Movable Response Portions for Hygienic Liquid Specimen Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual testing of liquid specimens, such as urine, is unpleasant and unhygienic due to the need for manual submersion and excess liquid removal, which can lead to exposure and inaccurate results.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a test container and movable response portions that automatically contact and retract from the liquid specimen, using a plunger-like mover mechanism and a collection container to minimize exposure and excess liquid, along with a scraper or sponge remover to handle excess specimen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual dip stick testing is used, then the testing procedure is simple, but operator exposure to liquid specimen increases and hygiene deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A movable response portion assembly acts as an intermediary between the operator and the liquid specimen. The response portions are contained within a test container and are moved into contact with the specimen through a collection container, preventing direct operator exposure to the specimen while still enabling testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The response portions are extracted from direct manual handling and placed inside a test container with a collection container system. This extracts the harmful exposure aspect from the testing process while maintaining the testing function.
2Reliability
If response portions are fully submerged in liquid specimen, then testing contact is sufficient, but excess liquid saturation occurs leading to inaccurate results
Solution Approach 1:
The response portions are made movable rather than stationary, allowing them to be dynamically adjusted during the testing process. They can be moved into contact with the specimen, held for the required testing duration, and then retracted to prevent over-saturation, optimizing both contact sufficiency and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing process uses periodic action where the response portions are moved into the specimen, held for a specific duration, and then retracted. This periodic immersion prevents continuous saturation while ensuring adequate contact time for accurate testing.
3Ease of operation
If manual scraping and blotting are used to remove excess liquid, then the process is complete, but the procedure becomes unpleasant and unhygienic
Solution Approach 1:
The collection container acts as an intermediary that receives and contains the liquid specimen and excess liquid. The response portions are moved through the collection container rather than being manually handled, eliminating the need for operator scraping and blotting while maintaining complete excess liquid removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically managing the response portions through the collection container. The mover means automatically moves the response portions into and out of the specimen, eliminating manual scraping and blotting operations that cause hygiene issues.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus (2) for testing a liquid specimen (4), which apparatus (2) comprises; (i) a test container (6); (if) a plurality of response portions (8) which are positioned in the test container (6) and which enable the testing of the liquid specimen consequent upon contact with the liquid specimen (4); and (Hi) mover means (10) for moving the response portions (8) out of the test container (6) for contact with the liquid specimen (4), and for moving the response portions (8) back into the test container (6) after the contact with the liquid specimen (4) and for the testing of the liquid specimen (4).