage risk is reduced, but composition of intestinal liquid may be destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule performs preliminary detection of the intestinal environment (including liquid presence and characteristics) before initiating sampling. This preliminary action allows the system to identify suitable sampling locations and timing without requiring complete intestinal emptying, thus preserving liquid composition while reducing blockage risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-hole sampling structure enables the system to self-adjust to varying intestinal conditions. If some holes are blocked by residues, liquid can still enter through other holes, allowing sampling to proceed without preliminary intestinal emptying and preserving the natural composition of intestinal liquid.
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 design significantly reduces sampling failure rates by preventing blockages and ensuring liquid collection, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of sample collection for diagnosis.
Implementation Method 1
a gap provided between the plurality of sampling holes and the inlet of the connecting passage, through which the plurality of sampling holes are connected to the connecting passage
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic component to adjust the capsule's posture
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a gastrointestinal sampling capsule includes an enclosure, a sampling port on the enclosure and a sampling module connected to the enclosure. The sampling port includes a plurality of sampling holes, and the sampling module includes a sample chamber and a sampling trigger unit which controls a connection or disconnection between the sampling port and the sample chamber to turn on sampling or turn off sampling. The gastrointestinal sampling capsule further includes a connecting passage arranged between the sample chamber and the sampling port, wherein an inlet of the connecting passage corresponds to the sampling port and an outlet of the connecting passage is connected to the sample chamber. A gap is provided between the plurality of sampling holes and the inlet of the connecting passage, through which the plurality of sampling holes are connected to the connecting passage.