Segmentable Vessel with Self-Fusing Fracture Seal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hermetically-sealed vessels face challenges in separating accommodated substances for manipulation and collection without exposing them to the outside atmosphere, particularly in cases where the substances are easily oxidized or contaminated, and in miniaturized devices where complex opening and closing systems are impractical.

Innovation Solution

A separable vessel with a fracture-inducing portion and a self-fusing material that covers the fracture-inducing portion, allowing for mechanical separation of the vessel into manipulation and collection portions while maintaining a hermetically-sealed state, using a twisting force to create fracture openings connected by the self-fusing material and then fusing and cutting it to isolate the substances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hermetically-sealed vessel is used to store and manipulate substances, then the substances are protected from oxidation and contamination, but the vessel cannot be easily separated into manipulation and collection portions without exposing substances to outside atmosphere

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehermetic sealingVSAvoidseparation operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The vessel is divided into a manipulation portion and a collection portion that can be separated from each other. The fracture-inducing portion is pre-formed at the separation location, allowing the vessel to be cleanly divided into two functional segments while maintaining hermetic sealing of each portion after separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The self-fusing material is pre-applied to the fracture surfaces before the vessel is actually separated. This preliminary preparation ensures that when separation occurs, the fracture openings are immediately sealed, preventing exposure to outside atmosphere and maintaining hermetic sealing throughout the separation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If complex opening and closing systems are used to maintain hermetic sealing during separation, then substances remain protected, but the device becomes too complex for miniaturized applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehermetic sealingVSAvoidopening and closing system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex opening and closing mechanisms are completely removed from the system. Instead, a simple fracture-inducing portion and self-fusing material are used to achieve separation while maintaining hermetic sealing, dramatically reducing device complexity and enabling miniaturization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The self-fusing material automatically seals the fracture openings upon separation without requiring any additional actuation mechanisms, motors, or control systems. The material itself performs the sealing function through its inherent fusibility, eliminating the need for complex opening and closing systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the vessel is separated by simple mechanical fracture, then separation is quick and simple, but the fracture openings expose substances to outside atmosphere

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation speedVSAvoidoxidation and contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The self-fusing material is pre-applied to the fracture surfaces before separation occurs. This ensures that when the vessel is mechanically fractured, the newly exposed fracture openings are immediately sealed by the self-fusing material, preventing oxidation and contamination while maintaining rapid separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The self-fusing material acts as an intermediary substance that bridges the fracture openings created by mechanical separation. It temporarily fills and seals the gap between the manipulation and collection portions, preventing harmful external factors from contacting the substances during the separation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables simple, quick, and cost-effective separation of substances within a hermetically-sealed environment without external contact, suitable for miniaturized devices and applications requiring aseptic or dust-free conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a self-fusing material provided on an outer surface so as to cover the fracture-inducing portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFusion:

Data Source

PatentUS10369563B2Segmentable container and method of segmenting substance contained in container

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 SHIMADZU CORP

AI summary

Provided are a simple, quick, and low-processing cost method capable of reliably separating part of an accommodated substance accommodated in a vessel only by simple mechanical operation while maintaining a hermetically-sealed state without any contact with an outside atmosphere, as well as a vessel with which the method may be used. A separable vessel comprises a first vessel portion, a second vessel portion which is contiguous with the first vessel portion, a fracture-inducing portion formed between the first vessel portion and the second vessel portion, and a self-fusing material provided on an outer surface so as to cover the fracture-inducing portion; and may contain an accommodated substance therein.