Specimen Rack Transport Device with Flow Path Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing specimen rack transport devices face significant challenges in efficiently collecting specimens spilled from containers, leading to increased workload for cleaning due to the specimens entering the housing and potentially reaching sensitive components.

Innovation Solution

A specimen rack transport device equipped with a flow path member and a collecting container to receive and collect specimens spilled from containers, utilizing tilted surfaces to guide the specimens into the collecting container, reducing the need for additional components and power sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a specimen is spilled from a specimen container, then the specimen enters the housing and reaches components inside, but an enormous amount of work load is required to clean the components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecimen contaminationVSAvoidcleaning workload

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of spilled specimen into a beneficial outcome by designing flow path members that guide the spilled specimen away from sensitive components and toward a collecting container. The tilted surfaces and flow paths transform what would be damaging contamination into a controlled collection process, eliminating cleaning workload while preventing component damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If an intermediate plate is disposed below the transport mechanism part, then the specimen is received by the intermediate plate and prevented from reaching the controller, but the specimen having entered the housing might reach the intermediate plate through components inside the housing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontroller protectionVSAvoidspecimen reaching components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the housing interior by introducing flow path members that create dedicated specimen containment zones. These flow path members divide the space into areas where spilled specimen is channeled away from sensitive components, preventing specimen from reaching the intermediate plate and controller through component gaps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flow path members act as intermediary elements between the spilled specimen and the sensitive components. They intercept and redirect the specimen flow before it can reach the intermediate plate or controller, serving as a protective barrier that eliminates the need for complex sealing arrangements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If flow path members and a collecting container are added to collect spilled specimen, then the workload for cleaning is reduced, but additional components are introduced into the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning workloadVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow path members are designed to serve multiple functions: they act as specimen collection guides, define housing interior boundaries, and protect sensitive components. By combining these functions into existing structural elements rather than adding separate dedicated components, the patent reduces cleaning workload without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effectively reduces the workload for cleaning by ensuring specimens are collected and contained, minimizing the risk of contamination to sensitive components and enhancing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a flow path member (241 to 247, 240x, 240y, 341 to 344) configured to receive a specimen spilled from the specimen container onto the placement surface and cause the specimen to flow through the flow path member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20230349938A1Specimen rack transport device, analyzer including same, and method for collecting specimen spilled from specimen container

Publication Date: 2023.11.02 SYSMEX CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is a specimen rack transport device comprising: a transport mechanism configured to transport, on a placement surface, a specimen rack holding a specimen container; a flow path member configured to receive a specimen spilled from the specimen container onto the placement surface and cause the specimen to flow through the flow path member; and a collecting container configured to collect the specimen having flowed through the flow path member.