Automatic Analyzer Consumable Replenishment Without Analysis Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers face issues where consumables like reagents and detergents run low during analysis, necessitating a stop in analysis to replenish, leading to specimen waste and prolonged downtime.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer equipped with a consumables remaining amount prediction unit that transitions to a replenishment permission state when levels drop below a threshold, allowing seamless replenishment without stopping analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If analysis is continued even when consumables are insufficient, then productivity is maintained, but specimen waste occurs and analysis reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting consumable depletion timing before it actually occurs. The prediction unit calculates when consumables will be exhausted based on current usage rates, and the control unit proactively switches to a state allowing replenishment before the consumables are actually depleted, preventing both specimen waste and analysis interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring consumable usage, predicting future depletion, and adjusting the analysis state accordingly. The prediction unit provides feedback on consumable status, and the control unit responds by switching between analysis-continuing and replenishment-permitting states, creating a closed-loop control system that balances productivity and reliability.
2Productivity
If consumables are replenished during analysis, then productivity is maintained, but specimen waste occurs due to inability to replace consumables promptly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting consumable depletion before it occurs and proactively switching to a replenishment-permitting state. This allows users to replace consumables in advance of actual depletion, eliminating the need to waste specimens that would otherwise be processed with insufficient consumables.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes its operational state based on predicted consumable status. The control unit switches between a state that continues analysis and a state that permits replenishment, creating a dynamic system that adapts to consumable levels rather than operating in a fixed mode.
3Ease of operation
If analysis is stopped to replace consumables, then consumable replacement is possible, but productivity decreases due to analysis suspension
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by switching to a replenishment-permitting state before consumables are actually depleted. This timing allows users to replace consumables during analysis without causing interruption, as the system has already prepared for the replacement by stopping specimen dispensing only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by allowing analysis to continue in the prediction state while permitting replenishment. The analysis process is not interrupted; instead, the system seamlessly transitions between states to enable consumable replacement without suspending the overall analysis workflow.
4Reliability
If multiple vessels are connected to ensure sufficient consumables, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically predicting consumable depletion and managing the transition between operational states. The prediction unit and control unit work together to monitor consumable levels, calculate depletion timing, and autonomously switch states, eliminating the need for complex manual management of multiple consumable vessels.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an automatic analysis device capable of replenishing consumables without loss of a specimen and without stopping analysis. The state of an automatic analysis device 100 includes a replenishment prohibition state in which replenishment of consumables (reaction vessel 8, specimen dispensing tip 10a and external reagent vessels 21a, 21b, 21c) is prohibited, and a replenishment permission state in which replenishment of consumables is permitted. In the replenishment prohibition state, a specimen dispensing mechanism 10 performs dispensing, and detection units 18a and 18b perform analysis. In the replenishment permission state, the specimen dispensing mechanism 10 does not perform dispensing, and the detection units 18a and 18b perform analysis. A device state control unit 119d causes the automatic analysis device 100 to transition to the replenishment permission state when the remaining amount or the remaining number of the consumables predicted by a consumables remaining amount prediction unit 119b becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.