Sample Collection Container Spacing to Prevent Blood Culture Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood collection methods for detecting sepsis are prone to false positives due to skin contaminants entering the blood culture, leading to unnecessary healthcare costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A sample collection system with a container and adaptor that uses a securing mechanism to maintain a spaced relationship with the needle during shipment and storage, allowing for controlled engagement during sample collection, thereby preventing initial skin contaminants from entering the sample.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a direct connection is made between the needle and collection container during shipment and storage, then device complexity is reduced, but skin contaminants enter the sample causing false positives
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional components: an adaptor with needle, a disposable collection container, and a securing mechanism. The adaptor and container are segmented to allow independent function - the adaptor handles patient connection while the container collects sample, preventing contamination during storage and shipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing mechanism acts as an intermediary between the needle and collection container. It maintains a spaced relationship during storage, allowing the needle to remain sterile and isolated from the container interior, thereby preventing skin contaminants from entering the sample while still enabling later connection.
2Reliability
If the container is kept separate from the needle during storage and shipment, then contamination is prevented, but ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The securing mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage without complex manual intervention. When the container is inserted into the adaptor, the securing mechanism self-activates to maintain the spaced relationship, and during use it automatically allows connection when needed, reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing mechanism transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic adjustable connection. It maintains a spaced relationship during storage but allows controlled engagement during use, adapting its state based on the operational phase to balance contamination prevention with ease of operation.
3Reliability
If a securing mechanism is used to maintain spaced relationship, then contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collection container and securing mechanism are designed as disposable components. This allows the use of simple, low-cost materials that effectively prevent contamination during the brief period of use, without requiring complex, durable mechanisms that would increase overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing mechanism is merged with either the adaptor or container as an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. This combining approach reduces the number of discrete parts and simplifies the overall system while maintaining the spaced relationship function to prevent contamination.
Data Source
AI summary
Sample collection systems are provided. In one aspect, a sample collection system comprises a container, an adaptor and a securement. The adaptor receives a first end of the container into an interior of the adaptor. The securement holds the container at a first position, where the first end of the container is thereby held in a spaced relationship with a needle of the adaptor. The securement is operated or operates to permit the container to be advanced distally within the interior of the adaptor from the first position to a second position to engage the needle to receive a sample in the container. The securement further permits the container to be withdrawn proximally to remove the container from the interior of the adaptor, wherein, when the container is removed from the interior of the adaptor, the securing mechanism is removed by the container.