Freeze-Drying Container Venting for Complete Solvent Sublimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Freeze-dried materials are fragile and difficult to handle, and existing methods for producing them in containers often result in insufficient drying due to incomplete solvent sublimation.

Innovation Solution

A container design with a bottom wall, side wall, and vents that support the fluid to be freeze-dried, preventing contact with the bottom wall and facilitating solvent removal through vents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a freeze-dried material is produced in a container by placing a reagent and freeze-drying it, then the material can be housed in the container, but the solvent may not satisfactorily sublimate resulting in insufficient drying

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying qualityVSAvoidprocess simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The container is segmented into functional zones: a bottom wall with vents for solvent removal, a support part to elevate the fluid, and a side wall. This segmentation allows the solvent sublimation path to be separated from the fluid containment space, enabling effective drying while maintaining process simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support part acts as an intermediary element between the fluid and the bottom wall. It elevates the fluid to create a gap that allows solvent vapor to escape through the vents in the bottom wall, mediating the drying process without requiring complex additional structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If freeze-dried materials are placed directly into a chamber, then they can be used in the microfluidic device, but they are very fragile and difficult to handle making placement difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling easeVSAvoidmaterial integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The freeze-dried material is prepared in advance within the container in a stable, protected state. The container structure with its support part and vents maintains the material's integrity during storage and transport, allowing easy handling and placement into the microfluidic device without risk of damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Promotes effective drying by allowing solvent sublimation from the lower portion of the fluid, resulting in a container that can house and produce freeze-dried materials efficiently.

Implementation Method 1

the solvent (for example, water) may not satisfactorily sublimate, resulting in insufficient drying

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSublimation: Sublimation

Data Source

PatentUS12529519B2Container, fluid handling device, and freeze-drying method

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 ENPLAS CORP

AI summary

A container of the present invention is for producing or housing a freeze-dried material. The container includes a bottom wall, a side wall, a support part for supporting a fluid to be freeze-dried in such a way that the fluid does not contact the bottom wall; and at least one vent disposed in the bottom wall or in at least a portion of the side wall located below the top of the support part.