Rigid Sample Support With Suspended Matrix for Automated Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supports for conserving biological samples made of bendable cellulose-based materials face issues with rigidity, leading to manipulation errors and malfunctions in automated systems, and require complex cleaning processes that increase costs and processing times.
Innovation Solution
A support comprising a substantially rigid body made of moulded plastic material with a through opening, containing a fixed absorbent matrix portion for sample conservation and a separate cleaning zone, ensuring precise positioning and reduced contamination risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a bendable cellulose-based matrix is used for sample conservation, then the support is flexible and easy to manufacture, but it causes manipulation errors and malfunctions in automated systems due to lack of rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The support combines a rigid plastic body with a cellulose-based absorbent matrix. The plastic body provides the necessary rigidity for reliable automated handling, while the cellulose matrix maintains its absorbent properties for sample conservation. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties.
2Reliability
If a separate cleaning support is used to clean the sample-taking device, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support integrates both sample conservation functionality and cleaning functionality into a single device. The same rigid body with absorbent matrix serves both as the sample support and as the cleaning support when a punch tool contacts it. This merging eliminates the need for separate cleaning supports, reducing device complexity and processing time while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
3Reliability
If a separate cleaning support is used, then cleaning function is provided, but processing time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support combines sample conservation and cleaning functions into one integrated device, allowing the punch tool to clean by simply contacting the support again after sample taking. This eliminates the need for separate cleaning operations and supports, significantly reducing processing time and operational costs while maintaining effective cleaning function.
4Ease of operation
If the absorbent matrix is directly accessible and suspended, then sample access is improved, but positioning precision in automated systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent matrix is implemented as a thin, suspended layer within the rigid plastic body. This thin-film structure allows the matrix to be directly accessible for sample deposition and retrieval while the surrounding rigid body provides precise positioning features for automated system integration. The suspension configuration enables both good sample access and precise positioning.
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 provides enhanced precision in automated handling, reduces the risk of malfunctions, and simplifies the cleaning process by integrating a cleaning zone within the support, thereby minimizing contamination and processing time.
Implementation Method 1
The absorbent matrix can consist of a cellulose-based material, such as, for example, paper, particularly absorbent paper or filter paper, which can be specifically treated, in particular chemically, to enable the absorption and conservation of the collected samples of biological material
Implementation Method 2
transferring samples of biological material that have been collected by specific devices onto matrix supports
Data Source
AI summary
A support for conserving a sample of biological material comprising at least a substantially rigid body made of moulded plastic material, comprising at least a first through opening and at least a first portion of an absorbent matrix suitable for conserving a sample of biological material, fixed within the first through opening. The first portion of the absorbent matrix has at least a first part without support from the body and suspended inside the first through opening, the first part being directly accessible to contact.