Specimen Apportionment Device with Movable Sealing Piston
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid specimen collection and testing devices face challenges such as contamination risks, inadequate fluid volume for confirmatory testing, complex operation procedures, and inefficient separation of specimen aliquots, leading to inaccurate results and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A sealed receptacle with a movable sealing and apportioning member that separates a measured volume of fluid specimen into a preliminary screening aliquot and a confirmatory aliquot, ensuring controlled contact with test strips and simple operation, while maintaining a large volume for confirmatory testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealed receptacle with movable sealing member is used to separate specimen aliquots, then contamination risk is reduced and fluid volume is controlled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the specimen container into separate compartments: a first chamber for confirmatory testing and a second chamber for preliminary screening. A movable sealing member (piston) physically separates these chambers, preventing contamination between aliquots while maintaining a sealed system. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing reliable separation without requiring complex external containment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The second chamber containing the preliminary screening aliquot is nested within the first chamber structure. The movable sealing member is integrated into the chamber wall, allowing the smaller second chamber to be contained within the larger first chamber while maintaining independent access and sealing. This nesting approach reduces overall device complexity by utilizing the existing chamber structure rather than requiring separate external containers.
2Reliability
If multiple liquid specimens are collected over time, then contamination risk is reduced, but loss of time occurs and physiological changes may affect test accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to immediately separate and preserve the confirmatory aliquot at the time of specimen collection. The movable sealing member is positioned to seal the first chamber containing the confirmatory aliquot right away, preventing any time-related degradation or contamination. This preliminary action eliminates the need for delayed re-collection while maintaining test accuracy.
3Reliability
If liquid specimen contacts test strips in a sealed chamber, then contamination is prevented, but adequate fluid volume for confirmatory testing may not be retained
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the fluid volume into two distinct chambers with dedicated purposes: the first chamber retains the majority of the specimen volume for confirmatory testing, while the second chamber contains only the minimal volume needed for preliminary screening. The movable sealing member ensures that the first chamber maintains its seal and volume integrity, preventing contamination while preserving adequate fluid for confirmatory analysis.
4Ease of operation
If a frangible partition is used to initiate testing, then ease of operation is improved, but control over fluid depth and strip orientation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a movable sealing member (piston) that can be dynamically positioned to control fluid flow. Unlike a static frangible partition, the piston can be moved to specific positions to regulate the depth of fluid contacting the test strips. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain ease of operation while providing precise control over fluid depth and strip orientation, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision.
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 ensures proper testing by maintaining an adequate and controlled fluid volume for preliminary screening, simplifies the testing process, reduces contamination risks, and maximizes the volume available for confirmatory testing, enhancing accuracy and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a movable sealing and apportioning member shaped and dimensioned to seal said first opening
Implementation Method 2
a barrier opener associated with said movable sealing member, said opener oriented to automatically open said barrier upon said movable sealing member sealing said first opening
Implementation Method 3
allowing fluid in said basin to flow into said second chamber and contact said strips
Implementation Method 4
testing devices for conducting preliminary chromatographic reaction screening tests
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid specimen collecting and testing device has two chambers, a first for collecting a liquid specimen and a second for exposing a measured volume preliminary screening aliquot of the specimen to preliminary screening test strips. The first chamber has a catch basin of defined volume which is less than the sample volume. The basin is simultaneously sealed from the rest of the first chamber, thus separating and apportioning the measured volume preliminary screening aliquot from the collected volume. Simultaneously, an opening made leading from the basin to the second chamber initiating the preliminary screening test. Thus intermingling of a preliminary screening aliquot and a remainder aliquot is avoided.