Filtration Head With Ring Holder For Cardboard Funnels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bioburden and sterility testing methods generate significant waste and ecological impact due to the use of single-use plastic funnels and the need for cleaning and decontamination of reusable funnels, which consume resources and pose environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A filtration head system that allows for the use of cardboard funnels, secured by a ring-shaped holder device applying a biasing force to prevent liquid leakage, reducing waste and environmental impact by enabling cardboard funnels to be easily collapsed, burned, or decomposed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If single-use plastic funnels are used, then ease of operation is improved, but waste volume and ecological impact worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by providing a funnel assembly that is discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for cleaning and decontamination of reusable funnels. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation through disposable convenience while reducing waste volume through optimized disposable design that can be easily disposed of after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by designing a disposable funnel assembly that is discarded after single use, eliminating the need for recovery and cleaning processes. This approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational ease while reducing the resource consumption and waste associated with reusable funnel cleaning and decontamination.
2Loss of substance
If reusable funnels are used, then waste volume is reduced, but use of energy and water worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle to eliminate the energy and water consumption associated with cleaning and decontaminating reusable funnels. By using disposable funnels, the system avoids the resource-intensive cleaning processes while maintaining operational efficiency, thus resolving the contradiction between waste volume reduction and energy consumption.
3Loss of substance
If reusable funnels are used, then waste volume is reduced, but loss of time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle to eliminate the time-consuming cleaning and decontamination processes required for reusable funnels. By using disposable funnels, the system achieves faster turnover between tests while maintaining reduced waste volume through optimized disposable design, thus resolving the contradiction between waste reduction and time loss.
4Loss of substance
If cardboard funnels are used, then waste volume and ecological impact are reduced, but reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining cardboard or paper funnel body with a flexible seal ring made of elastomeric material. This composite structure provides both the waste-reducing benefits of cardboard and the reliability needed for fluid-tight sealing, resolving the contradiction between waste volume reduction and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible seal ring made of elastomeric material that can be elastically deformed to engage with the funnel flange. This flexible element provides reliable fluid-tight sealing for cardboard funnels, resolving the contradiction between waste volume reduction through cardboard usage and the reliability required for effective filtration.
5Reliability
If a secure holder device is used to attach funnels, then reliability is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible seal ring that can be elastically deformed to engage with the funnel flange, providing reliable sealing through elastic deformation rather than complex mechanical structures. This resolves the contradiction by achieving reliability through material flexibility rather than device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic holder device that can be moved between open and closed positions to attach and detach funnels. This dynamic mechanism provides reliable attachment while maintaining operational simplicity, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and device complexity.
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 use of cardboard funnels significantly reduces waste volume and ecological impact by utilizing a holder device that ensures fluid tightness and easy disposal, while maintaining the efficiency of filtration processes.
Implementation Method 1
a ring-shaped element configured to extend about a bottom peripheral flange surrounding a lower end of the funnel and configured further to selectively apply a biasing force on a radially outward protruding portion of the bottom peripheral flange of the funnel to press the funnel against the base
Implementation Method 2
a filter element that may capture microorganisms of interest in the fluid sample and may be disposed adjacent the annular surface of the base. The filter element is accordingly arranged in the fluid flow path between the sample reservoir and the fluid port
Data Source
AI summary
Filtration head (1) for a filter system, comprising base (2) including filter support (3) for removable filter element (4) and a fluid path from one side of filter element (4) on filter support (3), through filter element (4), and to drainage outlet (5) of base (2), and holder device (6) for removably attaching funnel (7) to base (2) to form a sample fluid reservoir on one side of filter element (4), wherein holder device (6) comprises ring-shaped element (8) configured to extend about bottom peripheral flange (7a) surrounding a lower end of funnel (7) and to selectively apply a biasing force on a radially outward protruding portion (7b) of bottom peripheral flange (7a) of funnel (7) to press funnel (7) against base (2). The filtration head allows the use of cardboard funnels without risk of liquid leakage between the funnel and the base.