Extraction Container Frangible Lid for Biohazard Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extraction containers for biological samples pose challenges in preventing contamination and ensuring rapid, cost-effective manufacturing, especially during disease outbreaks, as they often fail to securely contain biohazards and are not easily scalable for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a tubular container with a removable seal and a lid secured via a frangible connection, allowing for heating of the sample mixture to lyse pathogens, while maintaining containment through a filter and resealable cap, facilitating safe handling and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealed container is used to contain biohazard samples, then user safety and contamination prevention are improved, but the ability to heat the sample for lysis is compromised due to pressure buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into two functional segments: a sealed tubular body for containment and a separate lid with a frangible connection for controlled opening. This segmentation allows the container to maintain sealing during heating while providing a dedicated release mechanism when heating is complete, resolving the contradiction between containment and heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is designed with a frangible connection that transitions from a sealed state during heating to an open state after heating. This dynamic design allows the container to adapt its sealing property based on the operational phase, maintaining reliability during heating while enabling temperature increase when needed.
2Reliability
If a secure seal is used to prevent leakage during heating, then containment is improved, but the ease of accessing the sample for analysis is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible connection is pre-designed as a weak link that breaks automatically or easily when the lid is pulled after heating. This preliminary design ensures that the seal remains secure during heating but becomes easily accessible for sample removal, resolving the contradiction between containment security and operational ease.
3Reliability
If a complex sealing mechanism is used to prevent biohazard leakage, then containment reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lid with frangible connection is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and disposed of after use. This approach prioritizes reliability through a straightforward sealing design rather than complex mechanisms, reducing manufacturing cost and complexity while maintaining effective biohazard containment.
Data Source
AI summary
An extraction container includes a molded tubular body having openings at opposing first and second end thereof. A base cap is configured to obstruct a base opening disposed at the base of the tubular body. The base cap is integrally molded with the tubular body and connected thereto by a frangible connection. The base cap can be removed by breaking the frangible connection to de-obstruct the second opening. The first base cap and tubular body include integrally molded engagement features to permit the base cap to be reattached to the tubular body to re-obstruct the base opening. A removable foil or polymer seal obstructs a top opening disposed at the top end of the tubular body. A top cap and hinge are integrally molded with the tubular body and configured to re-obstruct the top opening following removal of the seal.