Fluid Control Devices for Diverse Industry Applications

The inventive concept applies the core technology of fluid control devices to novel applications beyond medical sampling, including environmental water quality monitoring, agricultural irrigation, industrial process fluid analysis, air quality monitoring, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

The original patent addressed the challenge of procuring bodily fluid samples with reduced contaminants. However, the technology's potential extends beyond medical sampling. This inventive concept solves the problem of limited application scope by adapting the fluid control device to diverse industries, enabling contamination reduction and efficient fluid handling in various contexts.

The inventive concept comprises a fluid diversion device, a sequestration chamber, and a flow controller. The device receives a flow of fluid from a source and isolates an initial volume in the sequestration chamber. The flow controller then diverts subsequent volumes of fluid to a testing apparatus, crop, analyzer, or manufacturing apparatus for analysis, irrigation, testing, or further processing. This enables the reduction of contaminants and efficient fluid handling in various industries.

The new claims introduce novel applications and use cases for the fluid control device, expanding its scope beyond medical sampling. The inventive step lies in adapting the core technology to address contamination and fluid handling challenges in diverse industries, providing a non-obvious solution to these problems.

Alternative embodiments may include variations in the sequestration chamber design, flow controller mechanisms, or integration with different types of testing apparatus or manufacturing equipment. These variations can be tailored to specific industry requirements, ensuring broad conceptual coverage.

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including environmental monitoring, agriculture, industrial process control, air quality management, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The technology can be licensed or integrated into existing products, offering a competitive advantage in these markets.