Movable Caddy Cup with Adulteration Panel for Specimen Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid specimen collection devices face challenges in ensuring accurate preliminary screening and preserving a separate aliquot for confirmatory testing, often requiring manual adjustment of fluid volume, which is time-consuming and prone to inaccuracy, and can lead to contamination or increased manufacturing costs due to complex designs.
Innovation Solution
A vessel with a lid-actuated movable caddy that translates between pre-test and post-test positions, allowing for controlled exposure of chromatographic test strips to the specimen, ensuring a consistent fluid volume for preliminary testing while preserving a separate volume for confirmatory testing, and incorporating an adulteration test panel with colored patches for detecting pH deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of fluid volume is performed to ensure accurate preliminary testing, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically controls the fluid volume for preliminary testing through its internal mechanism. When the lid is closed, it automatically drives the caddy to the test position, releasing a predetermined volume of fluid to the test strips without requiring manual adjustment by the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the state of the caddy from a stationary position to a movable position driven by lid closure. This mechanical parameter change automatically regulates the fluid volume released to the test strips, ensuring consistent and accurate testing volume without manual intervention.
2Reliability
If multiple separate specimens are taken for preliminary and confirmatory testing, then reliability is improved, but loss of time and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the single fluid specimen into two separate portions: one for preliminary testing on chromatographic strips and another for confirmatory testing. The caddy mechanism allows the test strips to contact only a portion of the fluid while preserving the rest in the cup for later use.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary separation of the fluid specimen automatically when the lid is closed. The caddy is driven to the test position, releasing a controlled amount of fluid to the strips while the remaining fluid is automatically separated and preserved in the cup for subsequent confirmatory testing.
3Reliability
If complex designs with frangible walls and additional components are used to control test initiation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and ease of manufacture deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lid serves multiple functions: it seals the cup, drives the caddy to the test position, and controls the release of fluid to the test strips. This single component performs what would otherwise require multiple separate mechanisms, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining reliable controlled test initiation.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid specimen collection, storage, transport, and testing cup contains a chromatographic strip-carrying caddy which moves between an initial position allowing a deposited liquid specimen to contact the test strips, and a second, sealed position where the strips are hermetically isolated from a remainder portion of the specimen stored for later confirmatory testing. The caddy is moved between the two positions by screwing a threaded lid onto the top opening of the cup. The axial range of the screw is limited by a removable obstruction collar. The caddy can include a liquid specimen containing chamber having a lower opening sealed by a frangible barrier. The strips can be loaded in a cartridge mountable to the caddy. An adulteration panel having a transparent adhesive backed fronting can secure adulteration patches to the caddy.