Blood analyzer and liquid level detection method for a blood analyzer

Abstract

The application provides a blood analyzer and a liquid level detection method for the blood analyzer. The blood analyzer comprises a sample collection device for quantitative collection of a sample; a reagent supply device for providing a reagent; a sample reaction device for receiving the sample and the reagent, the reagent reacting with cell particles in the sample in the sample reaction device to obtain a test sample; a detection device for detecting the test sample to obtain a required parameter; a liquid storage device for storing a liquid to be detected, the liquid to be detected comprising the reagent or a sample diluent; and a liquid level measuring device which is arranged in cooperation with the liquid storage device and can measure the change of the liquid level of the liquid to be detected based on the change of the capacitance. The blood analyzer and the liquid level detection method of the application have the advantages that the liquid level detection reaction is fast, the height of the liquid level can be measured in real time and continuously, and the amount of infusion should be given in time when the liquid volume is insufficient, so that waste is avoided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of sample analysis, and more particularly, to a blood analyzer and a liquid level detection method for the blood analyzer. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the process of sample detection in the medical field, it is necessary to measure the liquid level of the stored liquid many times. For example, because the temperature during the reaction of reagents and samples has a great influence on the detection result, in order to ensure the consistency of the detection result, it is necessary to control the reaction temperature within a certain range. Taking a blood analyzer as an example, the reaction temperature is directly affected by the temperature of the sample diluent, so controlling the temperature of the sample diluent is a direct means to control the reaction temperature. The method used is to heat the sample diluent at low temperature before the reaction, so that it reaches the target reaction temperature before the reaction.

[0003] The common method is to insert a heating rod into the pre-heating pool, and heat the sample diluent in the pool by electrifying the heating rod. However, when the sample diluent remaining in the pre-heating pool is not enough to completely cover the heating rod, the heating rod is at risk of dry burning during the use of this method. At present, there are mainly two ways to judge whether the heating rod is dry burning:

[0004] One way is to install a float sensor 24 in the pre-heating pool 22 to detect the state of the sample diluent in the pool, so as to prevent the heating rod 26 from dry burning (see Figure 1 and Figure 2 ). Generally, there are two ways to install the float sensor 24: one is to install it on the top of the pre-heating pool 22, as shown in Figure 1 , in which case the sample diluent can be detected as full or not full; the other is to install it on the bottom of the pre-heating pool 22, as shown in Figure 2As shown, in this case, the sample diluent can be detected as empty or non-empty. However, regardless of whether the float sensor 24 is installed at the top or the bottom of the pre-heating pool 22, neither of the two ways can detect the specific state of the sample diluent when it is in the middle position, in other words, cannot continuously detect the liquid level of the sample diluent. Specifically, when the float sensor 24 is installed at the top of the pre-heating pool 22, when the liquid level in the pool is not in the full state but has not yet decreased to the point that it cannot completely cover the heating rod, and only a little lower than the full liquid state, at this time, in order to prevent the heating rod 26 from being dry, the machine will perform a priming operation to fill the sample diluent, and in order to ensure that the pool is filled, the priming amount at a time is according to the full empty of the pool, which will frequently perform the priming operation, waste time and waste sample diluent. When the float sensor 24 is installed at the bottom of the pre-heating pool 22, the liquid level of the sample diluent can have been lower than the heating rod, but it has not yet reached the liquid level that triggers the float sensor 24 to alarm, but at this time the heating rod 26 has been dry, and the machine has not yet alarmed, but thinks that the diluent is sufficient.

[0005] Another way is to add a temperature switch to the pre-heating pool. If the heating rod is dry, the temperature in the pool will rise sharply, and when it reaches the trigger temperature of the temperature switch, the temperature switch will act, disconnect the power supply, and stop heating. The disadvantage of this detection method is that when the temperature switch acts, the dry burning has already occurred, and in order to act quickly, the temperature switch needs to be placed as close to the heating rod as possible, which has higher requirements for structural design and installation process.

[0006] In addition, optical coupling detection is also a common method for detecting the presence or absence of sample diluent. Among them, a pipeline for liquid flow is placed between the light-emitting side and the light-receiving side of the optical coupling sensor, when there is liquid in the pipeline, the light path is conducted, and when there is no liquid in the pipeline, the light path is interrupted. However, the optical coupling detection has a very obvious disadvantage, that is, it can only detect the state of the liquid in the pipeline, but cannot directly detect the state of the liquid in the pool, in other words, when it is in a certain critical state, there is no liquid in the pool, but there is still liquid in the pipeline, at this time, the optical coupling detection cannot judge. Moreover, from the above detection principle, it can also be seen that the optical coupling detection cannot judge the specific content of the sample diluent in the pool.

[0007] In view of the various disadvantages of the existing liquid level detection methods for blood analyzers, there is a need in the art for a new type of blood analyzer and a liquid level detection method for a blood analyzer to solve the above problems. SUMMARY

[0008] The present application is proposed to solve the above problems. According to an aspect of the present application, a blood analyzer is provided, which comprises: a sample collection device for quantitatively collecting a sample containing cell particles; a reagent supply device for providing a reagent capable of reacting with the cell particles; a sample reaction device for receiving the sample provided by the sample collection device and the reagent provided by the reagent supply device, and reacting the reagent with the cell particles in the sample in the sample reaction device to obtain a test sample; a detection device for detecting the test sample prepared by the sample reaction device to obtain a required parameter; a liquid storage device for storing a to-be-tested liquid, the to-be-tested liquid including a reagent or a sample diluent; and a liquid level measuring device cooperatively arranged with the liquid storage device and capable of measuring the change of the liquid level of the to-be-tested liquid based on the change of capacitance.

[0009] In one embodiment, the liquid level measuring device comprises a capacitance channel, which comprises a capacitance electrode plate arranged near the outside of the liquid storage device.

[0010] In one embodiment, the capacitance channel comprises at least a first capacitance channel and a second capacitance channel, which are spatially separated and have the same relative position with the liquid storage device to ensure that the capacitance change amount of both the first capacitance channel and the second capacitance channel is the same as the change amount of the liquid level of the to-be-tested liquid.

[0011] In one embodiment, the capacitance electrode plate comprises a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, which are arranged near the opposite sides of the liquid storage device, respectively.

[0012] In one embodiment, the liquid level measuring device further comprises a capacitance detection circuit for detecting the capacitance between the capacitance electrode plates.

[0013] In one embodiment, the capacitance detection circuit comprises a capacitance drive sampling circuit, an LC resonance circuit and a capacitance sensor, wherein the capacitance drive sampling circuit is used to provide excitation for the LC resonance circuit and sample a capacitance signal; the LC resonance circuit is used to provide a current resonance path; and the capacitance sensor is used to measure the resonance capacitance of the capacitance channel to obtain the capacitance between the capacitance electrode plates.

[0014] In one embodiment, the capacitance detection circuit further comprises a filter circuit for filtering out high-frequency radiation interference to the capacitance detection circuit.

[0015] In one embodiment, the liquid level measuring device is arranged on a PCB circuit board, wherein the capacitance electrode plate adopts an FDC flexible plate.

[0016] In one embodiment, the capacitor plate and the capacitance detection circuit are connected by a screw, a metal pin or a soldering connection.

[0017] In one embodiment, the liquid storage device is a pre-heating pool, a liquid storage pool or a reagent pool.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a liquid level detection method for a blood analyzer, the liquid level detection method comprising: providing a liquid storage device for storing a liquid to be measured, the liquid to be measured comprising a reagent or a sample diluent; and providing a liquid level measurement device cooperatively arranged with the liquid storage device for measuring a change in the liquid level of the liquid to be measured based on a change in capacitance.

[0019] In one embodiment, the liquid level measurement device comprises a capacitance channel comprising a capacitor plate, the capacitor plate being arranged near an outer side of the liquid storage device.

[0020] In one embodiment, the capacitance channel comprises at least a first capacitance channel and a second capacitance channel, the first and second capacitance channels being spatially separated and maintaining a same relative position to the liquid storage device to ensure that the amount of change in capacitance of both the first and second capacitance channels is the same as the amount of change in the liquid level of the liquid to be measured.

[0021] In one embodiment, the capacitor plate comprises a positive plate and a negative plate, the positive and negative plates being arranged near opposite sides of the liquid storage device, respectively.

[0022] In one embodiment, wherein the measuring the change in the liquid level of the liquid to be measured based on a change in capacitance comprises: providing an excitation by a capacitance drive sampling circuit and sampling a capacitance signal; providing a current resonance path by an LC resonance circuit; measuring a resonance capacitance of the capacitance channel by a capacitance sensor, thereby obtaining a capacitance between the capacitor plates; and determining the change in the liquid level of the liquid to be measured based on the change in the capacitance.

[0023] In one embodiment, wherein the measuring the change in the liquid level of the liquid to be measured based on a change in capacitance further comprises: filtering out high frequency radiation interference to the liquid level measurement device by a filter circuit.

[0024] In one embodiment, the liquid level measurement device is arranged on a PCB circuit board, wherein the capacitor plate is implemented by a FDC flexible plate.

[0025] The blood analyzer and the liquid level detection method for the blood analyzer according to the embodiments of the present application have a fast liquid level detection response speed, can measure the height of the liquid level in real time and continuously, and can determine how much infusion should be given in time when the liquid volume is insufficient, so as to avoid waste. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present application will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the figures. The drawings provided in the present application are used to provide further understanding of the embodiments of the present application, and constitute a part of the specification, and are used to explain the present application together with the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation of the present application. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are generally used to represent the same components or steps throughout the figures.

[0027] Figure 1 A structure schematic diagram is shown when the float sensor in the existing preheating pool is installed to the top of the preheating pool;

[0028] Figure 2 A structure schematic diagram is shown when the float sensor in the existing preheating pool is installed to the bottom of the preheating pool;

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic structure block diagram of the blood analyzer according to one embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0030] Figure 4 A top view of an exemplary arrangement of the capacitor plates around the liquid storage device when the liquid level measuring device according to one embodiment of the present application includes two capacitor channels is shown;

[0031] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view is shown when two parallel capacitor plates are arranged on the opposite sides outside the liquid storage device according to one embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 6 A schematic circuit structure diagram of an exemplary capacitor detection circuit according to one embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0033] Figure 7 A step flow chart of the liquid level detection method according to one embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0034] Figure 8 A flow chart of exemplary steps of measuring the change of the liquid level of the to-be-measured liquid based on the change of the capacitance according to one embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more obvious, the following will describe the example embodiments according to the present application in detail with reference to the drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments of the present application, and it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the example embodiments described herein. Based on the embodiments of the present application described in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0036] As described above, since the level change of the sample diluent cannot be continuously detected, the heating rod may be dry-burned, and the infusion amount of the sample diluent cannot be accurately controlled.

[0037] In order to solve the above problems, the present application provides a blood analyzer, which comprises: a sample collection device for quantitatively collecting a sample containing cell particles; a reagent supply device for providing a reagent capable of reacting with the cell particles; a sample reaction device for receiving the sample provided by the sample collection device and the reagent provided by the reagent supply device, the reagent reacting with the cell particles in the sample in the sample reaction device to obtain a test sample; a detection device for detecting the test sample prepared by the sample reaction device to obtain a required parameter; a liquid storage device for storing a to-be-tested liquid, the to-be-tested liquid including the reagent or a sample diluent; and a liquid level measuring device cooperatively arranged with the liquid storage device and capable of measuring the level change of the to-be-tested liquid based on the change of the capacitance.

[0038] The blood analyzer of the present application has a fast liquid level detection reaction speed, can measure the height of the liquid level in real time and continuously, and can timely determine how much infusion amount should be given when the liquid volume is insufficient, so as to avoid waste.

[0039] The following will describe the blood analyzer and the liquid level detection method for the blood analyzer according to the present application in detail with reference to specific embodiments.

[0040] Embodiment One

[0041] The present embodiment provides a blood analyzer.

[0042] Referring to Figure 3 , a schematic structural block diagram of the blood analyzer 100 according to the present embodiment is shown. As shown in the figure, the blood analyzer 100 can include a sample collection device 10, a reagent supply device 20, a sample reaction device 30, a detection device 40, a liquid storage device 50 and a liquid level measuring device 60.

[0043] The sample collection device 10 is configured to quantitatively collect the sample and deliver the collected sample to the sample reaction device 30. The sample contains cell particles. The sample collection device 10 may, for example, include a sampling needle, a syringe, a sampling needle cleaning swab, etc. (not shown), but the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the sample collection device 10 may, for example, further include an autosampler or a sample chamber, a blood separation valve, or a quantitative pump, etc.

[0044] Before the reaction, the blood sample needs to be diluted to prepare a sample diluent, which can be stored in a reservoir, etc. Since the temperature during the reaction of the reagent and the sample has a great influence on the detection result, in order to ensure the consistency of the detection result, the sample diluent may need to be heated in advance in a pre-heating pool. At this time, in order to prevent the heating rod from being dry, it is necessary to measure the liquid level of the sample diluent in real time and continuously.

[0045] The reagent supply device 20 is configured to provide reagents, which are quantitatively collected from a reagent bottle or a reagent barrel and delivered to the sample reaction device 30. The reagents can react with the cell particles in the sample. The reagents may, for example, include a diluent, a fluorescent dye, and / or a hemolytic agent, etc. The specific reagents can be configured according to the sample type and the measurement mode. For example, when only the white blood cell classification measurement mode is performed, the reagents include a diluent, a hemolytic agent for dissolving red blood cells and processing white blood cell morphology, and a fluorescent dye for staining white blood cells. When only the reticulocyte measurement mode is performed, the reagents include a diluent, a reagent for red blood cell sphering processing, and a fluorescent dye for staining reticulocyte nucleic acid.

[0046] The reagent supply device 20 may, for example, include a syringe and necessary pipeline cleaning device, etc., but the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the reagent supply device 20 may, for example, further include a quantitative pump and a reservoir of various reagents.

[0047] The sample reaction device 30 is configured to receive the sample provided by the sample collection device 10 and the reagent provided by the reagent supply device 20, and the reagent reacts with the cell particles in the sample in the sample reaction device 30 to prepare a test sample. For example, the sample reaction device 30 can include a mixing device for mixing the sample and the reagent. For example, the mixing device can mix the sample and the reagent by bubbling, and can include a gas pump and a control valve device. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and can be configured as needed. For example, the mixing device can mix the sample and the reagent by stirring with a motor, and can include any type of motor. It should be understood that the sample reaction device 30 can also include other devices, such as a temperature control device, as needed, and the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the sample reaction device 30 can include a plurality of devices for different measurement modes, such as a white blood cell classification measurement mode and a reticulocyte measurement mode, each of which usually uses one sample reaction device. In this way, the measurement rate can be improved, and cross-infection of reagents between different measurement modes can be avoided.

[0048] The detection device 40 is configured to detect the test sample prepared by the sample reaction device 30 to obtain the required parameters. For example, the detection device 40 can include a plurality of detection units for detecting different parameters, such as white blood cell parameters, red blood cell parameters, hemoglobin parameters, and platelet parameters. For example, the detection device 40 can include optical detection units, impedance detection units, colorimetric detection units, and the like. The impedance detection units can be configured as sheath flow impedance detection units, and the like. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and can be configured as needed.

[0049] The liquid storage device 50 is configured to store a liquid to be measured. For example, the liquid to be measured can include reagents or sample diluents, such as blood diluents and various reagents, including diluents, fluorescent dyes, and / or hemolytic agents, and the like. The present application is not limited thereto. Therefore, the liquid storage device 50 can be a liquid storage tank, a pre-heating tank, a reagent tank, and the like, and the present application is not limited thereto. Any storage device for storing a liquid in the blood analyzer 100 can be the liquid storage device 50 of the present application. In addition, the above-mentioned liquid storage tank, pre-heating tank, reagent tank, and the like can be located in any one or more of the sample collection device 10, the reagent supply device 20, the sample reaction device 30, the detection device 40, and the like, or can be a separate device, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0050] The liquid level measurement device 60 is configured to cooperate with the liquid storage device 50 to measure the change in the liquid level of the liquid to be measured based on the change in capacitance. The liquid level measurement device 60 can include a capacitance channel, and the capacitance channel can include a capacitance plate.

[0051] Exemplarily, the electric capacity plate can be single-ended or side-by-side, and the present application does not limit the same. The single-ended refers to only including one electric capacity plate, and the capacity between the electric capacity plate and the ground is measured at this time. The side-by-side refers to including a pair of electric capacity plates (positive plate and negative plate), and the capacity between the two electric capacity plates is measured at this time.

[0052] In one embodiment, the liquid level measuring device 60 can include one electric capacity channel.

[0053] Since various power devices exist in the blood analyzer, the electromagnetic field environment is complex, and the electric capacity detection signal is extremely susceptible to external interference. In order to eliminate the external interference, the signal needs to be filtered. Among them, only the change of the electric capacity value caused by the change of the liquid level height is the useful signal, and the rest can be considered as noise and needs to be filtered. Therefore, in order to filter the external interference, the present application proposes a multi-channel detection method for filtering the interference signal. Specifically, in another embodiment, the liquid level measuring device 60 can include two or more electric capacity channels, wherein each electric capacity channel is spatially separated and maintains the same relative position with the liquid storage device 50, so that the change amount of the electric capacity of each electric capacity channel with the change amount of the liquid level of the liquid storage device 50 is the same, so that the interference signal can be filtered. Among them, the relative position maintaining the same refers to maintaining the same distance between the electric capacity plate and the outer wall of the liquid storage device 50, and maintaining the same facing area between the electric capacity plate and the liquid storage device 50, wherein the facing area maintaining the same can be realized by, for example, maintaining the same up-down positional relationship between the electric capacity plate and the liquid storage device 50.

[0054] As Figure 4 A top view showing an exemplary arrangement of the electric capacity plate around the liquid storage device 50 when the liquid level measuring device 60 includes two electric capacity channels (channel one 42 and channel two 44) is shown, wherein each electric capacity channel includes two electric capacity plates. When measuring, the change amounts of the electric capacities of the channel one and the channel two are detected simultaneously, and if the change of the electric capacity is caused by the change of the liquid level height, then the change amounts of the channel one and the channel two should be the same, and therefore if the change amounts of the channel one and the channel two are different, then it can be considered that the signal is the interference signal of the outside world, and can be directly filtered.

[0055] For the convenience of understanding, the following takes the liquid level measuring device 60 including one electric capacity channel and including two electric capacity plates as an example, and the exemplary principle of the method for measuring the change of the liquid level based on the change of the electric capacity is introduced as follows:

[0056] As Figure 5A cross-sectional view is shown with two parallel capacitor plates (shown as positive plate 52 and negative plate 54) arranged on opposite sides of the outside of the liquid storage device 50. Taking the calculation method of the parallel plate capacitor in this figure as an example, the capacitance between the two plates is determined by the following formula:

[0057]

[0058] Where ε is the relative permittivity, S is the area of ​​the two plates facing each other, k is the electrostatic constant, and d is the distance between the parallel plates. The area S of the two capacitor plates facing each other remains constant, while the ratio of air to liquid between the plates changes with the liquid level in the liquid storage device 50. When the liquid storage device 50 is full, the space between the capacitor plates is entirely filled with liquid; when the liquid storage device 50 is empty, the space between the capacitor plates is entirely filled with air. Therefore, by measuring the capacitance C between the two plates, the ratio of liquid to air can be deduced, thus obtaining the liquid level in the liquid storage device 50. If the liquid storage device 50 is a preheating tank, knowing the specific liquid level allows for real-time determination of whether the heating rod is in a dry-burning state, and the specific amount of liquid to be added can be determined based on the specific liquid level, preventing waste.

[0059] Exemplarily, the liquid level measuring device 60 may further include a capacitance detection circuit for detecting the capacitance C between the capacitor plates. Exemplarily, the capacitance detection circuit may employ any capacitance measurement method known in the art, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0060] For example, the capacitance C can be detected using an LC resonant frequency detection method. (See reference...) Figure 6 The figure illustrates a schematic circuit diagram of an exemplary capacitance detection circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the capacitance detection circuit uses an LC resonant frequency detection method to detect capacitance. As shown, the capacitance detection circuit may include a capacitance driving sampling circuit 62, an LC resonant circuit 64, and a capacitance sensor 66.

[0061] The capacitor driving sampling circuit 62 may include a capacitor detection chip (shown as U1 in the figure) for providing excitation to the LC resonant circuit 64 and sampling the capacitor signal. Exemplarily, the capacitor detection chip can be any capacitor detection chip known in the art, such as the FDC2114, etc., and this invention does not limit it.

[0062] The LC resonant circuit 64 may include capacitors (C16 and C17 shown in the figure) and inductors (L1 and L2 shown in the figure) to provide a current resonant path. The capacitance of the capacitors and the inductance of the inductors can be set as needed, and this invention does not limit this.

[0063] The capacitance sensor 66 is used to measure the resonant capacitance of the capacitance channel, so as to obtain the capacitance between the capacitance plates. With reference to Figure 6 , the parallel capacitance of the capacitor C16 and the capacitance sensor 66 is used as the resonant capacitance of the channel 1, and the capacitance value of the channel 1 capacitance sensor can be obtained by subtracting the capacitance of the capacitor C16 from the measured resonant capacitance; the parallel capacitance of the capacitor C17 and the capacitance sensor 66 is used as the resonant capacitance of the channel 2, and the capacitance value of the channel 2 capacitance sensor can be obtained by subtracting the capacitance of the capacitor C16 from the measured resonant capacitance.

[0064] Exemplarily, the capacitance detection circuit can further comprise a filter circuit 63 for filtering out high-frequency radiation interference to the capacitance detection circuit. The filter circuit 63 can comprise a plurality of filter capacitors (shown as C18-C25 in the figure) and resistors (shown as R1-R4 in the figure), and the capacitance of the filter capacitors and the resistance of the resistors can be set as required, which is not limited in the present application.

[0065] It should be understood that the specific circuit structure of the above-mentioned capacitance detection circuit is only exemplary, and any other scheme known in the art can be used to detect the capacitance of the capacitance channel, such as the PICOCAP single-chip scheme, etc., which is not limited in the present application.

[0066] Exemplarily, in order to maximize the sensitivity of the liquid level detection, the plate width of the capacitance plate is wider.

[0067] Exemplarily, the liquid level measuring device 60 is arranged on a PCB circuit board, wherein the capacitance plate adopts a FDC flexible plate, the entire measuring link adopts a rigid-flexible combination plate, and the capacitance plate and the capacitance detection circuit are connected through a screw, a metal pin, or welding connection, etc., instead of a wire, so as to avoid the parasitic capacitance caused by the wire connection, thereby providing the detection accuracy of the capacitance.

[0068] According to the blood analyzer of the present embodiment, the liquid level detection reaction is fast, the liquid level height of the liquid can be measured in real time and continuously, when the liquid is heated, it can also be judged in time whether the heating rod is dry burning and how much the perfusion amount should be given when the liquid volume is insufficient, so as to avoid waste and not contact the liquid and occupy the space of the liquid storage device.

[0069] Embodiment two

[0070] The present embodiment provides a liquid level detection method for a blood analyzer. With reference to Figure 7 which shows a step flow chart of the liquid level detection method 700 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0071] As Figure 7As shown, the liquid level detection method 700 can include the following steps:

[0072] Step S720: providing a liquid storage device for storing a liquid to be measured, the liquid to be measured including a reagent or a sample diluent.

[0073] Exemplarily, the sample diluent can be a blood diluent containing cell particles, and the reagent can include a diluent, a fluorescent dye, and / or a hemolytic agent, etc., which are not limited by the present application. Therefore, the liquid storage device can be a liquid storage pool, a pre-heating pool, a reagent pool, etc., which are not limited by the present application. In addition, the above-mentioned liquid storage pool, pre-heating pool, reagent pool, etc. can be located in any one or more of the sample collection device, reagent supply device, sample reaction device, detection device, etc. of the blood analyzer as needed, or can be an independent device, which are not limited by the present application.

[0074] Step S740: providing a liquid level measurement device, which is arranged in cooperation with the liquid storage device, for measuring the change of the liquid level of the liquid to be measured based on the change of the capacitance.

[0075] The liquid level measurement device can include a capacitance channel, and the capacitance channel can include a capacitance plate.

[0076] Exemplarily, the capacitance plate can be single-ended or side-by-side, which are not limited by the present application. The single-ended refers to including only one capacitance plate, and the capacitance between the capacitance plate and the ground is measured at this time. The side-by-side refers to including a pair of capacitance plates (positive plate and negative plate), and the capacitance between the two capacitance plates is measured at this time.

[0077] In an embodiment, the liquid level measurement device can include one capacitance channel.

[0078] Because various power devices exist in the blood analyzer, the electromagnetic field environment is complex, and the capacitance detection signal is easily disturbed by the outside world. In order to eliminate the interference of the outside world, the signal needs to be filtered. Among them, only the change of the capacitance value caused by the change of the liquid level height is the useful signal, and the rest can be considered as noise and needs to be filtered out. Therefore, in order to filter out the external interference, the application proposes a multi-channel detection method for filtering out the interference signal. Specifically, in another embodiment, the liquid level measuring device can include two or more capacitance channels, wherein each capacitance channel is spatially separated and has the same relative position with the liquid storage device, so that the capacitance change amount of each capacitance channel is the same as the liquid level change amount of the liquid storage device, so that the interference signal can be filtered out. Among them, the relative position remains the same means that the distance between the capacitor plate and the outer wall of the liquid storage device remains the same, and the facing area of the capacitor plate and the liquid storage device remains the same, wherein the facing area remains the same can be realized by, for example, keeping the up-down position relationship between the capacitor plate and the liquid storage device the same.

[0079] Specifically, taking the liquid level measuring device including two capacitance channels as an example, when measuring, the capacitance change amounts ΔC1 and ΔC2 of channel one and channel two are detected at the same time. If the change of the capacitance is caused by the change of the liquid level height, then ΔC1 and ΔC2 should be the same. Therefore, if the change amounts of ΔC1 and ΔC2 are different, then it can be considered that the signal is an interference signal of the outside world, which can be directly filtered out.

[0080] Reference Figure 8 which shows a flow chart of the exemplary steps of measuring the change of the liquid level of the to-be-measured liquid based on the capacitance change according to one embodiment. Exemplarily, the steps of measuring the change of the liquid level of the to-be-measured liquid based on the capacitance change can include:

[0081] Step S7401: providing excitation by the capacitance driving sampling circuit and sampling the capacitance signal.

[0082] Exemplarily, the capacitance driving sampling circuit can include a capacitance detection chip, which can be any capacitance detection chip known in the art, such as FDC2114, etc., and the application does not limit it.

[0083] Step S7402: providing a current resonance path by the LC resonance circuit.

[0084] Among them, the LC resonance circuit can include a capacitor and an inductor, and the capacitance size of the capacitor and the inductance size of the inductor can be set as needed, and the application does not limit it.

[0085] Step S7403: measuring the resonance capacitance of the capacitance channel by the capacitance sensor, thereby obtaining the capacitance between the capacitor plates.

[0086] The resonance capacitance of the capacitance channel can be the parallel capacitance of the capacitance of the capacitor of the LC resonance circuit and the capacitance of the capacitance sensor. Therefore, after the resonance capacitance is measured, the capacitance between the two capacitance plates can be obtained by subtracting the capacitance of the capacitor of the LC resonance circuit from the measured resonance capacitance.

[0087] Step S7404: determining the change of the liquid level of the to-be-measured liquid based on the change of the capacitance.

[0088] The exemplary principle of the method for measuring the change of the liquid level based on the change of the capacitance is as follows: taking the calculation formula of the parallel-plate capacitor as an example, the capacitance between the two plates is determined by the following formula:

[0089]

[0090] wherein ε is the relative dielectric constant, S is the facing area of the two plates, k is the electrostatic force constant, and d is the distance between the parallel plates. The facing area S of the two capacitance plates is constant, and the proportion of the air and the liquid between the two plates changes with the height of the liquid level in the liquid storage device. When the liquid storage device is full, the capacitance plates are filled with liquid, and when the liquid storage device is empty, the capacitance plates are filled with air. Therefore, after the capacitance C between the two plates is measured, the proportion of the liquid and the air can be deduced, and thus the height of the liquid level in the liquid storage device can be obtained.

[0091] Exemplarily, after step 7401, the method can further include the step of filtering the high-frequency radiation interference to the liquid level measuring device by a filter circuit. The filter circuit can include a plurality of filter capacitors and resistors, and the capacitance of the filter capacitors and the resistance of the resistors can be set as needed, which is not limited in the present application.

[0092] It should be understood that the above specific steps for measuring the change of the liquid level of the to-be-measured liquid based on the change of the capacitance are only exemplary, and any other method known in the art can be used to detect the capacitance of the capacitance channel, which is not limited in the present application.

[0093] Exemplarily, in order to maximize the sensitivity of the liquid level detection, the width of the capacitance plate is wider.

[0094] Exemplarily, the liquid level measuring device is arranged on a PCB circuit board, wherein the capacitance plate is made of FDC flexible plate, the entire measuring link is made of rigid-flexible combined plate, and the capacitance plate and the capacitance detection circuit are connected by screws, metal pins, or welding connection, instead of wire connection, so as to avoid the parasitic capacitance caused by wire connection, thereby providing the detection accuracy of the capacitance.

[0095] According to the liquid level detection method for the blood analyzer, the liquid level detection reaction is fast, the liquid level height of the liquid can be measured in real time and continuously, when the liquid is heated, whether the heating rod is dry burning or the liquid volume is insufficient can be determined in time, and the amount of perfusion should be given, so as to avoid waste, and the heating rod is not in contact with the liquid, and the space of the liquid storage device is not occupied.

[0096] Although example embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the example embodiments are only exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application thereto. Various changes and modifications can be made thereto by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present application. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present application as claimed in the appended claims.

[0097] In the specification provided herein, a large number of specific details are described. However, it can be understood that the embodiments of the present application can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of the present specification.

[0098] Similarly, it is to be understood that, in the description of example embodiments of the application, various features of the application are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description of related features, for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various aspects of the application. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the application requires more features than are explicitly recited in each claim. Rather, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of any single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following, in this application for patent are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim acting as a separate embodiment of the application.

[0099] Those skilled in the art can understand that, except for the mutual exclusion between features, all features disclosed in the specification (including the accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) and all processes or units of any method or device disclosed in this way can be combined in any combination. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed in the specification (including the accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) can be replaced by an alternative feature that provides the same, equivalent or similar purpose.

[0100] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that, while certain embodiments described herein comprise other embodiments, certain features described herein can be used in combination with other features to form yet further embodiments. For instance, any of the embodiments described in the claims can be used in any combination.

[0101] It is to be understood that the embodiments described above are merely illustrative of the application and should not be considered limiting the scope of the application as there can be other embodiments that do not depart from the scope of the claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The application can be implemented by means of both hardware and software, and any combination thereof. In a unitary claim, several devices, apparatuses or means can be listed having the same reference numerals and can thus constitute means for performing the same function, even if they are not explicitly mentioned in the claims. The use of relative terms such as "first", "second" and "third" does not limit the scope of the application, but they are used in the context of specific embodiments. The use of clear and concise language does not limit the scope of the application to a set of positive integers.

[0102] The above description is only specific embodiments of the present application or specific explanations of the specific embodiments. The protection scope of the present application is not limited to this, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical range disclosed by the present application, which should be covered within the protection scope of the present application. The protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A blood analyzer characterized by, The blood analyzer comprises: a sample collection device for quantitatively collecting a sample containing cell particles; a reagent supply device for providing a reagent capable of reacting with the cell particles; a sample reaction device for receiving the sample provided by the sample collection device and the reagent provided by the reagent supply device, the reagent reacting with the cell particles in the sample in the sample reaction device to obtain a test sample; a detection device for detecting the test sample prepared by the sample reaction device to obtain a required parameter; a liquid storage device for storing a to-be-tested liquid, the to-be-tested liquid including a sample diluent, the liquid storage device being capable of being inserted into a heating rod to heat the sample diluent stored in the liquid storage device, the liquid storage device being a pre-heating pool; and a liquid level measurement device cooperatively arranged with the liquid storage device and capable of measuring a change in the liquid level of the to-be-tested liquid based on a change in capacitance to determine whether the liquid level of the to-be-tested liquid is lower than the heating rod.

2. The blood analyzer of claim 1, wherein, The liquid level measurement device comprises a capacitance channel, the capacitance channel comprising a capacitance electrode plate arranged near the outside of the liquid storage device.

3. The blood analyzer of claim 2, wherein, The capacitance channel comprises at least a first capacitance channel and a second capacitance channel, the first capacitance channel and the second capacitance channel being spatially separated and maintaining the same relative position with the liquid storage device to ensure that the amount of capacitance change of both the first capacitance channel and the second capacitance channel is the same with the amount of change in the liquid level of the to-be-tested liquid.

4. The blood analyzer according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The capacitance electrode plate comprises a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate being arranged near the opposite sides of the liquid storage device, respectively.

5. The blood analyzer of claim 2 wherein, The liquid level measurement device further comprises a capacitance detection circuit for detecting the capacitance between the capacitance electrode plates.

6. The blood analyzer of claim 5, wherein, The capacitance detection circuit comprises a capacitance drive sampling circuit, an LC resonance circuit and a capacitance sensor, wherein, the capacitance drive sampling circuit is configured to provide excitation for the LC resonance circuit and sample a capacitance signal; the LC resonance circuit is configured to provide a current resonance path; the capacitance sensor is configured to measure the resonance capacitance of the capacitance channel to obtain the capacitance between the capacitance electrode plates.

7. The blood analyzer of claim 6 wherein, The capacitance detection circuit further comprises a filter circuit for filtering out high-frequency radiation interference on the capacitance detection circuit.

8. The blood analyzer according to any one of claims 5-7, wherein, The liquid level measurement device is arranged on a PCB circuit board, wherein the capacitance electrode plate adopts an FDC flexible plate.

9. The blood analyzer of claim 8 wherein, The capacitance electrode plate and the capacitance detection circuit are connected by screws, metal pins or welding.

10. The blood analyzer of claim 1 wherein, The blood analyzer is further configured to: determine the current required perfusion amount based on the liquid level of the to-be-tested liquid when it is determined that the liquid level of the to-be-tested liquid is lower than the heating rod, to supplement the to-be-tested liquid to the liquid storage device based on the perfusion amount.

11. A liquid level detection method for a blood analyzer, characterized by, The liquid level detection method comprises: A liquid storage device is provided for storing a liquid under test, the liquid under test including a sample diluent, the liquid storage device being insertable into a heating rod to heat the sample diluent stored in the liquid storage device, the liquid storage device being a pre-heating cell; A liquid level measurement device is provided to cooperate with the liquid storage device to measure a change in the liquid level of the liquid under test based on a change in capacitance to determine whether the liquid level of the liquid under test is below the heating rod.

12. The liquid level detection method according to claim 11, wherein The liquid level measurement device includes a capacitance channel including a pair of capacitance plates disposed adjacent to the outside of the liquid storage device.

13. The liquid level detection method according to claim 12, wherein The capacitance channel includes at least a first capacitance channel and a second capacitance channel, the first and second capacitance channels being spatially separated and maintaining a same relative position to the liquid storage device to ensure that the amount of change in capacitance of both the first and second capacitance channels is the same as the amount of change in the liquid level of the liquid under test.

14. The liquid level detection method according to claim 12, wherein The pair of capacitance plates includes a positive plate and a negative plate, the positive and negative plates being disposed adjacent to opposite sides of the liquid storage device, respectively.

15. The liquid level detection method of claim 12, wherein, The measuring the change in the liquid level of the liquid under test based on a change in capacitance includes: providing excitation and sampling of a capacitance signal by a capacitance driven sampling circuit; providing a current resonance path by an LC resonance circuit; measuring a resonance capacitance of the capacitance channel by a capacitance sensor to obtain a capacitance between the pair of capacitance plates; determining the change in the liquid level of the liquid under test based on the change in the capacitance.

16. The liquid level detection method of claim 15, wherein, The measuring the change in the liquid level of the liquid under test based on a change in capacitance further includes filtering out high frequency radiation interference to the liquid level measurement device by a filter circuit.

17. The liquid level detection method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that, The liquid level measurement device is disposed on a PCB circuit board, wherein the pair of capacitance plates are implemented as FDC flexible plates.

18. The liquid level detection method of claim 11, wherein, The method further includes: The liquid level measurement device determines a current amount of priming needed based on the liquid level of the liquid under test to supplement the liquid under test to the liquid storage device based on the amount of priming when the liquid level of the liquid under test is determined to be below the heating rod.

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