Filtration Membrane Support Plate with Non-deformable Guide Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in microbiological testing is the formation of air bubbles between filtration membranes and cellulose pads during the transfer process, which hinders the effective reaction and marking of contaminants, leading to invalid test results if not properly aligned.
Innovation Solution
A support plate with non-deformable and elastically deformable members guides the membrane placement, ensuring it is aligned correctly to prevent air bubble formation, allowing only specific parallel and perpendicular movements to secure the membrane in place, facilitating the expulsion of air and ensuring proper contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the membrane is placed directly perpendicular onto the support plate, then the placement operation is simple, but air bubbles form between the membrane and cellulose pad preventing proper reaction
Solution Approach 1:
The non-deformable member projects above the plate surface in advance, creating a mechanical guide that forces the membrane to be placed parallel to the plate first before allowing perpendicular engagement. This preliminary parallel positioning action prevents air bubble formation from the outset while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-deformable member acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the membrane and the plate. It mediates the placement process by providing a physical guide structure that enforces the correct parallel-then-perpendicular placement sequence, ensuring reliable contact between membrane and cellulose pad without air bubbles.
2Reliability
If the operator follows the dual-phase placement method, then air bubbles are expelled and test validity is ensured, but the operator must remember and correctly execute specific steps
Solution Approach 1:
The support plate with its projected non-deformable member performs the guidance function automatically. The mechanical structure itself enforces the correct placement sequence without requiring the operator to recall or consciously execute specific steps. The system serves itself by providing inherent mechanical guidance that makes correct placement intuitive and automatic.
Solution Approach 2:
The cognitive burden of remembering placement steps is extracted from the operator and transferred to the mechanical design of the support plate. The non-deformable member embodies the placement instructions in physical form, removing the need for operator memory or complex procedural knowledge while maintaining test validity.
3Device complexity
If the membrane is placed without guidance means, then the device structure is simple, but correct positioning cannot be ensured and air bubbles form
Solution Approach 1:
The non-deformable member projects above the plate surface in advance, creating a mechanical guide that forces the membrane to be placed parallel to the plate first before allowing perpendicular engagement. This preliminary parallel positioning action prevents air bubble formation from the outset while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-deformable member acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the membrane and the plate. It mediates the placement process by providing a physical guide structure that enforces the correct parallel-then-perpendicular placement sequence, ensuring reliable contact between membrane and cellulose pad without air bubbles.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The present invention relates to an assembly formed from a planar rigid filtration membrane and generally flat plate (5) for accommodating and supporting this membrane (3), especially for the purpose of activating and/or revealing immobilized contaminants on said membrane, this support plate (5) having retention and immobilization means capable of cooperating with the periphery of the membrane (3), characterized in that said means comprise at least one non-deformable member (6) that projects from the general plane of said plate and which includes at least one stop tab (60), generally perpendicular to said plane (P), which is extended by a retaining appendage generally parallel to said plane, so that the engagement of said membrane (3) with said member (6) can take place only through a first movement (k) of the membrane substantially parallel to the plane (P) of the support followed by a second movement substantially perpendicular to said plane (P).