Tissue Sampling Kit with Breakable Seal and Auto-Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue sampling devices are inefficient due to the need for manual loading and unloading of cutting elements, risk of injury from sharp cutting elements, and time-consuming decapping processes, which slow down the sampling process and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A tissue sampling kit with a collecting device that includes a punch with a cutting element and a plunger, where the cutting element is automatically ejected and retained within the storage tube, and a cap with a breakable seal that allows for simultaneous decapping of multiple tubes, enabling efficient and safe tissue sample collection and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual loading and unloading of cutting elements is used, then the device structure is simple, but the productivity is low and the operation is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting element is nested within the storage tube, which is held in the collecting device. After sampling, the cutting element is automatically ejected into the storage tube for safe disposal. This nested arrangement eliminates the need for manual loading and unloading operations, significantly improving productivity while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates an automatic ejection mechanism that propels the cutting element into the storage tube after use. This self-service feature eliminates manual intervention for cutting element disposal, reducing operation time and increasing sampling speed without requiring complex external handling systems.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sharp cutting elements are manually handled, then the device structure is simple, but the harmful factors increase due to injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting element is extracted from the operator's hands and placed within the storage tube after use. The automatic ejection mechanism removes the sharp cutting element from the sampling path and confines it within the protective storage tube, eliminating the injury risk associated with manual handling while maintaining simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting element is designed as a disposable component that is discarded into the storage tube after a single use. This approach eliminates the need for repeated manual handling of sharp reusable cutting elements, thereby reducing injury risk. The cutting element is inexpensive and single-use, making the disposable approach economically viable.
3Productivity
If individual cap removal is required, then the device structure is simple, but the productivity is low and the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple storage tubes are grouped together in a rack system, and the caps of multiple tubes can be removed simultaneously using a single decapping action. This merging of multiple decapping operations into one action significantly improves productivity while keeping the device structure relatively simple through the use of a rack-based organization system.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a kit of parts comprising a collecting device for collecting a tissue sample and a storage tube for storing the tissue sample therein. The collecting device comprises a punch and a plunger located within a bore of the punch and being adapted to slide within the bore. The storage tube comprises a tube body having an open first end, a closed second end, and a cap located at the first end of the tube body, the cap having a breakable seal that extends across the body of the tube to seal the first end of the tube body. The collecting device is adapted to break the seal of the cap and to fill the resulting opening to close off the storage tube.