Sperm Collection Container with Tapered Storage and Piercable Bottom
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sperm collection containers are prone to sperm deterioration due to temperature changes and oxidation, and they often make it difficult to efficiently retrieve and measure the collected semen, especially due to their design which allows diffusion and adherence to container walls.
Innovation Solution
A double-structured sperm collection container with a smaller storage portion and a funnel-shaped taper portion to guide sperm into the storage area, reducing contact with air and minimizing temperature fluctuations, along with a retrieval part that can be easily pierced for precise collection and measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional cylindrical sperm collection container with a wide input port is used, then it is easy to collect sperm, but the sperm deteriorates due to temperature changes and oxidation during carrying and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into two distinct portions: a collection portion with a wide input port for easy sperm collection, and a storage portion with a smaller diameter for maintaining sperm quality. The taper portion connects these two segments, allowing smooth transition while maintaining the benefits of both designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the container have different diameters optimized for different functions. The collection portion has a larger diameter for ease of deposition, while the storage portion has a smaller diameter to reduce air contact and minimize temperature fluctuations, with the taper portion providing a gradual transition between these two local qualities.
2Quantity of substance
If a conventional cylindrical container with a large bottom area is used, then it can hold several ml of semen, but the semen diffuses or adheres to the wall surface during transportation, making it difficult to retrieve
Solution Approach 1:
The container separates the collection function (wide input port) from the storage function (narrower storage portion). The storage portion's smaller diameter prevents semen diffusion and adhesion to walls during transport, while still accommodating several ml of semen through optimized height and diameter proportions.
Solution Approach 2:
The container employs asymmetric geometry with a taper portion that gradually transitions from the wide collection portion to the narrow storage portion. This asymmetric design guides semen flow toward the center of the storage portion, preventing contact with the walls and facilitating easy retrieval through the bottom opening.
3Reliability
If the storage portion has a small diameter, then sperm contact with air is reduced minimizing oxidation, but the collection area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into a collection portion with a wide input port for adequate collection area and a storage portion with a smaller diameter for oxidation prevention. The taper portion connects these segments, allowing the full benefits of both diameters to be utilized in their respective functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The container compensates for the reduced collection area by optimizing the vertical dimension. The input port maintains a large diameter for adequate collection area, while the storage portion extends vertically to provide sufficient storage capacity, effectively using the third dimension to resolve the area constraint.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
To provide a sperm collection container (1) having an excellent effect of suppressing sperm deterioration and being capable of retrieving the sperm (S) efficiently. The sperm collection container (1) includes a container body (10) and a lid (20). The container body includes an inner container (11) for storing the sperm and an outer container (12) for covering the inner container (11). The inner container (11) includes an input port (14) through which the sperm (S) is inputted and a storage portion (15) having a diameter smaller than that of the input port (14). The storage portion includes a retrieval part (15c) provided at a bottom part (15d) thereof that is sealed when collecting the sperm (S) and is opened by inserting a needle (3) when retrieving the sperm (S). The lid (20) includes an inner lid (23) to be inserted into the inner container (11) to reduce capacity thereof.