Dosing Capillary Plasma Separation via Centrifugal Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for obtaining plasma from capillary blood samples are cumbersome and prone to contamination, requiring large sample volumes and manual handling that can lead to leakage, mixing of components, and dosage errors, making it difficult for laypeople to achieve precise measurements.
Innovation Solution
A dosing capillary with a constriction at one end is used for blood collection and centrifugation, allowing for precise separation and collection of a defined plasma volume without the need for manual pipetting, enabling safe, constant, and precise provision of plasma while maintaining purity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual pipetting is used to separate plasma from blood corpuscles, then plasma can be obtained, but contamination risk increases and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the necessary plasma volume directly from the capillary tube after centrifugation, eliminating the need for manual pipetting. The plasma is obtained by breaking the capillary at a predetermined point, which automatically separates the plasma from corpuscular components without human intervention, thus preventing contamination and maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The capillary tube is designed to perform multiple functions automatically: it collects blood, separates components via centrifugation, and provides precise plasma volume through predetermined breaking points. This self-service design eliminates manual handling steps that could introduce contamination or dosage errors.
2Quantity of substance
If large blood volumes are collected to ensure sufficient plasma, then plasma availability improves, but device complexity and user difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary tube is pre-designed with predetermined breaking points that automatically define the exact plasma volume needed. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual measurement and transfer of plasma, ensuring the correct volume is obtained without requiring users to collect excess blood or perform complex separation procedures.
3Ease of operation
If manual handling steps are used for plasma collection, then flexibility is maintained, but error frequency increases due to leakage and mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary tube is segmented into functional zones: a collection zone, a separation zone, and a plasma retention zone with predetermined breaking points. This segmentation allows the device to maintain operational simplicity while automatically preventing leakage and mixing errors through its structured design.
Solution Approach 2:
The predetermined breaking points act as intermediaries that automatically control plasma release. Instead of manual pipetting, the breaking points serve as mechanical mediators that precisely separate and deliver the required plasma volume, eliminating human error while maintaining ease of use.
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
This method significantly reduces the amount of blood required, eliminates manual separation steps, and ensures a constant and precise plasma volume, enhancing user-friendliness and reducing errors in sample collection and measurement.
Implementation Method 1
A dosing capillary with a constriction at one end is used for blood collection and centrifugation, allowing for precise separation and collection of a defined plasma volume
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 2D~2E
AI summary
A method is proposed for providing at least one defined volume of a target constituent (164) of a sample (134). The method comprises the following steps: - providing at least one metering capillary (110) having at least two openings (112, 114); - at least partly filling the metering capillary (110) with the sample (134); - carrying out a constituent separation for the at least partial separation of at least two constituents (150, 154) of the sample (134) inside the metering capillary (110); and - dividing the metering capillary (110) into at least two partial pieces (160, 162), wherein one of the partial pieces (160) contains the defined volume of the target constituent (164).