Automated Analyzer Dilution System Preventing Carry-Over Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated analyzers face contamination due to carry-over of analytes during dilution processes, leading to unreliable analysis results.
Innovation Solution
An automated analyzer with a diluent vessel and supply mechanism that allows for constant replenishment of diluent, preventing carry-over by discharging any residual analyte and supplying new diluent, ensuring clean dilution for each analysis cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single dilution pod is used for consecutive analyte dilution operations, then device complexity is reduced, but contamination due to carry-over occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the dilution function into two separate components: a dilution pod for mixing analyte with diluent, and a diluent vessel for storing and replenishing diluent. This segmentation prevents carry-over contamination by isolating the diluent storage from the mixing process, while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The diluent acts as an intermediary substance that is continuously replenished from the diluent vessel into the dilution pod. This intermediary mechanism ensures that any analyte residue in the pod is displaced by fresh diluent, preventing carry-over to subsequent samples while maintaining automated operation.
2Reliability
If the dilution pod is cleaned after each analyte dilution, then carry-over contamination is prevented, but loss of time occurs due to repeated cleaning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously replenishing fresh diluent into the dilution pod before each analyte dilution operation. This preliminary diluent replenishment displaces any potential analyte residue, preventing carry-over contamination without requiring time-consuming cleaning operations between samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards the diluent in the dilution pod after use and recovers/replenishes fresh diluent from the diluent vessel for the next operation. This continuous discard and replenish cycle ensures contamination prevention while maintaining efficient operation without prolonged cleaning steps.
3Reliability
If diluent is continuously replenished in the dilution pod, then carry-over contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diluent supply system is segmented into a separate diluent vessel for storage and a dilution pod for active use. This segmentation allows continuous replenishment of fresh diluent into the pod without complicating the overall system, as each component has a dedicated function and can be independently managed.
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 solution enables repetitive dilution without contamination, resulting in reliable and accurate analysis by maintaining the purity of the diluent throughout the analysis process.
Implementation Method 1
a probe for aspirating the liquid from one of the containers held by the container holders and for dispensing the liquid aspirated in the probe into another one of the containers held by the container holders
Implementation Method 2
a diluent supply mechanism for supplying the diluent into the diluent vessel
Implementation Method 3
the diluent vessel has a diluent discharging mechanism for discharging the diluent from inside the diluent vessel
Data Source
AI summary
An automated analyzer is offered which can dilute an analyte repeatedly without contamination due to carry-over and thus can yield reliable analysis results. The analyzer has an analyte turntable for holding analyte containers in which analyte is stored, a dilution turntable for holding dilution containers for storing a diluent, a dilution probe for aliquotting a liquid between two containers held on these two turntables, respectively, a diluent vessel for storing a diluent, and a diluent supply mechanism for supplying the diluent into the diluent vessel. The dilution probe has a function of aliquotting the diluent stored in the diluent vessel into the dilution containers held on the dilution turntable. The diluent vessel has a diluent discharging mechanism for discharging the diluent from inside the diluent vessel.