Automatic Analysis Device Reagent Cost Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic analysis devices face challenges in maintaining dispensing accuracy for small reagent amounts, leading to increased costs and reduced throughput, especially when handling multiple types of reagents in genetic tests.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a mixed reagent preparation method, where multiple reagents are combined in advance to satisfy dispensing accuracy requirements, with the number of mixed reagent adjustments dynamically set based on the number of requested samples to minimize surplus and optimize reagent usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple types of reagents are dispensed separately for each analysis, then dispensing accuracy for small amounts can be maintained, but the number of dispensing operations increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-mixing multiple reagent types into a single mixed reagent solution before the analysis process. This allows the mixed reagent to be dispensed in a single operation rather than requiring multiple separate dispensing operations for each reagent type, thereby maintaining dispensing accuracy while improving throughput.
2Manufacturing precision
If the amount of reagent used per analysis is increased to satisfy dispensing accuracy requirements, then dispensing accuracy can be ensured, but reagent costs per analysis increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate reagent dispensing operations into a single mixed reagent dispensing operation. By combining multiple reagent types into one solution, the system achieves accurate dispensing of the mixed reagent in a single step, avoiding the need to increase the amount of each individual reagent while still meeting dispensing accuracy requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate dispensers and dispensing chips are prepared for different reagent amounts, then dispensing accuracy can be satisfied, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a single mixed reagent that serves multiple functions - it contains multiple reagent types that would otherwise require separate dispensing systems. This allows a single dispenser and dispensing chip to handle what would otherwise require multiple specialized dispensing systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining dispensing accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an automatic analysis device capable of reducing a reagent cost. In the present invention, in each mixed reagent preparation cycle, an amount of mixed reagent for N analyses is mixed and prepared, and an amount of mixed reagent for one analysis is dispensed from the amount of mixed reagent for N analyses and used to analyze one sample. Minimum (Nmin) and maximum (Nmax) values for N are determined for a control unit beforehand, and if the analysis of J samples is requested, the control unit sets the value of N at the time of a mixed reagent preparation cycle within a range from Nmin to Nmax so as to minimize the remaining mixed reagent.