Diagnostic Test Unit Leaf Spring Seal Moisture Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diagnostic test units for body fluids, such as blood and urine, face challenges in maintaining reagent preservation due to humidity exposure during storage, with prior solutions providing limited protection against moisture ingress.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic test unit featuring a chamber with a closing leaf spring sealed onto a face bordering the opening, creating an exit gap between the spring and a thermoplastic elastomer seal, allowing test tape or strips to exit while maintaining environmental shielding, utilizing a heat-seal coating and flexible materials to ensure effective sealing and moisture protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal and closing mechanism are used to prevent moisture ingress, then reagent preservation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane seal that forms a closing mechanism for the storage chamber. This membrane is capable of deflecting to allow test zone passage while maintaining the seal integrity to prevent moisture ingress. The flexible nature of the membrane simplifies the overall sealing mechanism compared to rigid multi-component systems, directly addressing the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a closing mechanism is applied to seal the chamber, then moisture protection is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closing mechanism utilizes a dynamic flexible membrane that can actively deflect during operation. When a test zone needs to pass through, the membrane deflects to accommodate it, then returns to its sealed position. This dynamic behavior allows the system to automatically adapt between sealed and open states without requiring manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between moisture protection and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane seal is designed to automatically deflect and return without external control mechanisms. The test zone itself triggers the deflection by applying force to the membrane, and the membrane's elastic properties cause it to return to the sealed position automatically. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional actuators or control systems, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring moisture protection.
3Reliability
If a rigid seal is used to prevent humidity ingress, then reagent preservation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid sealing structures with a flexible membrane that can dynamically adapt its shape. The membrane's flexibility allows it to deflect and accommodate test zones of varying sizes and shapes as they pass through the storage chamber, while still maintaining an effective seal against humidity when in the resting position. This directly resolves the contradiction between reagent preservation and adaptability.
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 solution effectively preserves test reagents by preventing moisture ingress, ensuring extended shelf life and reliable operation, particularly suitable for portable devices that require efficient tape or strip dispensing without compromising sealing integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a closing leaf spring sealed onto a face on the chamber bordering the opening
Implementation Method 2
a thermoplastic elastomer seal, the opening being shielded from an environment outside the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A diagnostic tester for analysing a body fluid includes a test tape having test zones configured to receive the body fluid. The tester further includes a chamber configured to contain the test tape and a seal. The tester further includes an opening of the chamber which is at least partially bordered by the seal. The tester further includes a face on the chamber that borders the opening, at least part of the face being formed by the seal. The tester further includes a closing leaf spring sealed onto the face, the closing leaf spring shielding the opening from an environment outside the chamber. The tester further includes an exit gap formed between the closing leaf spring and the seal through which the test tape is configured to exit the chamber.