Nested Tube Liquid Holding Assembly for Diagnostic Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The spread of pandemics like COVID-19 and migration to exurban areas pose challenges in obtaining biological samples for diagnostic testing, especially in isolated populations where facilities for rapid, efficient, and safe testing are lacking.
Innovation Solution
A liquid holding assembly comprising a first tube and a second tube, where the second tube is designed to hold a sponge that absorbs a liquid, which is then compressed to release the liquid into the second tube, where it contacts a test strip for diagnostic purposes, ensuring safe and efficient sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sponge is used to absorb and hold liquid for diagnostic testing, then the liquid can be easily obtained and transported, but the liquid may leak or pass into surrounding areas during compression
Solution Approach 1:
The sponge is placed inside the second tube, which is then inserted into the first tube. This nested structure contains the sponge and its liquid within the tubes, preventing leakage to the external environment while allowing easy collection and transport of the biological sample.
Solution Approach 2:
The first longitudinal wall acts as an intermediary barrier between the compressed sponge and the external environment. When the sponge is compressed between the first bottom end and second bottom end, the liquid is contained within the sealed space created by the first longitudinal wall, preventing harmful leakage while allowing the diagnostic function to proceed.
2Reliability
If the second tube is tightly fitted against the first longitudinal wall to prevent liquid passage, then liquid containment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate tubes (first tube and second tube) with distinct functions. The first tube provides containment and compression, while the second tube holds the sponge and facilitates liquid transfer. This segmentation allows each component to be simple in structure while achieving reliable liquid containment through their coordinated arrangement.
3Productivity
If the sponge is compressed to release liquid for testing, then the diagnostic function is enabled, but there is a risk of spreading pandemic through sample handling
Solution Approach 1:
The nested tube structure allows the entire sample handling process to be contained within a sealed system. The sponge with absorbed biological sample is compressed within the tubes, and the liquid is released into a controlled environment within the second tube, minimizing exposure risk to handlers and enabling efficient diagnostic testing without increasing pandemic spread risk.
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 solution enhances the efficiency and safety of diagnostic testing by allowing for the use of easily obtained biological samples, minimizing the risk of pandemic spread, and facilitating testing in resource-constrained exurban locations.
Implementation Method 1
The sponge is configured to absorb a liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid holding assembly, comprising a first tube and a second tube. The first tube has a first longitudinal wall extending between a closed first bottom end and a first top end. The second tube is configured to be inserted in the first tube, and a second longitudinal wall extending between a closed second bottom end and a second top end, the second bottom end having a perforation and comprising a holding unit configured to hold a sponge below the second bottom end. The second tube is configured to be inserted into the first tube to compress the sponge between the first bottom end and the second bottom end, to cause the sponge to release a liquid absorbed therein. A tight fit between the first longitudinal wall and the second bottom end is configured to force the released liquid to travel into the second tube via the perforation.