Swab Collection Kit with Segregated Culture Medium and Peelable Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current swab collection and culture medium systems lack effective protection against contamination and efficient sample collection and analysis for antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, particularly in clinical, veterinary, and environmental applications.
Innovation Solution
A sterile swab collection system comprising a storage tray with recesses for swabs, culture medium, and cap, where the tray has a peelable cover and a cap that securely holds a segregated culture medium, allowing for easy access and mixing of components, and swabs with absorbent tips designed to collect and transport microorganisms without contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a peelable cover is used to protect the absorbent tips, then contamination protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A peelable cover is placed over the absorbent tips before use to prevent contamination. This preliminary protective action ensures sterility is maintained until the moment of sampling, resolving the contradiction by providing contamination protection through a simple additive component rather than complex integrated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection system is divided into separate functional components: a peelable cover for protection, a swab with absorbent tip for sampling, and a storage device for the culture medium. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively while maintaining overall system sterility without requiring complex integration.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If culture medium is segregated in the cap, then sterility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cap serves dual functions: it seals the culture medium in the storage device to maintain sterility, and simultaneously acts as a mixing tool when rotated against the swab. This merging of sealing and mixing functions resolves the contradiction by integrating sterility protection with ease of operation through a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap's rotation against the swab automatically mixes the culture medium without requiring separate mixing equipment or complex mechanisms. The system uses the cap's own motion to achieve mixing, maintaining sterility while simplifying operation through self-service functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are included in the storage tray, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage tray serves multiple functions: it stores the swab, holds the storage device with culture medium, and provides a structured organization system with recesses. This multi-functionality in a single component resolves the contradiction by consolidating multiple storage and organizational functions into one versatile tray rather than requiring multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device with culture medium is nested within the storage tray, and the cap nests within the storage device when not in use. This nesting arrangement allows multiple components to be organized efficiently within the tray structure, providing comprehensive functionality while maintaining a compact, organized system that doesn't excessively increase complexity.
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 system ensures sterility and ease of use by protecting the absorbent tips from contamination, facilitating efficient sample collection and analysis, and allowing for the detection of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms like MRSA, VRE, and CRE.
Implementation Method 1
swabs with absorbent tips designed to collect and transport microorganisms
Implementation Method 2
the tray has a peelable cover and a cap that securely holds a segregated culture medium, allowing for easy access and mixing of components, and swabs with absorbent tips designed to collect and transport microorganisms without contamination
Data Source
AI summary
A collection system including a storage tray and a swab positioned in the storage tray, wherein the swab is configured to collect a sample comprising one or more microorganisms. The system further includes a generally elongate storage device positioned in the tray. The storage device is configured to contain a culture medium therein and configured to receive therein at least part of the one or more microorganisms collected by the swab. The storage tray includes a first recess configured to receive the storage device in a longitudinal configuration, and a second recess configured to receive the storage device in an axial configuration oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal configuration.