Tissue Sample Container with Threaded Mixing Sleeve
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for storing and transporting tissue samples using formaldehyde as a fixative-preservative pose health risks due to toxicity and require complex sealing mechanisms that hinder the passage of the fixative, leading to inefficiencies and potential contamination.
Innovation Solution
A container design with a single connecting sleeve that threads both a non-toxic buffer solution receptacle and a toxic formaldehyde receptacle, allowing direct mixing without protective film sealing, and featuring venting slots to minimize air interference and vapor emission, reducing the number of components and simplifying the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective film sealing mechanism is used in the cap, then the health safety is improved by containing formaldehyde, but the device complexity increases and the passage of formaldehyde is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the protective film sealing mechanism from the cap structure. Instead of sealing the cap with a film that requires piercing, the formaldehyde capsule is designed to be screwed directly onto the cap's internal thread, eliminating the need for piercing tips and film sealing while maintaining containment through the capsule's own sealing structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sealing function into the capsule itself rather than requiring a separate protective film on the cap. The capsule's external thread engages with the cap's internal thread, and the capsule's structure provides the sealing mechanism, combining multiple functions (containment, sealing, and release) into a single component
2Productivity
If piercing tips are provided on the cap to pierce the protective film, then the formaldehyde can pass through, but the device complexity increases and air interference hinders the passage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the piercing tips from the cap structure. The formaldehyde capsule is designed to be screwed onto the cap's internal thread, and the capsule's structure provides the sealing and release mechanism without requiring any piercing action, thereby eliminating the complexity of piercing tips and avoiding air interference issues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the capsule itself as the intermediary mechanism between the formaldehyde storage and release. The capsule's external thread engages with the cap's internal thread, and the capsule's structure provides the sealing and release mechanism, eliminating the need for separate piercing tips or protective films
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a multi-component container system is used (lower receptacle, cap, capsule, ring nut), then the formaldehyde containment is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to multiple assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components into a simplified structure. The capsule is designed to screw directly onto the cap's internal thread, eliminating the need for separate ring nuts and complex assembly steps. The capsule's external thread engages with the cap's internal thread, providing both containment and sealing in a single operation
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule serves multiple functions: it contains the formaldehyde, provides the sealing mechanism through its external thread engagement with the cap's internal thread, and acts as the release mechanism when unscrewed. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components like ring nuts and protective films
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
This design minimizes exposure to toxic substances, ensures efficient mixing of solutions, maintains tissue integrity, and reduces the risk of contamination, while being intuitive and reducing the chance of user error during sample storage and transport.
Implementation Method 1
The formaldehyde flows from the upper receptacle to the lower receptacle along the through holes made in the base of the cap
Implementation Method 2
featureing venting slots to minimize air interference and vapor emission
Implementation Method 3
a connecting sleeve that threads both a non-toxic buffer solution receptacle and a toxic formaldehyde receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
A container (1) for in vitro diagnostic has a lower receptacle (2) designed to contain a non-toxic liquid (LS), an upper receptacle (3) designed to contain a toxic liquid (LF), and a connecting sleeve (4), in a threaded coupling with the lower receptacle (2) and the upper receptacle (3) for butt joining them. The connecting sleeve (4) has a transversal septum (40) being provided with a plurality of passage openings (48) and vent openings (49). When the container (1) is completely closed, both the lower receptacle (2) and the upper receptacle (3) abut the transversal septum (40). If the upper receptacle (3) is partially unscrewed with respect to the transversal septum (40), the toxic liquid (LF) flows by gravity into the lower receptacle (2). A method for storing a sample of human or animal tissue by using the container (1) is also provided.