Three Door Plate Sealing Mechanism for Portable Thromboelastometer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thromboelastometers expose parts during blood sample loading, leading to dust deposition and reduced service life due to lack of protection.

Innovation Solution

A portable thromboelastometer design using three interlocking door plates to seal the instrument during blood sample loading, reducing dust deposition and friction, and incorporating guiding grooves for stable movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the blood sample-loading mechanism is exposed during loading to a testing position, then the loading operation can be performed, but dust deposition occurs on the exposed parts affecting service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood sample loading operationVSAvoidservice life of internal parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The door structure is divided into three separate door plates (first door plate, second door plate, third door plate) that can move independently. Each door plate covers different sections of the opening, allowing selective exposure and protection of internal components during blood sample loading operations while minimizing dust exposure to sensitive parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The door plates are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically open and close based on the operational state of the blood sample-loading mechanism. The door plates move to exposed positions during loading operations for ease of access, then return to covered positions to protect internal parts from dust deposition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the door plates are made to overlap significantly for sealing, then dust protection is improved, but friction increases causing paint peeling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust protectionVSAvoidpaint peeling from friction
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The door plates are designed with non-uniform overlap characteristics. The first door plate overlaps the second door plate by a first distance, while the second door plate overlaps the third door plate by a second distance that is less than the first distance. This local variation in overlap quality provides sufficient sealing where needed while reducing friction and paint peeling in other areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Guiding grooves are pre-formed on the door plates to anticipate and prevent excessive friction during movement. These grooves guide the relative motion of overlapping door plates, ensuring smooth operation and preventing the paint surface from peeling off due to rubbing friction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Stability of the object's composition

If guiding grooves are added between door plates for stable movement, then movement stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement stability of door platesVSAvoiddoor plate structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding grooves are integrated directly into the door plate structures themselves rather than being separate components. The first guiding groove is formed on the first door plate, and the second guiding groove is formed on the second door plate, merging the guiding function with the existing door plate structure and avoiding additional complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3943936B1Portable thromboelastography instrument
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 HEMOASSAY SCI & TECH SUZHOU CO LTD
  • EP3943936B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3943936B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3943936B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention discloses a door plate structure of a portable thromboelastometer, said structure includes a first door plate, a second door plate connected with the first door plate, and a third door plate connected with the second door plate, while the blood sample-loading mechanism is moving towards the test station, the first door plate drives the second door plate to move during movement process, the second door plate drives the third door plate to move during movement process, three door plates matching with each other makes three door plates always cover the first opening on the thromboelastometer during the movement of said blood sample-loading mechanism. The invention effects the protection of the parts in the housing, frees dust deposition from the parts, and effectively extends the service life of the instrument.