Concentric Vent and Collection Adaptor for Capped Vials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transferring fluid samples from a container to diagnostic instruments often result in sampling errors due to vacuum buildup in capped vials, leading to air contamination and improper sample measurement, and require aliquotting and uncapping, which increases biohazard exposure and sample loss.
Innovation Solution
A sample vial adaptor with a concentric arrangement of a vent tube and collection tube that allows air to equilibrate with atmospheric pressure, preventing vacuum buildup and enabling direct sampling from a capped vial, reducing cross-contamination and biohazard exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a capped airtight sample vial is used for blood sample collection, then biohazard exposure and sample cross-contamination are reduced, but vacuum buildup during aspiration causes sampling errors and improper sample measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor divides the sealed vial system into two independent pathways: a sample pathway for fluid aspiration and a vent pathway for pressure equalization. This segmentation allows the vial to remain capped and sealed while enabling proper sample aspiration without vacuum buildup.
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptor acts as an intermediary device between the sealed vial and the diagnostic instrument. It provides the vent pathway that mediates pressure equalization, allowing the vial to remain sealed while preventing sampling errors caused by vacuum buildup.
2Reliability
If the sample vial is uncapped for sampling, then proper sample aspiration is achieved, but operator exposure to biohazardous material and sample cross-contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor serves as an intermediary that allows sample aspiration to occur through the sealed cap without requiring the operator to unc cap the vial. The vent pathway enables pressure equalization while the sample pathway allows proper fluid aspiration, all while keeping the vial sealed and protecting the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical action of uncapping and manual aliquotting with an automated aspiration system that pierces the cap and aspirates sample through the adaptor's controlled pathways, reducing operator exposure and error.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum buildup is allowed in the vial during sampling, then the vial remains sealed, but air rushes into the sample pathway causing sampling errors
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor segments the pressure management function from the sample aspiration function by providing separate vent and sample pathways. This allows vacuum buildup to be prevented through the vent pathway while maintaining sample integrity through the sealed sample pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent pathway acts as an intermediary that provides an alternative route for air to enter the vial, preventing the rush of air into the sample pathway that would cause sampling errors. This mediator pathway maintains pressure equilibrium without compromising sample integrity.
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
The adaptor ensures accurate and complete sample transfer without triggering errors, minimizing biohazard exposure and sample loss by allowing unrestricted flow into the diagnostic instrument, while maintaining the vial sealed.
Implementation Method 1
allows air to equilibrate with atmospheric pressure, preventing vacuum buildup
Implementation Method 2
enabling direct sampling from a capped vial, reducing cross-contamination and biohazard exposure
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates generally to a sample vial adaptor for interfacing a sample vial with the sample port of a diagnostic instrument, in particular a sample vial containing a patient body fluid sample with the sample port and sample pathway of a multi-use diagnostic instrument. Embodiments of the sample vial adaptor according to the invention generally include a short exterior vent tube having one end in communication with a chamber having a vent, an interior collection tube that is longer than the short exterior vent tube, axially positioned in the lumen of the short exterior vent tube and extending to a capillary outlet that is located on the portion of the inner collection tube that is outside of the short exterior vent tube and outside the vented chamber.