Specimen Container Cover for Multi-Swab Airtight Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional specimen collection and storage kits require multiple containers for specimens collected from different body parts, leading to cumbersome management and increased contamination risk during swab removal.
Innovation Solution
A container cover that allows multiple swabs to be stored in a single container, featuring a detachable design that prevents swab separation and ensures airtight sealing, reducing the need for manual handling and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a conventional specimen collection and storage kit is used, then only one swab can be stored per container, but multiple specimen collection and storage kits are required when specimens are collected from multiple body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The container cover is designed with multiple insertion holes and corresponding insertion coupling portions that can simultaneously hold multiple swabs. This merging of multiple swab storage capabilities into a single container eliminates the need for multiple separate specimen collection and storage kits, directly resolving the contradiction between storing multiple swabs and reducing kit quantity
Solution Approach 2:
The container cover serves multiple functions: it seals the container, holds multiple swabs through insertion coupling portions, and provides a unified structure for managing specimens from multiple body parts. This multi-functionality allows a single container to replace multiple specialized kits
2Quantity of substance
If multiple specimen collection and storage kits are used, then specimens from multiple body parts can be stored, but workability deteriorates due to repeated filling of subject information
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple swab storage capabilities into a single container with a unified cover, the invention eliminates the need to handle and label multiple separate kits. The subject information needs to be filled only once on a single container rather than repeatedly on multiple kits, significantly improving ease of operation
3Ease of operation
If an inspector manually removes swabs from specimen containers, then swabs can be taken out, but contamination risk increases during the removal process
Solution Approach 1:
The container cover is designed to be removed together with the swabs as a unified structure. The swabs are held by insertion coupling portions that are part of the cover, so when the cover is removed, all swabs are removed simultaneously. This eliminates the need for manual swab removal operations that would expose swabs to contamination risk
4Reliability
If a container cover is designed to seal a specimen container, then airtightness is achieved, but the cover cannot accommodate multiple swabs
Solution Approach 1:
The container cover integrates multiple insertion holes and insertion coupling portions into a single sealed structure. The cover maintains airtightness through its sealing design while simultaneously accommodating multiple swabs through the integrated coupling portions, resolving the contradiction between airtightness and multi-swab capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is segmented with multiple insertion holes and coupling portions distributed across its structure, allowing each swab to be independently inserted and secured while the entire cover maintains a unified seal. This segmentation enables multi-swab storage without compromising airtightness
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention may provide a cover for a specimen storage container, the cover comprising: a cover body comprising a tubular side portion and a bottom portion coupled to one end of the side portion, the cover body being detachably screwed to one open side of the specimen storage container into which at least one specimen collection swab is inserted; an insertion coupling part protruding from the bottom portion toward the specimen storage container, and having an internal space formed therein, stick parts of the at least one specimen collection swab being inserted and fitted into the internal space; and a separation prevention part provided in the insertion coupling part so as to engage with/contact the stick parts when the cover body is coupled to the specimen storage container, thereby preventing the stick parts from being separated from the insertion coupling part. According to the above description, an inspector need not perform a separate operation of taking out the specimen collection swabs from the specimen container. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the existing troublesome operation of taking out the specimen collection swabs.