Elastic Separating Element for Blood Phase Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording devices for separating blood into its lighter and heavier phases are either expensive to produce or do not ensure reliable separation over a longer storage period, often requiring multiple components and not preventing phase adhesion effectively.
Innovation Solution
A recording device with a spherical, elastically deformable separating element positioned at the bottom of a tubular receptacle, made from a self-closing material that maintains a defined position during filling and separation, preventing phase adhesion and allowing for efficient separation without additional components, ensuring a secure and permanent separation of phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separating element is inserted into the open end of the receptacle after filling, then the separation function is achieved, but the device complexity increases and production cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The separating element is pre-positioned at the bottom of the receptacle before filling, rather than being inserted after filling. This preliminary positioning simplifies the overall device structure by eliminating the need for post-filling insertion mechanisms, while ensuring the separating element is already in its functional position when separation occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of inserting the separating element from the open end after filling (conventional approach), the invention inverts the sequence by positioning the separating element at the bottom beforehand. This inversion simplifies the device design and reduces complexity while maintaining the separation function.
2Reliability
If the separating element is held on the sealing plug, then the separation function is achieved, but additional components are required increasing production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the sealing plug component from the design. By positioning the separating element directly at the bottom of the receptacle, the need for a separate sealing plug is removed, simplifying manufacturing and reducing production costs while maintaining the separation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of the sealing plug and the separating element positioning are merged into a single integrated design. The separating element is directly positioned at the bottom without requiring a separate sealing plug component, combining multiple functions into one simpler structure.
3Ease of operation
If the separating element is inserted after filling, then the filling process is simplified, but the separation reliability over longer storage period is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The separating element is pre-positioned at the bottom before filling occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that the separating element is already in place to maintain phase separation reliability over extended storage periods, while the filling process remains simple by proceeding directly into the receptacle.
Solution Approach 2:
The separating element is positioned beforehand to cushion or prevent potential adhesion issues that might occur during storage. By having the separating element in place before filling and during subsequent storage, the system pre-prevents potential separation failures that could occur with delayed insertion.
4Reliability
If a spherical separating element is used, then phase adhesion is prevented, but the element may interfere with the filling process
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical separating element is pre-positioned at the bottom before filling. Its spherical shape prevents phase adhesion during separation, and by being in place beforehand, it is positioned to minimize interference with the filling process, allowing smooth operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The separating element has a spherical shape with curved surfaces that prevent adhesion of phases during separation. The spherical geometry ensures that phases do not stick to the separating element, maintaining reliable separation while the pre-positioning at the bottom minimizes filling interference.
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 achieves reliable and permanent separation of blood phases with reduced production costs, maintaining separation integrity over a longer storage period and preventing contamination by ensuring the separating element does not interfere with the filling process and remains securely positioned during transport and separation.
Implementation Method 1
During the centrifugation process, the separating element is adjusted starting from the open end towards the end closed with the bottom. After the centrifugation process has ended, the separating element is arranged between the two phases of the mixture to be separated and separates them from each other.
Implementation Method 2
A separating element with a density that lies between the phases to be separated... separates a mixture, in particular blood, into its lighter phase with a lower density and its heavier phase with a greater density
Implementation Method 3
A separating element which is designed entirely from an elastically deformable material... In its undeformed initial shape, the separating element has a predominantly spherical spatial shape... the separating element is held positioned on the inner surface of the side wall in a prestressed standby position
Data Source
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AI summary
The application relates to a receptacle device (1) for separating a mixture (2) into a lighter phase (3) and a heavier phase (4), which comprises a receptacle (5) having an open end (7) and an end (8) closed by a bottom (9), wherein the open end is closed by a removable closure unit (15). A separating element (14) made of an elastically deformable material is arranged in a receptacle space (13), wherein the separating element in the non-deformed initial state thereof has a spherical shape and is arranged in the region of the bottom (9) and contacts an inner surface (11) of a side wall (10) in a contact plane (23) oriented perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis (6). An outer diameter (24) of the separating element is selected to be larger in the non-deformed initial state thereof than a cross-sectional dimension (25) of the receptacle space in the contact plane. The separating element is held positioned on the inner surface of the side wall in a pre-tensioned standby position. The invention further relates to a method for providing a receptacle device of this type and a method for separating a mixture into a lighter phase and a heavier phase.