Vented Lid Seal for Fluid Sample Containers Without Tube Underfill

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid collection containers face issues with under-filling and slow filling of specimen collection tubes due to vacuum formation in the headspace, exacerbated by older tubes and requiring complete sealing which leads to potential leakage.

Innovation Solution

A container assembly with a textured sealing surface region allowing air exchange while maintaining a fluid-tight seal, formed by chemical etching, to prevent vacuum formation and minimize leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hermetic seal is used between the lid and collection container, then fluid leakage is prevented, but vacuum formation occurs causing under-fill of collection tubes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid leakage preventionVSAvoidcollection tube fill efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing interface incorporates a textured sealing surface region with micro-scale porosity that allows air molecules to pass through while blocking larger fluid molecules. This porous structure enables air exchange to prevent vacuum formation while maintaining fluid containment, resolving the contradiction between hermetic sealing and vacuum prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing interface has non-uniform properties with a textured sealing surface region that provides different functionality than the bulk seal material. The textured region locally allows air permeability while the overall seal maintains fluid tightness, enabling differential permeability to resolve the contradiction between complete sealing and air exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the container assembly size is increased to reduce vacuum effects, then fill efficiency improves, but material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollection tube fill efficiencyVSAvoidmaterial usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing container size to mitigate vacuum effects, the invention uses a porous textured sealing surface that allows air exchange at the existing seal interface. This approach maintains efficient tube filling without requiring additional materials or larger container dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the permeability parameter of the sealing interface by introducing a textured surface structure, allowing air to pass through while maintaining fluid containment. This parameter change eliminates the need to increase container size, thereby avoiding additional material costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the lid is unsealed to release vacuum, then fill efficiency improves, but fluid leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollection tube fill efficiencyVSAvoidfluid containment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The textured sealing surface acts as a porous membrane that selectively allows air passage while blocking fluid leakage. This enables the seal to remain closed and containment-intact while still releasing vacuum by allowing air exchange, resolving the contradiction between maintaining seal integrity and preventing vacuum formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The textured sealing surface region acts as an intermediary structure between the sealed container and the external environment. It mediates between the need for fluid containment and the need for air exchange by providing selective permeability that allows air through while blocking fluid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Ensures efficient filling of specimen collection tubes without leakage, regardless of fluid volume or tube age, by venting air to maintain a stable pressure within the container assembly.

Implementation Method 1

The sealing interface includes a textured sealing surface region configured to allow air into or out of the container assembly when the container lid is coupled to the collection container while maintaining a substantially fluid-tight seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir exchange through textured surface: Porosity

Data Source

PatentUS12544046B2Fluid sample collection container and lid with vented seal configuration

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 BECTON DICKINSON & CO

AI summary

A container assembly for collecting a fluid specimen including a collection container having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween and defining a chamber for receiving the fluid specimen. The container assembly may include a container lid couplable to the collection container to at least partially close the first end thereof. The container lid may include a sealing interface configured to at least partially contact the collection container when the container lid is coupled to the collection container. The sealing interface may include a textured sealing surface region configured to allow air into or out of the container assembly when the container lid is coupled to the collection container, while maintaining a substantially fluid-tight seal between the container lid and the collection container.