Cartridge Piercing Assembly for Reusable Cleaning and Contamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated molecular diagnostics instruments face high equipment costs and environmental pollution due to the use of disposable piercing members that cannot be reused, leading to cross-contamination and increased medical waste.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge preprocessing system with a reusable piercing member, comprising a piercing device, cleaning device, and transmission device, which allows the piercing member to alternate between piercing and cleaning stations, ensuring thorough cleaning and reusability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable piercing members are used to pierce the barrier film, then cross-contamination is avoided, but equipment cost increases and medical waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing member is designed to be reusable through a recovery process. After piercing the barrier film, the piercing member is withdrawn and cleaned by a cleaning needle that removes reagent residues. The piercing member is then disinfected and prepared for the next use, thereby recovering the piercing member instead of discarding it after single use.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning function is extracted as a separate component (cleaning needle) that removes contaminants from the piercing member. The cleaning needle is inserted through the piercing member to clean its inner cavity, separating the cleaning function from the piercing function and enabling the piercing member to be reused.
2Reliability
If disposable piercing members are used, then cross-contamination is prevented, but equipment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing member is designed to be reusable through a recovery process. After piercing the barrier film, the piercing member is withdrawn and cleaned by a cleaning needle that removes reagent residues. The piercing member is then disinfected and prepared for the next use, thereby recovering the piercing member instead of discarding it after single use.
Solution Approach 2:
The piercing member serves multiple functions: it pierces the barrier film, maintains a sealed connection during reagent transfer, and can be cleaned and reused. The cleaning needle adds a cleaning function to the system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for disposable components.
3Loss of substance
If a reusable piercing member is implemented, then consumable use is reduced, but cleaning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is extracted as a separate component (cleaning needle) that removes contaminants from the piercing member. The cleaning needle is inserted through the piercing member to clean its inner cavity, separating the cleaning function from the piercing function and enabling the piercing member to be reused.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning needle acts as an intermediary tool that facilitates the cleaning of the piercing member. It is inserted through the piercing member to deliver cleaning solution and remove residues, serving as a mediator between the cleaning system and the piercing member.
4Reliability
If the piercing member remains in the cartridge after piercing, then connection is maintained, but reagent mixing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing member is designed to be dynamic rather than static. It is inserted to pierce the barrier film and maintain connection, but then it is withdrawn after the piercing is complete. This dynamic movement ensures both stable connection during the critical piercing phase and prevention of reagent mixing in the subsequent phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation is segmented into distinct phases: insertion phase for piercing, connection phase for sealed transfer, and withdrawal phase for preventing contamination. The piercing member performs different functions in different phases, being inserted for piercing and then withdrawn to prevent reagent mixing.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cartridge preprocessing system for use in an automated molecular diagnostics instrument, comprising a piercing apparatus and a cleaning apparatus, the piercing apparatus comprising a drive assembly and a piercing device, and the drive assembly controlling the piercing device to alternately move to a piercing station and a cleaning station. When the cartridge moves to the piercing station, the piercing device pierces a barrier film of the cartridge, and when the piercing device moves to the cleaning station, the cleaning apparatus cleans the piercing device. The cartridge preprocessing system for use in an automated molecular diagnostics instrument provided in the present application uses the cleaning apparatus to clean the piercing device so that the piercing device can be reused, reducing the use of consumables, reducing user costs, and being more environmentally friendly.