Automated Analyzer Reagent Buffer Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated analyzers face inefficiencies in managing a larger number of reagent cassettes due to limitations in reagent buffer configurations, leading to suboptimal use of reagents and potential interruptions in analysis.
Innovation Solution
An automated analyzer with a main and subsidiary reagent buffer system, where reagent cassettes can be dynamically transferred between buffers using a reagent cassette transfer mechanism, allowing for efficient reagent management and continuous analysis by optimizing reagent usage and minimizing interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a larger number of reagent cassettes are set in the analyzer to meet increasing analytical throughput and test items, then the analyzer can handle more tests, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent buffer system is segmented into a main reagent buffer and a subsidiary reagent buffer. The main buffer holds reagent cassettes currently in use, while the subsidiary buffer stores replacement cassettes. This segmentation allows the system to manage a larger total number of reagent cassettes without increasing the complexity of the active buffer configuration, as replacement cassettes are pre-positioned in the subsidiary buffer for automatic transfer when needed.
2Ease of operation
If reagent cassettes are transferred from subsidiary buffer to main buffer only when residual reagent is too small, then the main buffer is optimized for current use, but the reagent in the subsidiary buffer cannot be used at the desired time for analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning replacement reagent cassettes in the subsidiary reagent buffer before they are needed. The control unit monitors reagent levels and proactively manages cassette transfers based on predicted usage patterns and analysis schedules. This allows the system to have replacement cassettes ready in advance, enabling seamless substitution when the main buffer cassette is depleted, thereby preventing analysis interruptions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a reagent pipetter is disposed for each reagent buffer to enable independent operation, then each buffer can be managed independently, but the region usable for setting reagent cassettes narrows
Solution Approach 1:
A single reagent pipetter is designed to serve both the main reagent buffer and the subsidiary reagent buffer through programmable control. The control unit directs the reagent pipetter to operate with either buffer based on the analysis requirements and reagent availability. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain buffer independence and flexibility while using a shared pipetter resource, thereby preserving maximum space for reagent cassette placement without requiring separate pipetters for each buffer.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide an automated analyzer adapted for accommodating a larger number of reagent cassettes to meet calls for increases in analytical throughput and in the number of analytical items, and thus using the accommodated reagent cassettes more efficiently. An automated analyzer body 100 includes a main reagent buffer 4 for storing a plurality of reagent cassettes each containing a reagent used for analysis and a subsidiary reagent buffer 12. A reagent cassette transfer 11 transfers the reagent cassettes from the main reagent buffer to the subsidiary reagent buffer, and vice versa. A control unit 200 operates so that when a reagent cassette that is not set in the main reagent buffer is to be used for an assigned analysis, the reagent cassette for the assigned analysis is transferred from the subsidiary reagent buffer to the main reagent buffer.