Automatic Analyzer Partial ID Search via Priority Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

In automatic analyzers with long character string lengths for specimen IDs, operators face significant time and labor challenges when inputting these IDs for searching specimen information.

Innovation Solution

An automatic analyzer is equipped with a priority setting unit and screen control unit that allows for the display of search result candidates based on attribute information, enabling partial input of specimen IDs to retrieve relevant information efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If complete specimen ID input is required for searching, then search accuracy is improved, but operator time and labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch accuracyVSAvoidoperator input time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows operators to input only a partial specimen ID (first character string) rather than the complete ID. The screen control unit then displays multiple candidate specimen IDs that match the partial input, allowing the operator to select the correct one without typing the entire ID. This resolves the contradiction by accepting partial input while maintaining accurate search results through candidate display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The screen control unit acts as an intermediary between the partial ID input and the complete specimen information. It retrieves and displays multiple candidate specimen IDs from the storage unit that match the partial input, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between incomplete input and accurate search results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If partial specimen ID input is allowed, then operator efficiency is improved, but search result accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator efficiencyVSAvoidsearch result accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The screen control unit provides feedback by displaying multiple candidate specimen IDs that match the partial input. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to verify and select the correct specimen ID from the displayed candidates, ensuring search accuracy is maintained while benefiting from reduced input effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system displays more information than the minimal single correct answer by showing multiple candidate specimen IDs. This excessive display of candidates ensures that even with partial input, the correct specimen can be accurately identified and selected from the presented options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3505938B1Automated analysis device and information processing device
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP3505938B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3505938B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3505938B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer that enables control related to a search screen display of an automatic analyzer. The automatic analyzer includes: an analysis unit 2 that analyzes a specimen, a storage unit 20 that stores specimen information including specimen IDs and a plurality of attribute information pieces recorded correspondingly for each of the specimen IDs, a priority setting unit 11 that sets attribute information to be extracted from the plurality of attribute information pieces at the time of searching the specimen information, and a screen control unit 12 that controls a screen for displaying the specimen ID which conforms to a character string of an input specimen ID as a search result among the specimen information stored in the storage unit according to the character string, in which the screen control unit 12 displays specific specimen information from the specimen information stored in the storage unit as the search result on the screen, based on the attribute information set by the priority setting unit 11 and a first character string including less than the number of digits of the character string of the specimen ID when the first character string is input to the screen.