Keyed Caps Preventing Reagent Cross-Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current systems for loading reagents into electronic devices often result in incorrect port installation, leading to reagent wastage and potential cross-contamination, which requires additional steps like flushing or decontamination, causing inconvenience and time loss.
Innovation Solution
A keyed container system featuring a cap with annular rings and spaces that match specific keying elements on electronic devices, preventing incorrect installation by ensuring proper alignment and preventing the piercing member from accessing the septum if the keying elements do not match.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a needle or piercing member is used to pierce the cap of the container to withdraw fluid for testing, then the reagent can be accessed for testing and analysis, but incorrect port installation may lead to reagent wastage and potential cross-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing keying elements with specific asymmetric geometries (protrusions and corresponding recesses) that must match between the cap and the electronic device port. This asymmetric design ensures that only the correct cap can be installed in the correct port, preventing incorrect installation while maintaining ease of operation through a simple snap-fit mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces keying elements (protrusions and recesses) as intermediary features between the cap and the electronic device port. These intermediary keying features act as a mechanical mediator that ensures proper alignment and prevents incorrect installation, thereby improving reliability without complicating the overall installation process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional steps such as flushing or decontaminating the system are performed to address cross-contamination, then cross-contamination can be addressed, but time and resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by implementing keying elements that prevent incorrect port installation before cross-contamination can occur. The asymmetric keying features ensure that only the correct reagent container can be installed in the correct port, thereby preliminarily preventing the harmful effect of cross-contamination and eliminating the need for subsequent cleaning steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by designing the keying elements to ensure correct port installation before the reagent is accessed. The mechanical keying system performs the prevention function in advance, ensuring that only compatible containers can be installed, thereby eliminating the need for later decontamination procedures and saving time and resources.
3Reliability
If keying elements with annular rings and spaces are provided on the cap, then incorrect installation is prevented and cross-contamination is avoided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the keying element into distinct functional segments: protrusions that extend from the cap surface and define spaces, and corresponding recesses in the electronic device port. This segmentation allows for simple manufacturing while ensuring reliable mechanical interlocking and correct port installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing the keying elements to serve multiple functions simultaneously: the annular rings provide both the protrusion geometry for mechanical interlocking and define the spaces that ensure proper alignment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate features, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1A~5A
Figure 1B~3
Figure 4A~5C
AI summary
In some aspects, a keyed cap for a container is provided. Furthermore, in some aspects, a keyed container device including a container and the keyed cap for the container is also provided. Still further, in some aspects, a keyed containing system including a container, keyed cap for the container, and an electronic device having a keying element that is adapted to mate or otherwise fit with a specific keying element on the keyed cap. If a keyed cap has a keying element that does not correctly correspond to a specific keying element on an electronic device, then the keyed cap will not properly mate with the keying element on the electronic device. For example, the two keying elements that do not match may not fit sufficiently far enough within each other to permit the piercing member on the electronic device to reach a septum on the cap.