Hollow Device Filter for Biological Sample Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating biological samples to isolate particles are inefficient, as they require high-speed centrifugation, manual liquid removal, and are prone to operator error, contamination, and particle damage, with subsequent analysis steps often requiring lower volumes than the obtained samples can provide.
Innovation Solution
A hollow device with a filter that separates particles from a liquid component, allowing the liquid to pass through while retaining particles, and a covering device to prevent further liquid outflow, facilitating efficient concentration and genetic amplification without high-speed centrifugation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-speed centrifugation is used to separate particles from liquid, then separation efficiency is improved, but particle damage increases and operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the high-speed centrifugation mechanical system with a filtration system using a filter. The filter physically separates particles from liquid through its porous structure without requiring high-speed rotation, thereby eliminating centrifugal forces that damage particles while maintaining effective separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a filter with specific pore sizes to separate particles from liquid. The porous structure allows liquid to pass through while retaining particles based on size exclusion, providing gentle separation that preserves particle integrity without the need for high-speed mechanical centrifugation.
2Reliability
If manual liquid removal is performed after centrifugation, then liquid separation is achieved, but operator dependency increases and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter performs liquid removal automatically based on the physical properties of the sample and filter material. Liquid passes through the filter pores by gravity or mild pressure without requiring manual intervention, making the system self-service and eliminating operator dependency for this critical separation step.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the liquid separation function from the centrifugation process and embeds it directly into the filter structure. The filter inherently performs liquid removal through its porous architecture, separating the liquid extraction function from complex mechanical operations and making it an intrinsic property of the filtration system.
3Productivity
If high-speed centrifugation is used for particle separation, then separation speed is improved, but particle stress increases leading to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the high-speed centrifugation mechanical system with a filtration system using a filter. The filter physically separates particles from liquid through its porous structure without requiring high-speed rotation, thereby eliminating centrifugal forces that damage particles while maintaining effective separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a filter with specific pore sizes to separate particles from liquid. The porous structure allows liquid to pass through while retaining particles based on size exclusion, providing gentle separation that preserves particle integrity without the need for high-speed mechanical centrifugation.
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 solution enables rapid, simple, and reproducible sample treatment, reducing the risk of contamination and particle damage, with improved efficiency in genetic amplification processes, achieving high success rates and reducing operator dependency.
Implementation Method 1
a filter (9), arranged in the area of the end (7) and separating the inner chamber (3) from the external environment, through which, in use, at least part of the liquid component (D) of the sample (B) can pass
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6~9
Figure 10~12
AI summary
Method for the treatment of a biological sample (B) comprising at least one cell (C) and a liquid component (D); according to the method, a force is applied to the sample (B) inserted in an inner chamber (3) of a hollow device (2) towards a filter (9) which has pores with diameters from 2nm to lum, so that at least part of the liquid component (D) passes through the filter (9) and the cell (C) remains in the inner chamber (3), thus obtaining a concentrated sample (A); the filter has a surface facing the inner chamber (3) of less than 12.6mm2.