Liquid Testing Device with Gravity-Driven Chamber Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test devices for microbiological and chemical analysis of liquids face challenges in preventing cross-contamination between secondary chambers, especially when the volume of the primary chamber is significantly larger, and require complex mechanisms or intermediate transfer steps, which complicates the testing process and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A test device with a primary chamber and multiple secondary chambers that can be moved between positions to prevent gravitational flow from the primary to the secondary chambers, utilizing absorbent material to retain liquid in secondary chambers and a drip management system to direct any drips back to the primary chamber, ensuring functional isolation and simplifying the testing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex sealing mechanisms are used to prevent cross-contamination between secondary chambers, then cross-contamination prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sealing mechanisms with a gravity-based liquid retention system. By positioning secondary chambers above the primary chamber and using absorbent material, the system eliminates the need for complex seals while preventing cross-contamination through gravitational flow control and absorbent retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and position parameters of the liquid and chambers. By inverting the device so secondary chambers are above the primary chamber, and using absorbent material to alter liquid retention characteristics, the system achieves contamination prevention without mechanical seals.
2Manufacturing precision
If intermediate transfer steps are used to distribute liquid to secondary chambers, then liquid distribution accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates absorbent material in advance within the secondary chambers. This preliminary preparation allows liquid to be automatically retained when the device is inverted, eliminating the need for intermediate transfer steps while maintaining accurate distribution through gravity-driven flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a dynamic positioning system where the device is inverted to distribute liquid and then returned to normal orientation to retain liquid. This dynamic approach simplifies operation by using gravity and absorbent material rather than complex transfer mechanisms.
3Productivity
If multiple secondary chambers are used for parallel testing, then productivity is improved, but cross-contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the testing system into multiple independent secondary chambers that can be populated simultaneously from the primary chamber. Each chamber functions independently with its own absorbent material, enabling parallel testing while maintaining functional isolation through the gravity-based retention system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of liquid leakage between chambers into a benefit by using absorbent material that actively retains liquid in each secondary chamber. The absorbent material transforms the risk of cross-contamination into a reliable liquid retention mechanism.
4Productivity
If the primary chamber volume is made much larger than secondary chambers, then sample collection efficiency is improved, but contamination from secondary to primary chamber becomes more significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional chamber arrangement by positioning secondary chambers above the primary chamber. This inversion, combined with absorbent material in secondary chambers, ensures that even if contamination occurs, it flows into the larger primary chamber where it has minimal impact on the overall sample volume and test results.
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 effectively prevents cross-contamination between secondary chambers, allows for in situ assays, and simplifies the testing process by using absorbent material to retain liquid, reducing the need for complex mechanisms and intermediate transfer steps, while maintaining the accuracy of microbiological assays.
Implementation Method 1
the secondary chambers (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) are located above the primary chamber (10) such that the liquid in the primary chamber (10) is not able to flow under gravity from the primary chamber (10) to each of the secondary chambers (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
Implementation Method 2
in the first position the secondary chambers (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) are situated below the primary chamber (10) such that an aliquot of the initial liquid sample (40) flows under gravity from the primary chamber (10) to each of the secondary chambers (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1e
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An easy to usetest device for the testing of liquids comprising a primary chamber to receive an initial liquid sample and a multiplicity of secondary regions arranged to each receive an aliquot of the initial liquid sample from the primary chamber, wherein the test device is movable in use between two positions, a first position and a second position. The device is especially suitable for carrying out on-site microbial assays with a minimal requirement for user expertise and additional apparatus.The invention also provides related methods and apparatus.