Automatic Analyzer Reagent Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In blood coagulation analysis, the temperature difference of the reagent between the first and subsequent specimens affects analysis results due to the nozzle's temperature change from cooled to warmed states, requiring stable temperature control for accurate analysis.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer with a dispensing mechanism that includes a temperature increasing part and a control system to adjust the reagent temperature based on the nozzle's standby time, ensuring consistent temperature delivery regardless of analysis order.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the nozzle is allowed to cool during standby state, then the device can operate in a relaxed state between analyses, but the nozzle temperature decreases causing reagent temperature instability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the reagent in the temperature increasing part before the reagent reaches the nozzle. This advance temperature adjustment compensates for the heat that will be lost to the cooled nozzle, ensuring the reagent maintains stable temperature regardless of nozzle temperature variations during standby periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The control part dynamically adjusts the temperature increasing part's heating parameters based on detected nozzle temperature and standby time. By changing the temperature parameter of the reagent to compensate for nozzle temperature changes, the system maintains consistent reagent temperature despite nozzle cooling during standby states.
2Reliability
If the nozzle is heated continuously, then reagent temperature stability is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous heating, the system applies periodic or on-demand heating through the temperature increasing part based on detected standby time and nozzle temperature. This intermittent heating approach maintains reagent temperature stability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous nozzle heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature increasing part serves as an intermediary heating device that pre-heats the reagent before it contacts the nozzle. This intermediary approach allows temperature control without directly heating the nozzle, reducing energy consumption while maintaining reagent temperature stability.
3Measurement precision
If the reagent temperature is adjusted based on standby time, then analysis accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control part uses feedback from the nozzle temperature detector to automatically adjust the temperature increasing part's heating parameters. This closed-loop feedback system maintains high analysis accuracy by compensating for temperature variations without requiring complex manual intervention or sophisticated control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of reagent temperature based on detected standby time and nozzle temperature. The control part automatically manages the temperature increasing part without external intervention, achieving high measurement precision while keeping the control system relatively simple through autonomous operation.
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
Maintains constant reagent temperature throughout analysis, ensuring high accuracy and reliability of blood coagulation analysis results by compensating for temperature changes in the nozzle.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature increasing part for increasing the temperature of liquid to be supplied from the liquid supply part to the dispensing mechanism
Implementation Method 2
there is a difference between the temperature of a reagent to be discharged for the first specimen and the temperature of a reagent to be discharged for the second specimen onwards... the nozzle of a dispensing mechanism has been cooled by external air while the device is in the standby state
Data Source
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AI summary
When a device is operated for the first specimen following a standby state, the reagent will be suctioned and discharged by a nozzle of a dispensing mechanism which has been cooled by external air during the standby state and is thus in a cooled state, resulting in the nozzle stealing heat from liquid of the heated reagent when the reagent passes through the nozzle. From the second specimen onwards, the nozzle will have been warmed up from the suctioning and discharging of the heated reagent during preceding analysis operations, and the amount of heat which the nozzle steals from the liquid will be smaller as compared to the first specimen. This could affect analysis results due to the difference between the temperature of discharged liquid for the first specimen, which was analyzed following the standby state of the device, and the temperature of discharged liquid for the second specimen onwards. Provided are an automatic analyzer and an analysis method for the automatic analyzer, the analyzer comprising: a dispensing mechanism having a nozzle part for dispensing a liquid; a liquid supply part for supplying the liquid to the dispensing mechanism; a temperature increasing part for increasing the temperature of liquid to be supplied from the liquid supply part to the dispensing mechanism; and a control part for controlling the dispensing mechanism, the temperature increasing part, and the liquid supply part. In accordance with information relating to whether a requested analysis is continually performed, the control unit controls the liquid supply part such that, if the analysis is not continually performed, the temperature of liquid supplied from the liquid supply part is increased by the temperature increasing part, and the liquid of the increased temperature is then supplied to the nozzle part of the dispensing mechanism.