Aseptically Manufactured Sampling Tube With Internal Dividing Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current urine sampling methods require manual decanting of urine from a 30ml container into a 10ml tube for automated analysis, leading to time-consuming, costly, and error-prone processes due to potential bacterial carryover and the need for dual containers, which are hazardous and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A sterile, aseptically manufactured sampling tube with a primary and secondary compartment separated by a shorter internal dividing wall, allowing fluid communication upon tilting, enabling the collection and analysis of urine in a single tube without cross-contamination, suitable for automated urinalysis machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If urine is collected in a 30ml universal container and manually decanted into a 10ml tube for automated analysis, then the sample can be processed by automated urinalysis machines, but the process becomes time-consuming, costly, and hazardous due to manual handling and potential bacterial carryover
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling tube is divided into two separate compartments: a first compartment for collecting the urine sample and a second compartment for receiving the transferred sample. The internal dividing wall separates these compartments while allowing controlled fluid transfer, eliminating the need for external decanting operations and enabling automated processing without manual handling time losses.
2Reliability
If dual containers are used to prevent bacterial carryover between samples, then contamination is reduced, but the complexity and cost increase due to requiring two separate containers and dual bar coding
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of two separate containers into a single integrated sampling tube. The first compartment serves as the collection vessel while the second compartment acts as a protected sample reservoir. Both compartments exist within one tube with a single barcode, eliminating the complexity of dual container systems while maintaining contamination prevention through the internal dividing wall that prevents bacterial carryover.
3Device complexity
If a single tube is used for both sample collection and automated analysis, then the process is simplified, but bacterial carryover between samples cannot be prevented without additional compartmentalization
Solution Approach 1:
The single tube is segmented into two distinct compartments by an internal dividing wall. The first compartment collects the sample while the second compartment receives the transferred portion. This segmentation allows the tube to function as a single integrated unit for simplified handling while simultaneously preventing bacterial carryover by physically separating the original sample from the analysis sample, with the dividing wall acting as a barrier during automated probing.
4Reliability
If manual decanting is performed to separate samples for culture analysis, then pure samples can be obtained, but the process is hazardous and error-prone due to multiple handling steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the sample collection and protected sample storage functions into a single tube system. The first compartment holds the original sample while the second compartment contains the transferred sample that is protected from contamination. This merging eliminates the need for hazardous manual decanting operations while ensuring sample purity through the internal dividing wall that prevents cross-contamination during automated processing and subsequent culture analysis.
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 sampling tube reduces the need for dual containers, minimizes manual handling, decreases the risk of contamination, and streamlines the analysis process by allowing fluid separation within a single tube, enhancing efficiency and safety while reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the at least two compartments are adapted to enable fluids contained therewithin to be kept separate but allow fluid communication between the compartments if desired
Data Source
Figure 1~8
Figure 9~13
Figure 14a~17c
AI summary
An aseptically produced sampling tube (2) having an open end (4) and closed end (6), the interior of the tube being divided into a primary compartment (10) and a secondary compartment (12) located at one side of the tube.