Ionizing Piercing Spike for Gel Card Membrane Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical analysis instruments face challenges in rapidly and effectively conditioning gel cards with sealed membranes, as they require both piercing of the membrane and removal of electrostatic charges to prevent liquid splashes and ensure controlled chemical reactions, which are typically performed sequentially and less efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A system incorporating a single ionizing device with piercing capabilities that generates alternating ions to remove electrostatic charges and pierce the membrane simultaneously, allowing for more rapid and effective conditioning of gel cards by aligning the ionizing device with the receptacle axis and using a piercing spike with ionizing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sequential piercing and ionization operations are performed, then each operation can be performed with dedicated means, but the conditioning time of gel cards increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the piercing function and ionization function into a single integrated device. The piercing member is equipped with ionizing properties, allowing it to simultaneously pierce the sealing membrane and remove electrostatic charges from the gel card well during a single operation. This merging of functions eliminates the need for sequential operations and dedicated separate means for each function, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The piercing member is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a mechanical piercing tool and as an ionization device. By endowing the piercing member with ionizing capabilities, the system achieves universal functionality where a single component performs multiple essential tasks: membrane penetration and electrostatic charge removal. This multi-functionality directly addresses the contradiction by enabling rapid conditioning without sacrificing operational effectiveness.
2Reliability
If separate piercing means and ionization means are used, then each function can be optimized independently, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the piercing means and ionization means into a single integrated component. The piercing member incorporates ionizing properties, allowing it to perform both piercing and ionization functions. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining the effectiveness of both functions through the unified design of the piercing member.
3Productivity
If electrostatic charges are not removed, then liquid dispensing is simpler, but liquid splashes occur and dose accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by removing electrostatic charges from the gel card well before liquid dispensing occurs. The ionizing device is activated prior to or during the piercing operation to neutralize electrostatic charges on the well surface. This preliminary ionization prevents liquid splashes and ensures accurate dosing during subsequent liquid dispensing operations, while the integration into the piercing device maintains operational simplicity.
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
This approach enables faster and more effective piercing and ionization of gel card wells, reducing liquid splashes and ensuring precise control over chemical reactions by removing electrostatic charges during the piercing process, thus facilitating better air gap formation and reaction initiation.
Implementation Method 1
the ionizing device is adapted to generate a flow of ions of alternately positive and negative charge, this flow of ions being transmitted to the receptacle by ambient air
Implementation Method 2
a piercing member configured to puncture the sealing membrane
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a piercing system for piercing at least one sealing membrane (18) closing off at least one cavity (14) of a receptacle, said system including a piercing member (110) configured to puncture the sealing membrane (18) and an ionizing device for removing the electrostatic charges that might be carried by said cavity (14). In accordance with the invention, said ionizing device comprises the piercing member (110) that is adapted to present ionizing properties. The invention also provides a method of piercing at least one sealing membrane (18) closing off at least one cavity (14) of a receptacle, said method comprising piercing the sealing membrane (18) in order to open up said cavity (14), and removing the electrostatic charges that might be carried by said cavity (14), wherein the sealing membrane (18) is pierced and the electrostatic charges is removed by a piercing member (110) adapted to present ionizing properties.