Analyzer Nozzle Cleaning Using Reaction-Container Probe Cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers face challenges in reliably cleaning nozzles due to residual components and magnetic particles adhering to nozzle surfaces, leading to decreased analysis precision and increased maintenance complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning method for automatic analyzers that involves dispensing a probe cleaner into a reaction container and aspirating and discharging it through the nozzles, utilizing a liquid with high affinity for the residual components, such as an organic solvent, to effectively clean the nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If water is used to clean the nozzle, then the cleaning process is simple, but the residue in the nozzle is not sufficiently removed due to hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the cleaning liquid from water to an organic solvent with different solubility characteristics. This parameter change enables the cleaning liquid to effectively remove hydrophobic residues that water cannot dissolve, thereby resolving the contradiction between cleaning simplicity and residue removal effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable probe cleaner that is discarded after use, eliminating the need for complex cleaning mechanism maintenance. This disposable approach maintains operational simplicity while ensuring reliable residue removal through the organic solvent's effective cleaning action
2Reliability
If a separate mechanism for supplying probe cleaner is provided, then the nozzle cleaning reliability is improved, but the device size, complexity, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the reaction container serve multiple functions: it acts as both the vessel for sample analysis and as the container for holding the probe cleaner during the cleaning process. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate probe cleaner supply mechanism, thereby maintaining cleaning reliability while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own reaction container and existing liquid handling capabilities to perform the cleaning function. The nozzle aspirates and discharges the probe cleaner from the reaction container using the same pumping and valve mechanisms already present in the analyzer, making the cleaning process self-service without additional mechanisms
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
The method provides a simpler and more reliable nozzle cleaning process that prevents maintenance complications and reduces the size, complexity, and cost of the analyzer while ensuring thorough residue removal.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a liquid with high affinity for the residual components, such as an organic solvent, to effectively clean the nozzles
Implementation Method 2
a residue in the nozzle may not be sufficiently removed by cleaning with water due to chemical properties such as hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity
Implementation Method 3
a cleaning step for executing aspiration and discharging of the probe cleaner of the reaction container by the nozzle
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] To provide an automatic analyzer and a cleaning method capable of suppressing the maintenance from becoming troublesome, the cost, and the device from becoming large in size and complicated, and so on, and capable of executing cleaning of a nozzle reliably by a simpler method. [Solution] In a cleaning method for a nozzle of an automatic analyzer including: a reaction container which stores a mixed liquid of a sample of an analysis object and a reagent used for analyzing the sample; and a nozzle which aspirates the mixed liquid of the reaction container, the cleaning method comprises: a preparation step for dispensing a probe cleaner of the nozzle to the reaction container; and a cleaning step for executing aspiration and discharging of the probe cleaner of the reaction container by the nozzle.