Automatic Analyzer Specimen Data Backup and Deletion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic analyzers face challenges in efficiently managing and backing up specimen information, requiring significant time and effort for deletion and backup, and incurring high costs due to the need for multiple storage media, especially when operating 24/7 without a clear start or end time.

Innovation Solution

An automatic analyzer with a control device that performs backup and deletion of specimen information from a first storage device to a second storage device based on predetermined conditions, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing downtime by automating the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If manual deletion of specimen information is performed, then storage capacity is managed, but time and effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidtime for deletion

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary backup of specimen information to external storage media before automatic deletion. The control device automatically identifies specimens for deletion based on predetermined conditions, backs up their information, and then deletes it, eliminating the need for manual checking and deletion operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The automatic analyzer performs self-maintenance by automatically managing its own specimen information. The control device monitors storage capacity, identifies specimens for deletion based on set conditions, executes backup operations, and performs deletion without requiring user intervention, thereby reducing both time and effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If manual backup of specimen information is performed, then information is preserved, but time and effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation preservationVSAvoidtime for backup

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs backup operations automatically in advance before deletion is needed. The control device continuously monitors and maintains backup copies of specimen information on external storage media, ensuring information preservation without requiring manual intervention during critical operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The automatic analyzer performs self-backup operations by automatically copying specimen information to external storage media. The control device manages the backup process autonomously, selecting specimens for backup based on predetermined conditions and executing the backup without user intervention, thereby reducing time and effort while ensuring information preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If multiple storage media are used for backup, then information safety is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation safetyVSAvoidstorage media quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates backup copies of specimen information on external storage media. The control device manages multiple storage media to maintain redundant copies of critical information, ensuring safety and reliability while optimizing the storage configuration to avoid unnecessary complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The automatic analyzer autonomously manages its storage system by automatically selecting and utilizing external storage media for backup. The control device monitors storage capacity and reliability conditions, automatically deploying backup operations on appropriate media without requiring manual configuration or increasing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If automatic backup is performed at predetermined timing, then backup efficiency is improved, but operational stop time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup efficiencyVSAvoidoperational stop time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs backup operations automatically at predetermined optimal timing moments. The control device schedules backup operations during appropriate intervals, ensuring efficient backup completion while minimizing disruption to continuous analysis operations. The system balances backup efficiency with operational continuity by selecting optimal backup timing windows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12085581B2Automatic analyzer

Publication Date: 2024.09.10 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP

AI summary

The automatic analyzer includes a first storage device that stores sample information including a measurement result of a reaction solution for each sample and a second storage device that stores the sample information on at least a part of the samples among the sample information stored in the first storage device, in which when the automatic analyzer reaches a predetermined operation state, the control device performs a backup process of backing up the sample information on the samples satisfying a predetermined backup condition from the first storage device to the second storage device, and deleting the sample information on the backed up samples from the first storage device.