Pneumatic Sample Feedway for MRI Sequential Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices lack an efficient and integrated method for transporting and managing biological tissue samples within their magnetic fields, particularly in terms of sequential sampling and maintaining sample integrity during measurement processes.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic sample feedway system comprising capsules and a conductor pipe connected to a compressed fluid source, with a catch lock device at the distal terminal that locks and unlocks the capsule train to ensure precise and sequential feeding of samples into the MRI device, utilizing mechanical, pneumatic, or electromagnetic drives for controlled displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pneumatic transport system is introduced for continuous sample feeding, then productivity and measurement efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases due to integration of capsules, pipes, and lock mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the sample transport function into separate components: capsules for sample containment, conductor pipes for transport, and catch lock devices for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to achieve continuous sample feeding, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The catch lock device serves multiple functions: it locks the capsule train during measurement, unlocks to enable displacement, and coordinates with the pneumatic system for continuous feeding. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If catch lock device is used to maintain capsule position during measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional locking and unlocking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The catch lock device merges the positioning and locking functions into a single integrated mechanism that works in coordination with the pneumatic transport system. This unified approach ensures capsule position stability during measurement while avoiding the need for separate, complex positioning and locking systems, thereby improving measurement precision without excessive complexity increase.
3Productivity
If pneumatic drive is used for capsule transport, then productivity is improved through continuous feeding, but use of energy increases due to compressed air requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic drive system maintains continuous capsule transport through the MRI device using compressed air. By keeping the pneumatic pressure continuously applied during the measurement cycle, the system achieves continuous sample feeding and improves productivity. The energy consumption is optimized by maintaining steady pressure rather than repeated acceleration cycles, balancing productivity improvement with energy efficiency.
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
Enables efficient, discreet, and sequential feeding of biological tissue samples into the MRI device, ensuring accurate measurements by maintaining sample integrity and optimizing the use of the magnetic field for continuous sampling processes.
Implementation Method 1
a conductor (drive) pipe connectable to a source of a compressed fluid. The pipe is configured for receiving a train of the capsules and pneumatically forwarding thereof into the MRI device
Implementation Method 2
a drive of the catch lock device selected from the group consisting of a mechanical drive, a pneumatic drive, an electromagnetic drive and any combination thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic sample feedway that is embeddable into a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device. The feedway includes: a plurality of capsules enclosing a biological tissue sample; and a conductor pipe connected to a source of a compressed fluid. The pipe receives a train of the capsules and pneumatically forwards the train into the MRI device. The pipe has a proximal terminal that loads the train of capsules into the pipe.