Tear Fluid Sampling Device Using Continuous Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tear fluid sampling techniques are plagued by low reproducibility, discomfort, risk of injury, and inability to collect sufficient volumes for accurate diagnosis of ocular surface disorders, particularly dry eye disease and allergic conjunctivitis, due to anatomical constraints and evaporation issues.
Innovation Solution
A device with an extraction element and suction means that continuously draws tear fluid from the conjunctival sac for over 10 minutes, using a flexible catheter with perforations and a collection vessel capable of holding at least 20 μL, minimizing evaporation and injury, and allowing for extended sampling periods with minimal medical intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional sampling techniques are used, then the procedure is simple, but the collected tear fluid volume is insufficient for accurate diagnosis
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies suction before and during the sampling process to actively draw tear fluid from the conjunctival sac, ensuring sufficient volume is collected before analysis begins. This preliminary action of creating negative pressure enables reliable sample acquisition that meets diagnostic volume requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If sampling is performed for sufficient duration to collect adequate volume, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but evaporation alters the sample composition
Solution Approach 1:
The device maintains continuous suction throughout the sampling process, ensuring uninterrupted collection of tear fluid. This continuous action allows adequate volume to be gathered in a controlled manner that minimizes exposure time to evaporation, preserving sample composition integrity while achieving diagnostic volume requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a controlled environment during sampling that protects the tear fluid from environmental factors causing evaporation. By maintaining continuous suction and controlling the sampling environment, the device prevents compositional changes due to evaporation while collecting sufficient sample volume.
3Quantity of substance
If invasive sampling methods are used to obtain sufficient volume, then sample quantity increases, but patient discomfort and injury risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces invasive mechanical sampling methods with a suction-based system that draws tear fluid through a catheter. This substitution eliminates the need for puncture or forceful extraction, reducing patient discomfort and injury risk while maintaining sufficient sample volume collection through controlled negative pressure.
4Reliability
If sampling requires extended medical personnel presence, then sample quality can be monitored, but productivity and ease of operation decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to perform sampling autonomously once positioned, with the suction system automatically drawing tear fluid through the catheter into the collection vial. This self-service capability allows sampling to proceed without continuous medical personnel intervention, improving productivity while maintaining sample quality through the built-in suction control mechanism.
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 device provides a reliable, efficient, and safe method for sampling tear fluid, optimizing quantity and quality, enabling reproducible diagnoses of ocular surface disorders with reduced medical personnel presence and minimizing sample alteration by evaporation.
Implementation Method 1
suction means adapted to continuously draw tear fluid from the eye to the collection vessel, through the extraction element
Data Source
AI summary
Device for sampling tear fluid that comprises: an extraction element (202) adapted to be applied on the eye to draw tear fluid therefrom, comprising at least one tube (209) and a distal portion (201) with at least one opening (207), a collection vessel (203), connected to said tube (209), suction means (210) adapted to continuously draw tear fluid from the eye to the collection vessel (203), through the extraction element (202) for a period higher than 10 minutes once the extraction element (202) is in place.