Specimen Container Flip-Open Aperture Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing specimen collection and transport containers are prone to contamination, leading to false test results, particularly in urine tests, due to various sources such as spillage, improper sealing, and handling during collection, transport, and testing, which can result in misdiagnosis and increased healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
A specimen container system with a cup, cover, and lid that maintains a fluid-tight seal during transport and allows for easy access to the fluid through a flip-open aperture, reducing contamination risks by enabling pouring or pipette withdrawal without exposing the fluid to the environment, and minimizing repetitive motion injuries to technicians.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional screw-cap container is used for specimen collection and transport, then the container is simple to manufacture and use, but the fluid is prone to contamination from multiple sources including spillage, improper sealing, and handling during collection, transport, and testing
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into three main segments: a cup for specimen collection, a cover that threads onto the cup, and a lid that attaches to the cover. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity. The cup collects the specimen, the cover provides initial sealing, and the lid provides final sealing and transport protection, collectively achieving high contamination resistance without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid nests within the cover structure, with the lid forming an inner sealing component that fits into the cover's outer structure. This nested design allows the lid to provide additional sealing protection while being integrated into the existing cover architecture, thereby enhancing contamination resistance without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If the container is opened by unscrewing the cap for testing, then the technician can access the fluid, but the technician's hands and gloves can cross-contaminate cups and fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed to be easily removed from the cover by simply pulling it upward, separating the sealing function from the access function. This allows the technician to access the fluid through the cover's opening without needing to unscrew or manipulate the entire cap assembly, thereby reducing cross-contamination risk while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary structure between the cup and the lid. The cover provides a stable base with threading for the cup and a flat top surface for the lid to attach to. This intermediary design allows the lid to be securely attached and easily removed without requiring the technician to handle the cup directly, reducing cross-contamination while maintaining simple operation.
3Reliability
If the container is designed with multiple sealing components to prevent contamination, then contamination risk is reduced, but the container becomes more complex and harder to use
Solution Approach 1:
The lid incorporates a self-sealing mechanism where the act of attaching the lid to the cover automatically creates the seal through the protrusion fitting into the recess. This self-service design eliminates the need for additional sealing steps or complex sealing mechanisms, allowing the container to achieve high contamination resistance through simple, intuitive operation that requires no special skills or effort.
4Ease of operation
If the lid is designed to flip open for access, then the technician can easily access the fluid without removing the entire lid, but the sealing mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed with a hinge connection to the cover, transforming it from a static, fully removable component to a dynamic, partially movable component. The hinge allows the lid to rotate open while remaining attached to the cover, providing easy fluid access without requiring complete removal. This dynamic design achieves ease of operation while maintaining a relatively simple sealing mechanism through the hinge's inherent sealing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A specimen container system and methods of use are described herein for capturing, storing and accessing fluids for lab testing. A cup is removably secured to a cap assembly. The cap assembly is comprised of cover and a lid which are connected by a hinge assembly having a biasing member for maintain the lid in an open position. An aperture in the cap has two sections that in combination with the lid decreases the contamination risk compared to prior art container system.