Automatic Analyzer Scheduling for Reagent Contamination Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers face issues with reagent contamination, leading to reduced analysis accuracy and increased detergent consumption, as the order change technique disclosed in PTL 1 is insufficient when reagent status changes during analysis.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer with a control unit that updates the order of scheduled analysis items for each sample, incorporating a dynamic planning process to adapt to changing reagent status and reduce contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the order of analysis items is changed once to avoid reagent contamination, then reagent contamination is reduced, but the system cannot adapt when reagent status changes during analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The analysis item order is changed from a static, one-time arrangement to a dynamic, real-time adjustable sequence. The control unit continuously monitors reagent status and updates the analysis schedule dynamically, allowing the system to adapt to changing reagent conditions while maintaining analysis accuracy and preventing contamination.
2Reliability
If cleaning using detergent is performed frequently to prevent reagent contamination, then contamination is reduced, but detergent consumption increases and overall processing capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary arrangement of analysis items in an optimized order before contamination occurs. By proactively scheduling analyses to prevent reagent contamination rather than reacting to it, the system eliminates the need for frequent detergent cleaning, thereby maintaining both high analysis accuracy and sustained processing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors reagent status and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the analysis schedule. This real-time feedback mechanism allows the system to prevent contamination events before they occur, avoiding the need for interruptive cleaning operations and maintaining continuous high-speed processing.
3Reliability
If the analysis order is changed dynamically for each sample, then reagent contamination is prevented continuously, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically monitors reagent status and autonomously recalculates and updates the analysis schedule without external intervention. This self-service capability allows dynamic adaptation to prevent contamination while keeping the user interface simple and the operational complexity low, as the system handles the complex scheduling decisions automatically.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of continuing analysis while avoiding reagent contamination. The automatic analyzer includes a sample dispensing mechanism configured to aspirate a sample from a sample container and discharge the sample into a reaction container; a reagent dispensing mechanism configured to aspirate a reagent corresponding to an analysis item from a reagent container and discharge the reagent into the reaction container; and a control unit configured to control the sample dispensing mechanism and the reagent dispensing mechanism, and the control unit updates, for the sample in the sample container, an order of scheduled analysis items every time analysis in an item is performed.