Flexible Sample Tube Holder for Secure Bag Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood and blood component collection systems lack a secure method to keep sample tubes together during and after collection, leading to potential misplacement, breakage, and contamination issues, especially during transport and processing.
Innovation Solution
A flexible sample tube holder with sets of apertures that securely retain sample tubes by sandwiching them between inner and outer portions, allowing for easy agitation and attachment to blood collection bags, preventing separation and facilitating efficient collection and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rubber bands or peripheral slots are used to attach sample tubes to the bag, then sample tubes can be gathered together, but the attachment is not secure and tubes may become separated
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into multiple segments or compartments that can independently secure each sample tube through individual apertures, while maintaining overall structural integrity. This segmentation allows secure attachment of multiple tubes without relying on a single weak attachment point like rubber bands.
Solution Approach 2:
Sample tubes are nested through the apertures of the holder body, with the holder material flexing around the tubes to create a secure retainment. The tubes are effectively nested within the holder structure, providing reliable attachment while maintaining ease of insertion and removal.
2Productivity
If sample tubes are collected loose, then collection process is simple, but it is time consuming and risks misplacement or mix-up
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sample tubes are merged into a single organized unit through the holder that attaches them all together in a standardized configuration. This combining allows tubes to be collected efficiently as a group while maintaining clear identification through the unique identifier system, eliminating the time consumption and errors associated with loose collection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If sample tubes are attached to the bag, then they remain together during transport, but tubes may be dropped or broken during attachment and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is constructed from flexible material that can gently accommodate sample tubes of various sizes and diameters. The flexible nature of the holder allows it to flex around tubes during insertion and removal without applying excessive force that could cause breaking, while still maintaining stable retention during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible holder material provides a cushioning effect during the attachment and removal processes, absorbing potential impact forces and preventing sudden stresses that could cause tubes to break. This beforehand cushioning protects tubes throughout the handling cycle.
4Reliability
If a holder secures sample tubes firmly, then tubes remain together, but tubes of various diameters may not be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The holder incorporates dynamic flexibility that allows it to adapt its shape and aperture size to accommodate sample tubes of various diameters. The flexible material can stretch and conform to different tube sizes while maintaining secure retention, providing both reliability and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder material's physical parameters, particularly its flexibility and elasticity, are designed to change dynamically based on the size of the inserted tube. This parameter change allows the same holder to securely retain tubes across a range of diameters while maintaining consistent retention force and stability.
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 holder effectively keeps sample tubes securely attached to the collection bag, reducing the risk of misplacement and breakage, while allowing for easy agitation and efficient handling throughout the collection and transport process.
Implementation Method 1
the apertures are sized so that, in conjunction with the flexibility and resilience to the material of the holder, each sample tube is resiliently held
Data Source
AI summary
A sample tube holder (10) having a generally flat elongate flexible body (12) and one or more of sets of non circular apertures (16) each having a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension, in the body, each set having two or more apertures (16) arranged in a line such that each set of apertures defines at least one inner portion (30) between adjacent apertures (16) of the set and at least one outer portion (32) adjacent each aperture at the end of the line extending away from the respective inner portion.