Sealing Member Siloxane Control for Biological Specimen Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biological specimen separation instruments face issues with filter hydrophobization due to siloxane generation from silicone rubber gaskets, leading to ineffective separation and potential hemolysis of blood cells.
Innovation Solution
A biological specimen separation instrument is designed with a sealing member having a residual siloxane concentration of 1 wt % or less and a Shore A hardness of 20 or more and 90 or less, which prevents filter hydrophobization and ensures smooth and liquid-tight contact between components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a silicone rubber gasket is used to allow movement and liquid-tight contact between containers, then ease of operation and sealing are improved, but the filter becomes hydrophobized due to siloxane generation, causing hemolysis and separation failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the sealing member by specifying a Shore A hardness range of 20-90 and limiting residual siloxane concentration to 1 wt% or less. This parameter change prevents siloxane migration to the filter while maintaining the sealing and movement functions, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and separation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material selection for the sealing member, choosing materials that combine appropriate elasticity (Shore A 20-90) with low siloxane content. This composite approach allows the sealing member to provide both mechanical flexibility for container movement and chemical inertness to prevent filter hydrophobization.
2Reliability
If the filter is made hydrophobic due to siloxane influence, then the sealing function is maintained, but blood cells are destroyed by intrusion between the filter and holding part, causing hemolysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of siloxane generation into a benefit by strictly limiting residual siloxane concentration to 1 wt% or less in the sealing member. This prevents the harmful hydrophobization effect while maintaining the beneficial sealing function, thereby preventing hemolysis without compromising sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the chemical composition parameter of the sealing member (limiting siloxane content) and physical parameter (Shore A hardness 20-90), the patent eliminates the harmful effect of filter hydrophobization while preserving the sealing function, thus preventing blood cell destruction.
3Ease of manufacture
If the Shore A hardness of the sealing member is not controlled, then manufacturing is simplified, but the smoothness and liquid-tight contact between components are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the sealing member (Shore A hardness 20-90, residual siloxane ≤1 wt%) that balance manufacturability with performance. These parameter changes ensure liquid-tight contact and smooth operation while remaining feasible for standard manufacturing processes.
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 solution effectively prevents filter hydrophobization, ensuring stable separation of biological specimens into predetermined components while preventing hemolysis, thus enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the separation process.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing member (130) is provided on an outer circumference on a tip side of the second container (110) in the direction of insertion to allow movement in the first container (10) in a state of being liquid-tightly brought into contact with an interior wall of the first container (10)
Implementation Method 2
a filter (128) is provided on a tip side of the second container (110) in the direction of insertion into the first container (10)
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a biological specimen separation instrument with which a biological specimen can be stably separated into a predetermined component. The biological specimen separation instrument includes an accommodation instrument (1) for accommodating a collected biological specimen, a filter (128) for filtering a predetermined component in the collected biological specimen, and a holding instrument (100) for accommodating the predetermined component filtered by the filter (128), where the holding instrument (100) is configured to be inserted into the accommodation instrument (1), in which the filter (128) is provided on a tip side of the holding instrument (100) in a direction of insertion into the accommodation instrument (1), a sealing member (130) is provided in an outer circumference on the tip side of the holding instrument (100) in the direction of insertion to allow movement in the accommodation instrument (1), in a state of being liquid-tightly brought into contact with an interior wall of the accommodation instrument (1), and the sealing member (130) has a Shore A hardness of 20 or more and 90 or less and has a residual siloxane concentration of 1 wt % or less.