Pivotal Retention Bar for Sample Tube Rack Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated sample processing instruments face challenges in retaining sample tubes with pierceable caps, leading to potential contamination and exposure of biological material due to pressure differentials and frictional forces, which existing solutions do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sample tube rack with a retention bar that is pivotally engaged to the sample tube holder, featuring stepped-profile openings to prevent pipettes from lifting tubes and flanges to control fluid and aerosol spread, along with latch mechanisms for secure engagement and one-handed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If pierceable caps are used on sample tubes to eliminate cap removal, then contamination and exposure risks are reduced, but sample tubes may be lifted out of the rack due to frictional forces between caps and pipettes
Solution Approach 1:
The retention bar is positioned to contact the sample tubes before pipette insertion, establishing a counteracting force that prevents the tubes from being lifted out during the piercing and withdrawal process. This preliminary positioning of the retention bar creates the necessary counter-force to offset the frictional lifting effect.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sample tubes are processed at higher altitude locations after being capped at lower altitudes, then geographic flexibility is improved, but pressure differentials cause fluid and aerosols to be expelled from pierced caps
Solution Approach 1:
The retention bar's stepped-profile opening and flange structure capture and contain the expelled fluids and aerosols that result from pressure differentials during altitude transitions. Instead of allowing these harmful expulsions to spread contamination, the retention bar's design converts this harmful pressure differential effect into a contained process where the expelled materials are restricted to specific areas.
3Stability of the object's composition
If retention structures are added to prevent tube displacement, then sample tube stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention bar serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides sample tube retention through its position and contact surfaces, contains expelled fluids and aerosols through its flange structure, and guides pipette insertion through its stepped-profile opening. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single component, the design achieves effective sample tube stability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 sample tube displacement and contamination by ensuring secure retention and minimizing the spread of biological materials, enhancing safety and processing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
withdrawal of the pipettes from the pierceable caps may tend to lift the sample tubes out of the rack due to the frictional forces between the caps and the pipettes
Implementation Method 2
flanges to control fluid and aerosol spread
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Sample tube racks having retention bars to retain sample tubes in the racks during processing of the contents of the sample tubes are described. An example rack for holding sample tubes includes a sample tube carrier having an elongated body and walls defining apertures. Each of the apertures is configured to receive a respective one of the sample tubes. The walls define elongated openings, each of which corresponds to a respective one of the sample tubes and extends along at least a portion of a length of the respective sample tube, and the elongated openings enable viewing of information on the outer surfaces of the sample tubes. The example rack also includes an elongated retention bar to be pivotally coupled to one end of the sample tube carrier. The retention bar has openings, each of which is positioned over a respective one of the apertures, and the openings are dimensioned to prevent removal of the sample tubes from the sample tube carrier through the retention bar.