Laboratory Sample Container Unsealing by Adhesive Strength Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for unsealing laboratory sample containers often damage the container or the sample, lead to contamination, and require complex mechanics, while also leaving adhesive residues that complicate repeated opening and closing cycles.
Innovation Solution
A method that lowers the adhesive strength of the closure on laboratory sample containers using radiation or heat treatment, allowing for gentle and efficient unsealing without damaging the container or sample, and facilitates easy re-sealing by minimizing adhesive residue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the closure is removed by pulling off without treating the adhesive, then the unsealing process is simple, but the adhesive strength is too high causing damage to the container or sample
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is treated with radiation or heat before the closure is removed to reduce its adhesive strength. This preliminary action weakens the bond between the closure and the container, allowing for gentle removal without damaging the container or sample while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive strength parameter is changed by applying radiation or heat treatment, which reduces the adhesive strength from a high value to a lower value. This parameter change enables the closure to be removed gently without causing damage, while the treatment can be applied automatically in the laboratory apparatus.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the adhesive strength is reduced by treatment, then the unsealing becomes gentle and safe, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical pulling-off force is replaced by radiation or heat treatment to reduce adhesive strength. Instead of applying strong mechanical forces that could damage the container, the patent uses energy-based treatment (radiation or heat) to chemically or physically modify the adhesive, enabling gentle removal while adding controlled complexity to the apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
Radiation or heat acts as an intermediary between the unsealing system and the adhesive bond. This intermediary energy form transfers energy to the adhesive to reduce its strength, mediating the interaction between the closure removal process and the adhesive bond without requiring direct mechanical force application.
3Reliability
If strong adhesive is used for secure sealing, then the sealing reliability is high, but adhesive residues remain after unsealing
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive strength parameter is dynamically changed: initially high to ensure reliable sealing, then reduced through radiation or heat treatment during unsealing. This parameter transformation allows the adhesive to provide strong sealing when needed while becoming easily removable afterward, minimizing residues on the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive undergoes periodic transformation in its properties: first providing strong adhesion for sealing, then being treated with radiation or heat to reduce adhesion for removal. This periodic change in adhesive behavior enables both reliable sealing and clean removal, with the treatment applied at the appropriate stage in the process cycle.
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 fast, gentle unsealing of laboratory sample containers with reduced risk of contamination and damage, allowing for repeated opening and closing cycles while maintaining sample integrity and simplifying the unsealing process.
Implementation Method 1
An adhesive strength of the adhesive is lowerable by treatment, in particular by radiation treatment
Implementation Method 2
An adhesive strength of the adhesive is lowerable by treatment, in particular by heat treatment
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for unsealing an opening (110) of a laboratory sample container (100) containing a sample (120), wherein the opening (110) is sealed by a closure (130) attached to the laboratory sample container (100) by an adhesive (140), wherein an adhesive strength (AS1) of the adhesive (140) is lowerable (AS2) by treatment, the method comprising the steps: - a) treating the adhesive (140), such that its adhesive strength (AS1) is lowered (AS2), and - b) removing the closure (130) from the laboratory sample container (100).