Analyte Testing Automation System Tube Type Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analyte testing automation systems face challenges in accurately verifying the state and volume of analytes after centrifugation, particularly with milky-white blood collection tubes, where the serum and separating agent interface is difficult to distinguish, leading to incorrect verification and the need for time-consuming calibration.
Innovation Solution
An analyte testing automation system with an imaging unit that captures images from the side of the container, a container type specification unit, and a control unit that processes images based on specified parameters to discriminate the analyte state and calculate volume, using pre-stored database parameters for different types of blood collection tubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a milky-white blood collection tube is used, then the tube material provides separation functionality, but the white color emphasizes in captured images making serum color verification difficult and increasing incorrect verification risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies color space conversion (RGB to HSV) and dynamic threshold adjustment based on tube type to compensate for the white color interference in milky-white tubes. By adapting the color verification thresholds according to the detected tube type, the system maintains accurate serum color verification despite the emphasizing white color in captured images.
2Measurement precision
If the interface between serum and white gel-like separating agent is verified in a milky-white tube, then volume measurement is required, but the white color makes interface verification difficult increasing incorrect verification risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the detection parameters (color thresholds) based on the tube type detected. For milky-white tubes, different HSV threshold ranges are applied compared to transparent tubes, enabling accurate interface detection between serum and separating agent despite the challenging white background color.
3Reliability
If calibration of each blood collection tube type is performed by user, then accurate verification can be achieved, but much time and effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic tube type identification and self-calibration by detecting the tube type from captured images and automatically selecting or adjusting the appropriate verification parameters. This eliminates the need for manual user calibration while maintaining verification accuracy across different tube types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-stores verification parameters for multiple tube types and automatically selects the appropriate parameters based on detected tube type. This preliminary preparation of parameters for various tube types allows the system to adapt to different tubes without requiring time-consuming manual calibration each time.
4Adaptability or versatility
If numerous types of blood collection tubes are used, then versatility is improved, but the differences in color and shape increase verification complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal verification approach by detecting tube type characteristics (color, shape) and automatically adapting verification parameters accordingly. A single system can handle numerous tube types by identifying their specific characteristics and applying appropriate verification criteria, eliminating the need for separate verification procedures for each tube type.
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
Enables precise and automatic verification of analyte state and volume, reducing the risk of incorrect analysis and eliminating the need for user calibration, allowing for efficient loading of various blood collection tubes without manual calibration efforts.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging unit for capturing an image from the side of a container containing a biological sample
Implementation Method 2
the contents of the blood collection tubes can be observed from the outside through the wall
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The type of blood collection tube (1) inserted into this system is automatically recognized, a lifting operation for checking the state and volume of analyte is switched on the basis of the automatic recognition result, a mechanical operation parameter based on the blood collection tube type is determined, and the blood collection tube (1) is grasped and lifted. Then, an image processing threshold is changed on the basis of the automatic recognition result, and image processing is performed using a threshold parameter based on the blood collection tube type to check the state and volume of the analyte. This enables precise automatic checking of the state and/or volume of the analyte for various types of blood collection tubes.