Rotary Specimen Aliquoting Device with Disposable Tips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing specimen aliquoting/dispensing devices are complicated in construction, prone to balloon damage due to repeated abrasion, and require frequent maintenance, with inefficient operation requiring manual detachment and reattachment of nozzles for each aliquoting and dispensing process.
Innovation Solution
A specimen aliquoting/dispensing device with a rotating shaft and multiple operating positions, featuring a nozzle lift mechanism with up-and-down motion and air supply/discharge mechanism for automated tip mounting, aliquoting, dispensing, and tip casting, utilizing silicone balls for secure nozzle attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a balloon is used to attach and detach the nozzle from the nozzle body by inflating and deflating, then the nozzle can be easily attached and detached, but the balloon is easily damaged by repeated abrasion and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable tip that is attached to and removed from the nozzle body multiple times. This tip is made of a material that is easier to replace than the nozzle body itself, allowing the expensive and complex nozzle assembly to remain while the consumable tip is discarded after use, thereby avoiding the durability issues of reusable balloons
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle assembly is divided into two main parts: a reusable nozzle body and a disposable tip. The tip is the segment that contacts the specimen and undergoes wear, while the nozzle body contains the mechanical and pneumatic components. This segmentation allows the worn tip to be replaced without replacing the entire assembly, improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation
2Productivity
If the nozzle is manually detached and reattached for each aliquoting and dispensing process, then the operations can be performed sequentially, but the operation efficiency is low and manual intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotary mechanism that continuously rotates the nozzle assembly through multiple positions (aliquoting position, dispensing position, and casting position) without manual intervention. The nozzle remains attached to the nozzle body throughout the rotation, eliminating the need for repeated attachment and detachment operations, thereby achieving continuous automated processing and significantly improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle assembly is made dynamically rotatable within the device body, transitioning from a static manual operation to a dynamic automated process. The rotary mechanism allows the nozzle to move between different operational positions automatically, enabling the system to perform multiple functions sequentially without manual reconfiguration, thus improving both productivity and ease of operation
3Ease of operation
If additional devices are added to supply and discharge fluid to and from the balloon, then the balloon can be inflated and deflated for attachment and detachment, but the construction of the nozzle device becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the attachment and detachment function from the complex balloon-inflation system and integrates it directly into the nozzle body structure. The nozzle body itself is designed with features that enable straightforward attachment and detachment of the tip without requiring separate fluid supply and discharge systems, thereby simplifying the overall construction while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the attachment mechanism, nozzle structure, and pneumatic components into a single integrated nozzle body assembly. By combining these functions into one unified structure, the patent eliminates the need for separate additional devices to control balloon inflation and deflation, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving the ease of attaching and detaching the nozzle
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 simplifies operations by automating the aliquoting and dispensing process, reducing maintenance needs and improving efficiency through continuous tip attachment and detachment, while minimizing nozzle wear and tear.
Implementation Method 1
an air supply/discharge mechanism which is provided in the aliquoting/dispensing mechanism and is configured to form a negative pressure for suction in the aliquoting/dispensing tip attached to the nozzle body in aliquoting the parent specimen situated in the aliquoting position
Implementation Method 2
form a positive pressure in the aliquoting/dispensing tip in dispensing the aliquoted specimen to the child specimen situated in the dispensing position
Implementation Method 3
a test tube that contains a blood specimen is set in a centrifuge, whereby the specimen is centrifuged. Then, the blood serum in the test tube is aliquoted
Implementation Method 4
the serum and clot of the centrifuged blood specimen in the test tube are generally separated in the test tube with use of a separating agent, such as silicone, so that an interface between the serum and clot portions can be clearly distinguished
Data Source
AI summary
A tip mounting position, an aliquoting position, a dispensing position, and a tip casting position are circumferentially arranged around a rotating shaft, and a plurality of aliquoting/dispensing mechanisms are circumferentially arranged corresponding to the plurality of operating positions around the rotating shaft. Each aliquoting/dispensing mechanism is provided with a nozzle lift mechanism and a nozzle mechanism that includes a nozzle lift mechanism and a nozzle portion. The rotating shaft is intermittently rotated to locate the aliquoting/dispensing mechanisms individually in the positions whereupon tip mounting, aliquoting, dispensing, and tip casting operations are performed continuously.