Vial Adaptor Piston Mechanism for Pipette-Free Fluid Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved methods and tools to efficiently transfer biological samples and liquid constituents into devices used for nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), especially in situations where pipettes are not readily available, to facilitate effective pathogen detection.
Innovation Solution
A vial adaptor with a cap and piston mechanism that allows for the removably coupling with a vial, enabling the translation of the piston to create a positive pressure change and facilitate the flow of fluid from the vial to a receiving device, preventing re-aspiration and ensuring a watertight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a piston mechanism is used to transfer fluid from a vial, then the efficiency of fluid transfer is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: a vial adaptor portion for coupling to the vial, a piston for generating pressure, and a receiving device interface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to achieve efficient fluid transfer without requiring complex integrated designs
Solution Approach 2:
The vial adaptor acts as an intermediary component between the vial and the receiving device, providing a mechanical interface that enables controlled fluid transfer. The adaptor includes a cavity and piston arrangement that mediates the transfer process, making the system more efficient while keeping individual components relatively simple
2Reliability
If a ratchet mechanism is used to prevent piston return, then the reliability of fluid transfer is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex active locking mechanism to prevent piston return, the design inverts the approach by using the natural elastic deformation of the piston material and the geometry of the cavity to automatically prevent return movement. The piston's elastic properties and the cavity shape work together to ensure unidirectional movement without requiring additional locking components
Solution Approach 2:
The ratchet mechanism is designed to be self-locking through the interaction between the piston's elastic deformation and the cavity geometry. The system serves itself by using the piston's own material properties and the cavity shape to automatically prevent return movement, eliminating the need for external locking mechanisms or additional complexity
3Reliability
If a watertight seal is implemented at the piston-vial interface, then the reliability of fluid transfer is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal design utilizes elastic deformation of the piston material as a key parameter to achieve sealing. By selecting appropriate material properties and geometric parameters, the piston automatically deforms elastically during compression to create a watertight seal against the vial interface, providing reliable sealing without requiring complex sealing mechanisms or difficult operation
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 vial adaptor effectively transfers fluid from a vial to a receiving device, ensuring efficient introduction of biological samples and reagents into NAAT devices without the need for pipettes, enhancing pathogen detection processes.
Implementation Method 1
a translation of the piston in the first direction can cause a positive pressure change in the vial and withdrawal of fluid stored in the vial through the channel of the piston
Data Source
AI summary
A vial adaptor is disclosed. The vial adaptor can include a cap and a piston. The cap can removably couple to a vial storing, for example, liquid constituent for facilitating sample collection for detecting pathogens. The piston can distally translate through the cap and into the vial to generate volume displacement and positive pressure, which can cause the liquid constituent stored in the vial to flow out from the vial via a channel formed within the piston. The piston can include a seal that creates a water-tight barrier with an inner surface of the vial. In certain approaches, the piston may translate as a result of rotating the piston.