Sensor-Integrated Flask Box for Safe Medical Sample Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transporting medical flasks are inadequate in protecting them from breakage and contamination, and fail to ensure the correct number, type, and volume of flasks are used for reliable medical testing, leading to potential errors and environmental hazards.
Innovation Solution
A portable protective box with a housing and flask holder that includes sensor elements for detecting the presence, filling level, material, and type of fluid in each flask, and is designed to securely transport multiple flasks while preventing mix-ups, using capacitance measurement electrodes and flexible circuit boards to ensure accurate detection and secure retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If medical flasks are transported in open paper baskets or randomly wrapped in bubble wrap, then the packaging is simple and easy to use, but the flasks are not sufficiently protected from breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging system is divided into multiple functional components: a rigid housing providing structural protection, individual flask holders for each medical flask, and sensor elements integrated into the housing. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its protective function while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flask holders are nested within the housing structure, with each holder containing a specific medical flask. The sensor elements are integrated into the housing walls, creating a nested arrangement where the sensing functionality is embedded within the protective structure without adding external complexity.
2Measurement precision
If sensor elements are integrated into the housing to detect flask parameters, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor elements are merged with the housing structure, with sensors integrated directly into the housing walls. This combining of sensing and structural functions eliminates the need for separate sensor mounting mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical protection for the flasks, structures the arrangement of flask holders, and integrates the sensor elements for parameter detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, maintaining simplicity while enabling precise measurement.
3Reliability
If the box is designed to securely retain multiple flasks, then transport safety is improved, but the box size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flask holders are designed with flexible retention mechanisms that adapt to the presence or absence of flasks. The holders can dynamically adjust their retention force, providing secure holding when flasks are present while allowing the structure to collapse or flex when empty, optimizing the weight-to-protection ratio.
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 box ensures safe transportation of medical flasks, prevents breakage, and guarantees the correct number, type, and volume of flasks for reliable testing, reducing errors and contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one sensor element comprises at least one capacitance measurement electrode
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a system comprising a portable protective box for a medical flask. The box comprises a housing and a flask holder encased by the housing and fixed relative to the housing, the flask holder comprising a retainer configured to retain a medical flask in a stationary position relative to the housing. The box further comprises at least one sensor element having a predefined position relative to the retainer and being configured to enable detection, when the medical flask is retained by the retainer, of at least one of the medical flask being retained by the retainer, a filling level of the medical flask, a material of the medical flask and a type of fluid inside the medical flask. The flask holder is removably attached to the housing and the at least one sensor element. The system further comprises at least one replacement holder removably attachable to the housing when the flask holder is detached from the housing, the at least one replacement holder comprising a retainer configured to, when the replacement holder is removably attached to the housing, retain a medical flask in a stationary position relative to the housing, wherein the retainer of the replacement holder has a different geometry or orientation than the retainer of the flask holder.