Analytical Device With Reagent Restricting Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Analytical devices face challenges in ensuring that blood sufficiently reaches the glucose electrodes on the downstream side in the flow path and in allowing a sufficient amount of reagent to be dropped on the electrodes without increasing the flow path volume, which can be painful for patients and affect measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a dropped reagent restricting element formed between the downstream end of the hematocrit electrodes and the upstream end of the glucose electrodes, which restricts the movement of the reagent in a crosswise direction, allowing blood to reach the glucose electrodes and ensuring a sufficient reagent amount is applied, while maintaining a compact flow path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separated element is provided in the middle of the hematocrit electrodes and glucose electrodes to prevent interference, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the flow path volume increases causing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gap dimension between the hematocrit electrodes and glucose electrodes, arranging them in a stepped configuration rather than linearly. This dimensional change allows the blood sample to flow through the gap from the hematocrit electrode side to the glucose electrode side, providing separation functionality while maintaining a compact flow path volume that does not increase patient discomfort.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reagent is dropped on the glucose electrodes to enable glucose detection, then measurement function is achieved, but the reagent may move to the hematocrit electrodes causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the reagent application zone to only the glucose electrode area by providing a gap that physically separates the reagent droplet from the hematocrit electrodes. This extraction ensures that the reagent remains confined to the glucose electrode region where it is needed, preventing interference with the hematocrit measurement while maintaining the glucose detection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap acts as an intermediary barrier between the reagent droplet on the glucose electrodes and the hematocrit electrodes. This intermediate structure allows the system to achieve both measurement functions reliably by preventing direct contact between the reagent and hematocrit electrodes, thus eliminating cross-interference.
3Manufacturing precision
If the gap is provided in the crosswise direction to restrict reagent movement, then reagent control is improved, but blood flow to the glucose electrodes may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating an asymmetric gap structure where the gap width and positioning are optimized for different functions in different regions. The gap is positioned and dimensioned to effectively restrict reagent movement in the crosswise direction while simultaneously allowing adequate blood flow passage in the flow direction, thus achieving both reagent control and blood flow efficiency.
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
This configuration enables accurate blood glucose measurement by ensuring sufficient blood reaches the glucose electrodes and allows for reliable reagent application, improving patient experience by minimizing blood volume requirements and maintaining measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of hematocrit electrodes for detecting a hematocrit value of the sample
Implementation Method 2
a pair of glucose electrodes for detecting a blood glucose level of the sample and a reagent placed on the pair of glucose electrodes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Provided are an analytical device comprising a pair of hematocrit electrodes (first pair of electrodes) and a pair of glucose electrodes (second pair of electrodes) that allows a sample to sufficiently reach as far as the second pair of electrodes that are provided on a downstream side in a flow path, a method for manufacturing the analytical device, and a measuring apparatus using the analytical device.