Biological Sample Grinding Unit with Precession and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grinding devices for biological samples often cause significant temperature increases during the grinding process, which can irreversibly alter sample characteristics like proteins, and are not adaptable to different tube volumes, affecting grinding efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A grinding device that supports tubes with varying volumes, optimized for a specific diameter-to-height (d/h) ratio between 0.55 and 1, with a precession movement mechanism and integrated cooling system to maintain sample integrity and efficacy across different tube sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-frequency curvilinear alternating movement is applied to grind samples, then grinding efficacy is improved, but sample temperature increases causing irreversible modification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary cooling to samples before grinding and implements a cooling system during grinding to counteract the temperature increase before it causes damage. This prevents the harmful thermal effect from occurring in the first place, allowing high-frequency grinding to proceed effectively while maintaining sample integrity.
2Reliability
If cooling means are added to maintain sample temperature, then sample integrity is preserved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible bell-shaped cover that can be folded back to provide access to the grinding chamber. This simple flexible component serves multiple functions: it seals the chamber for cooling, allows easy access for tube placement, and can be integrated with cooling channels. This approach maintains sample integrity through cooling while avoiding complex mechanical systems.
3Productivity
If the grinding device is designed for specific tube volumes, then grinding efficacy is maximized, but adaptability to different tube sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the support plate with multiple openings of different diameters that can accommodate various tube sizes. The bell-shaped cover and cooling system are designed to work universally with different tube volumes (1-5 ml, 5-10 ml, 10-20 ml). This universal design allows the same device to maximize grinding efficacy across multiple tube size categories without requiring separate specialized equipment for each volume.
4Ease of operation
If the bell cover is made foldable for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but structural stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a bell-shaped cover that can be folded back during operation to provide easy access to the grinding chamber for tube placement and removal. The folding mechanism is designed to maintain adequate structural stability when closed for grinding while enabling convenient access when opened. This dynamic design allows the cover to transition between stable enclosed state during grinding and accessible open state during loading/unloading.
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
Ensures maximum grinding efficacy while minimizing sample degradation and energy consumption, and allows easy mounting and securing of various tube sizes using a modular support system with adjustable locking mechanisms and thermal insulation for efficient cooling.
Implementation Method 1
the plates being ground against one another and the samples contained in the tubes being ground and homogenised by microbeads, for example glass or ceramic
Implementation Method 2
means for driving the support in a precession movement, the support having an axis the position of which varies by describing a cone
Implementation Method 3
means for cooling the tubes, comprising a bell fixed inside a foldable cover of the apparatus and means for bringing cold air inside the bell
Data Source
AI summary
A unit for grinding biological samples, comprising a grinding device including at least two tubes having different volumes, suitable for being mounted on a support of the grinding device, each tube comprising an inner space having a height (h) along the axis of the corresponding tube, and being intended to contain samples to be ground, means for driving the support in a precession movement, the support having an axis the position of which varies by describing a cone, each tube being subjected to a movement (d) defined by the projection, onto the axis of said cone, of the distance between the extreme positions of a same point of the tube during the precession movement.