Sample Rack Cover Viscous String Removal Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid transfer mechanisms in analyzers face challenges with cross-contamination due to viscous sample materials, as strings of material can be dragged and deposited into unintended receptacles during transfer, leading to contamination issues.
Innovation Solution
A sample rack with a cover featuring viscous string removal elements, such as U-shaped or triangular raised elements, is designed to guide the probe's movement in a way that the string of viscous material is detached and removed at a controlled location, preventing cross-contamination by creating friction and redirecting the string away from other receptacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the probe is moved directly from one receptacle to another, then the transfer speed is improved, but cross-contamination occurs due to viscous material strings being dragged along
Solution Approach 1:
A string removal element is introduced as an intermediary component between the viscous material string and the destination receptacle. This element intercepts and removes the string of viscous material before it can contaminate the destination receptacle, allowing fast direct probe movement while preventing cross-contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The string removal element extracts or removes the harmful viscous material string from the system at a controlled location. By taking out the contaminant (the string) before it reaches the destination, the system maintains high transfer speed without sacrificing cleanliness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the probe moves slowly to avoid dragging viscous material, then cross-contamination is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The string removal element serves as a mediator that handles the viscous material string, allowing the probe to maintain high speed movement. The intermediary component performs the contamination prevention function separately, enabling both high productivity and low cross-contamination.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a complex cleaning mechanism is added to remove viscous strings, then cross-contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A simple string removal element acts as an intermediary to prevent cross-contamination without requiring complex cleaning mechanisms. This intermediate component provides an elegant, low-complexity solution to the contamination problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The string removal element can be implemented as a simple, potentially disposable component that intercepts viscous strings. This approach avoids investing in complex, expensive cleaning systems while effectively preventing cross-contamination.
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
Effectively prevents cross-contamination by ensuring the viscous string is detached and removed from the probe in a controlled manner, reducing the risk of sample material falling into other sample receptacles or sensitive components within the analyzer.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient element associated with each receptacle-receiving pocket, wherein each resilient element is configured to urge the receptacle into said positioning feature to hold the receptacle in a fixed, predetermined position
Implementation Method 2
A sample rack with a cover featuring viscous string removal elements, such as U-shaped or triangular raised elements, is designed to guide the probe's movement in a way that the string of viscous material is detached and removed at a controlled location, preventing cross-contamination by creating friction
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed herein a sample rack (100) for carrying a plurality of receptacles, wherein the receptacles may be of different sizes, said sample rack comprising: a receptacle holder (102) comprising: a plurality of receptacle-receiving pockets (124); a receptacle positioning feature associated with each of said receptacle-receiving pockets; and a resilient element (116) associated with each of said receptacle-receiving pockets, wherein each receptacle-receiving pocket is configured to receive a receptacle and said resilient element is configured to urge the receptacle into said positioning feature to hold the receptacle in a fixed, predetermined position within said receptacle-receiving pocket; and a cover (130) configured to be releasably secured to said receptacle holder, said cover comprising: a transverse wall (144) including a plurality of spaced-apart receptacle access openings (146) formed in said transverse wall, each receptacle access opening being associated with one receptacle-receiving pocket; and a receptacle-retaining element (154) associated with each receptacle-receiving pocket and configured to engage a portion of the top of a receptacle urged into the predetermined position within each receptacle-receiving pocket to prevent the receptacle from being lifted out of the receptacle-receiving pocket.