Porous Nib Liquid Sampling Device for Ambient Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid sampling devices require large sample volumes, are prone to contamination, and necessitate low-temperature preservation, making them costly and inefficient for analyzing small samples like blood from small animals or individuals with vascular issues, and they lack a closed system for sample collection, storage, and transfer.
Innovation Solution
A liquid sampling, storage, transfer, and delivery device featuring a sintered porous matrix that absorbs and stores small liquid samples, preserving them at ambient temperature, and can release the sample on demand, using porous nibs made from materials like plastics, metals, or ceramics with functional additives for sample preservation and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional liquid sampling devices are used, then sample collection is straightforward, but large sample volumes are required and low-temperature preservation is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous absorbent material within the sampling device that can absorb and retain small volumes of liquid sample. The porous structure provides large surface area and capillary action to efficiently capture and hold minimal sample volumes without requiring large collection volumes, while also providing ambient temperature stability for sample preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes composite construction combining the porous absorbent material with a housing structure that provides thermal insulation properties. This composite approach enables the device to maintain sample integrity at ambient temperatures by reducing thermal exchange, eliminating the need for specialized low-temperature preservation infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If open system sampling devices are used, then sample collection is simple, but contamination risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a closed system design where the porous absorbent material is contained within a housing structure that prevents external contamination. The system allows sample collection through controlled interfaces while maintaining isolation between the sample pathway and external environment, thus preventing contamination during collection, storage, and transfer operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous absorbent material serves as an intermediary component that interfaces with the sample while being contained within the closed housing system. This intermediary structure allows the sample to be captured and held without direct exposure to the external environment, preventing contamination while maintaining ease of operation through the absorbent's passive sample uptake capability.
3Reliability
If multiple separate devices are used for sample collection, storage, and transfer, then each function can be optimized, but device complexity and human error increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates sample collection, storage, and transfer functions into a single unified device. The porous absorbent material simultaneously performs collection by absorption, storage by retention within its matrix, and transfer by controlled release or mechanical movement of the absorbed sample. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate devices and reduces human error associated with manual sample handling between devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling device is designed with multi-functionality where the porous absorbent material and housing structure collectively perform multiple operations: collecting liquid samples through capillary absorption, storing samples within the porous matrix at ambient temperature, and enabling sample transfer through device design features. This universal design allows one device to replace multiple specialized devices while maintaining functional effectiveness.
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 device efficiently collects, stores, and delivers small liquid samples, such as blood, in a closed system, reducing contamination risks and preserving samples at ambient temperature, facilitating precise and cost-effective analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The porous component comprises a sintered porous matrix made by fusing individual particles together in a sintering process to form the matrix. The porous component in the device contacts the sample, collects the sample, stores the sample, transports the sample inside its porous matrix and releases the sample from the porous matrix upon demand.
Implementation Method 2
The porous component comprises a sintered porous matrix made by fusing individual particles together in a sintering process to form the matrix. The porous component in the device contacts the sample, collects the sample, stores the sample, transports the sample inside its porous matrix and releases the sample from the porous matrix upon demand.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a liquid sampling, storage, transfer and delivery device comprising housing containing a porous nib. The porous nib in the device contacts the sample, collects the sample, stores the sample, transports the sample inside its porous matrix and releases the sample from the porous matrix upon demand.