Pierceable Cap Single Frangible Seal Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing caps for biological and chemical specimens are prone to leakage and contamination during transport and analysis, leading to potential cross-contamination and false positives, especially in nucleic acid detection procedures, due to the risk of aerosolization and direct contact with harmful pathogens.
Innovation Solution
A pierceable cap design featuring a single frangible seal within a shell that forms a seal around the transfer device upon initial piercing but allows venting as the device is advanced, minimizing aerosol creation and contamination by incorporating weakened portions that tear during transfer, rather than initial piercing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a frangible layer (such as foil) covers the vessel opening to prevent leakage, then the seal integrity is improved, but contamination occurs by jetting droplets of the contents into the surrounding environment when pierced
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible layer is segmented into multiple frangible seals arranged radially around the access port, with each seal positioned at a different radial distance from the center. This segmentation allows the frangible seals to break sequentially during piercing, controlling the release of air and preventing droplet jetting while maintaining seal integrity before use.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the frangible layer have different properties - the frangible seals are positioned at specific radial distances with varying thicknesses and material compositions. The frangible seals closer to the center have different characteristics than those farther away, allowing controlled breaking patterns that prevent contamination while maintaining sealing.
2Ease of operation
If a sealed vessel is penetrated by a transfer device, then sample transfer is enabled, but the volume displacement releases portions of the sample into the surrounding air via aerosol or bubbles
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible seals are pre-positioned and pre-configured in the cap structure before use. When the transfer device pierces the cap, the frangible seals break in a predetermined sequence, allowing air to escape gradually before sample transfer begins. This preliminary action prevents pressure buildup and aerosol formation during the actual sample transfer operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible seals act as an intermediary mechanism between the sealed vessel interior and the external environment. They provide a controlled transition zone that allows air displacement without direct communication between the sample and external air, preventing aerosol formation while enabling necessary volume displacement for sample transfer.
3Reliability
If multiple frangible layers are used to prevent contamination, then the seal reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple frangible seals are merged into a single frangible layer structure rather than using separate layers. The frangible seals are integrated radially within the same material matrix, combining the contamination prevention function of multiple layers into a unified structure that maintains reliability while reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible layer structure serves multiple functions simultaneously - it provides sealing, controlled breaking, air displacement management, and contamination prevention all in one component. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving reliability.
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 cap effectively reduces contamination risks and maintains pipetting accuracy by allowing controlled venting during sample transfer, preventing aerosolization and maintaining a leak-proof seal during transport and storage.
Implementation Method 1
A frangible seal may be disposed within a cap for a vessel that maintains a leak proof or vapor-escape proof seal
Implementation Method 2
the seal is provided with weakened portions that tear, not upon the initial pierce, but as the transfer device is advanced through the seal
Implementation Method 3
Certain caps with only a frangible layer, such as foil, covering the vessel opening may cause contamination by jetting droplets of the contents of the vessel into the surrounding environment when pierced
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 1E~1G
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A pierceable cap 411 may be used for containing sample specimens during storage and transport. The pierceable cap 411 may prevent unwanted escape of sample specimen before transfer with a transfer device 43. The pierceable cap 411 may fit over a vessel 21. An access port in the pierceable cap 411 may allow passage of a tip 41 of a transfer device 43 through the pierceable cap 411. Single or multiple frangible layers 415,416 may be disposed across the access port. Single frangible layers 415,416 are configured to prevent venting upon initially being pierced by a transfer device 43 but to allow venting as the transfer device 43 is advanced through the frangible layer 415,416.