Cross-Member Media Holders for Contamination-Resistant Sample Preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for preparing samples on porous media are prone to cross contamination and inaccuracies due to manual handling, leading to potential movement and falling of samples, which compromises the validity of test events.
Innovation Solution
A media holder with a base and upwardly extending walls, featuring transverse members with receiving slots and projections, designed to securely hold sampling media during sample preparation, preventing contamination and ensuring accurate sample deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual handling methods are used for sample preparation on porous media, then operational flexibility is maintained, but cross contamination and sample movement occur leading to inaccurate sample deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a media holder as an intermediary device between the handler and the porous media sample. The holder includes a base with upwardly extending walls that define a containment space, and transverse members with receiving slots that securely hold the porous media. This intermediary structure prevents direct manual contact with the sample, eliminating cross contamination while maintaining operational ease through a simple holder design.
Solution Approach 2:
The media holder is segmented into distinct functional components: a base structure with walls for containment, transverse members for support, and receiving slots for sample placement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the walls prevent lateral movement, the transverse members provide structural support, and the receiving slots enable precise sample positioning - collectively improving deposition accuracy without complicating operation.
2Reliability
If improvised holding methods are used during sample preparation, then device complexity is reduced, but sample integrity is compromised due to movement and falling
Solution Approach 1:
The holder structure is divided into modular segments: a base with walls forming a containment space, and separate transverse members that can be positioned at different heights. This segmentation provides reliable sample support at multiple levels while keeping each individual component simple in design, avoiding the need for a single complex monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse members act as intermediary support elements between the base and the porous media sample. They provide additional support points that prevent sample movement and falling during preparation, enhancing reliability without requiring the entire holder structure to be overly complex.
3Reliability
If samples are held without proper containment during drop cast crystallization, then ease of operation is improved, but cross contamination occurs impacting test validity
Solution Approach 1:
The media holder serves as an intermediary containment device that isolates the porous media sample from the surrounding environment during drop cast crystallization. The walls and transverse members create a controlled space that prevents cross contamination from external sources while maintaining simple operation - the sample is simply placed in the holder and processed without complex handling procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A media holder can be used for preparing samples. The media holder can comprise a base, a pair of walls extending upwardly from the base, and a plurality of transverse members positioned on and coupled to a respective upper end of each of the walls. Each of the transverse members can define a receiving slot for receiving at least a portion of a media therein.