Partitioned Frozen Storage Container for Aseptic Sample Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing frozen storage containers for biological samples and drugs face contamination risks due to liquid nitrogen infiltration and external bacteria/virus entry during sealing and unsealing processes, respectively.
Innovation Solution
A frozen storage container design featuring a partitioned internal space with a liquid-tightly sealed second space that prevents nitrogen infiltration and uses a separate, weldable partition wall to minimize contamination, along with a needle member for aseptic sample retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a screw cap type container is used for frozen storage, then the container can be easily opened and closed, but liquid nitrogen infiltrates through the gap between the container and cap causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into two separate spaces: a first space for liquid nitrogen storage and a second space for sample storage, separated by a partition wall. This segmentation prevents liquid nitrogen from contacting the sample while maintaining easy access to the sample through the first space opening.
Solution Approach 2:
A partition wall acts as an intermediary barrier between the liquid nitrogen (first space) and the biological sample (second space). This partition wall prevents direct contact and contamination while allowing the container to remain easily openable and closable.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the container is sealed by welding to prevent liquid nitrogen infiltration, then contamination is reduced, but the container cannot be easily opened for sample retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into a first space (sealed by welding for liquid nitrogen) and a second space (accessible for sample retrieval). The partition wall creates this segmentation, allowing the sealed portion to prevent contamination while the accessible portion enables easy sample retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The sample retrieval function is extracted from the sealed portion and placed in the accessible first space. Users can retrieve samples through the opening in the first space without needing to open or compromise the welded seal that prevents contamination.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the entire container is sealed to prevent contamination, then sample purity is maintained, but handling and sample extraction become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a sealed first space for liquid nitrogen and an accessible second space for samples. This segmentation maintains sample purity through the welded seal while enabling easy sample extraction through the partition wall opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall with its opening serves as an intermediary that allows sample extraction without compromising the sealed environment. The opening in the partition wall provides a controlled access point that maintains overall sample purity while enabling necessary sample retrieval operations.
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 contamination by ensuring liquid nitrogen does not enter the storage space and reduces external contamination during unsealing, while allowing for easy and aseptic sample removal.
Implementation Method 1
the first space is liquid-tightly sealed and the second space has an opening which is in communication with the outside
Implementation Method 2
the second space is liquid-tightly sealable by welding the container body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(A)~2(B)
Figure 3
AI summary
There is provided means with which, during frozen storage of a biological sample or a drug, the biological sample or drug stored inside a frozen storage container is not susceptible to contamination. [Subject] A frozen storage container 10 includes a container body 11 with an internal space 13, and a partition wall 12 which divides the internal space 13 of the container body 11 at least into a first space 14 and a second space 15. In the container body 11, the first space 14 is liquid-tightly sealed, the second space 15 has an opening 22 which is in communication with the outside, and the second space 15 is liquid-tightly sealable by welding the container body 11. A frozen storage container system 40 includes the frozen storage container 10; and a needle member 41 which includes a needle tip portion 42 capable of being inserted into the internal space 13 of the container body 11 and capable of piercing the partition wall 12, and has a flow path which is opened at the needle tip portion 42 and is opened at a base end portion 43 opposite to the needle tip portion 42.