Gas-Permeable Stopper Straw for UV Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing straws for preserving liquid-based substances, such as animal semen, lack a simple and economical means to distinguish themselves from conventional straws, complicating identification and management.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a gas-permeable, liquid-tight stopper in the straw that includes an optical brightening agent, which emits a distinct bluish hue under ultraviolet light, allowing easy discrimination from conventional straws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If no identifier component is added to the stopper, then the straw structure remains simple and economical, but the straw cannot be easily distinguished from conventional straws
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper incorporates an optical brightening agent that causes it to emit bluish light when illuminated by ultraviolet light. This color change property allows the straw to be easily distinguished from conventional straws under ultraviolet illumination while maintaining simplicity in normal visible light conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical brightening agent acts as an intermediary substance within the stopper that mediates between ultraviolet light illumination and visible light emission. It absorbs ultraviolet radiation and converts it to visible bluish light, enabling identification without adding complex electronic or mechanical identification systems.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If an identifier component is added to the stopper, then the straw can be easily distinguished from conventional straws, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex electronic identifiers, lights, or displays, the invention uses a simple optical brightening agent that causes the stopper to change its light emission properties under ultraviolet illumination. This chemical-optical approach is far simpler than electronic identification systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical brightening agent is incorporated directly into the disposable stopper material, allowing the identification function to be achieved at minimal cost and complexity. The agent is part of the standard stopper manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate identification components or systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the tube is made opaque to prevent contamination, then protection against contamination is improved, but the ability to visually inspect the straw contents is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The optical brightening agent in the stopper provides a visual identification mechanism that works through ultraviolet illumination rather than requiring the tube to be transparent. The bluish light emission under ultraviolet light allows verification of straw identity and integrity without needing to see through the tube walls.
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
Enables straightforward identification of the straw using a simple ultraviolet lamp, ensuring easy recognition and management without toxicity to spermatozoa.
Implementation Method 1
said stopper comprises an identifier component configured to emit, when it is illuminated with ultraviolet light, light of which the spectrum comprises at least one peak having a crest of predetermined wavelength in visible light
Data Source
AI summary
The straw comprises a tube (11) and a gas-permeable liquid-tight stopper (12), which stopper is disposed in the tube closer to one end (16) of the tube than another end (17) of the tube, which tube and which stopper are configured for the stopper to be able to slide in the tube towards the other end (17), said tube being transparent or translucent, said stopper comprising an identifier component (13) configured to emit, when it is illuminated with ultraviolet light, light of which the spectrum comprises at least one peak having a crest of predetermined wavelength in visible light, whereas when it is illuminated by visible light said identifier component does not emit said light of which the spectrum comprises said peak.