Cord Blood Collection Device with Tapered Nozzle Steps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cord blood collection face issues such as sub-sampling errors, jeopardized sample viability due to lack of preservative agents, risk of blood splash and leakage, occupational hazards like needle stick injuries, and complexity in the collection process, which compromise sample quality and safety.
Innovation Solution
A cord blood collection device featuring a chamber in fluid communication with a tapered nozzle that securely engages with various collection containers, eliminating the need for needles and reducing blood spillage, with a textured internal surface for cord stabilization and a luer lock for secure connection, allowing direct funnelling of cord blood into appropriate containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a needle and syringe is used to withdraw cord blood directly from the umbilical artery/vein, then reliable cord blood acid-base analysis can be obtained, but the risk of needle stick injury and blood spillage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful needle component from the blood collection system while maintaining the ability to obtain reliable cord blood samples. The needleless design eliminates needle stick injuries and reduces blood spillage, yet the device still enables direct withdrawal of cord blood from the umbilical cord for accurate acid-base analysis through the collection tube with vacuum mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a intermediary collection tube system that mediates between the umbilical cord and the final sample container. The tube acts as a safe intermediary that receives blood directly from the cord without requiring needle insertion, thereby eliminating needle-related hazards while preserving sample integrity for acid-base analysis.
2Ease of operation
If the umbilical cord is wrapped around one hand and the other hand holds and inserts the needle to withdraw blood, then blood sample collection can be performed, but the complexity of the collection process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the blood collection function into a dedicated collection tube with integrated vacuum mechanism and one-way valve, separating these functions from the manual manipulation of needle and syringe. This segmentation simplifies the overall process by providing a self-contained collection system that requires minimal manual dexterity during the actual blood withdrawal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary action by pre-creating vacuum pressure within the collection tube before the blood collection process begins. The one-way valve is pre-positioned to automatically control blood flow direction. These preliminary preparations eliminate the need for complex real-time manual control during blood withdrawal, significantly simplifying the collection process.
3Quantity of substance
If a universal collection tube is used for cord blood collection, then blood can be collected, but sub-sampling errors and sample contamination occur during transfer to analysis tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal collection tube design that can directly receive cord blood from the umbilical cord and then transfer to various analysis tubes without manual intervention. The tube's universal compatibility with different analysis tube types eliminates sub-sampling errors and contamination risks while maintaining the ability to collect adequate blood volume for all required tests.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention ensures continuity of useful action by enabling direct, continuous blood flow from the umbilical cord into the collection tube and then directly into the analysis tube without interruption or manual transfer steps. This continuous process eliminates the discrete transfer step that causes sub-sampling errors and contamination, maintaining sample integrity throughout the entire collection and transfer sequence.
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 device ensures safe, efficient, and precise collection of cord blood, minimizing sample contamination, reducing occupational hazards, and maintaining sample integrity by providing a secure and versatile connection to different collection containers, thus addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a tapered nozzle (4) in fluid communication with the chamber, the tapered nozzle comprising a series of steps along its length, the series of steps configured to engage with a series of collection containers having different diameters
Implementation Method 2
The chamber (2) further comprises an open end (6a) adapted to receive a distal end of an umbilical cord
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A cord blood collection device (1), the device (1) comprising a chamber (2) in fluid communication with a tapered nozzle (4); and in which the tapered nozzle further comprises at least one step (20) along its length.