Analyzer Tray Positioning for Biochip Optical Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional analyzers face challenges in accurately positioning biochips during optical measurements, leading to potential displacement and reduced analytical precision, especially with disk-shaped biochips where contact-based positioning is difficult.
Innovation Solution
An analyzer with a tray-based system that holds and positions biochips using a drive mechanism to move between external and internal positions, ensuring accurate alignment of light sources and detectors, and includes a connector and supporting parts to secure the biochip for improved positioning and rotation during measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the analyzer moves the light source unit and light-receiving unit to optimize the positional relationship, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the light source and detector to achieve proper positioning, the patent inverts the approach by making the biochip movable. The biochip is mounted on a movable platform that can be precisely positioned relative to the fixed light source and detector, thereby achieving proper optical alignment without complicating the analyzer's internal structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a movable platform that can dynamically adjust the biochip's position. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to optimize the optical path by moving the biochip rather than moving the optical components, simplifying the overall device configuration while maintaining measurement precision.
2Ease of operation
If contact-based positioning is used for biochips, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable platform as an intermediary between the user and the biochip. The user simply places the biochip on the platform, and the platform handles the precise positioning and movement. This intermediary mechanism maintains ease of operation while ensuring measurement precision by eliminating direct contact-based positioning errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical contact-based positioning system with a movable platform system that can be precisely controlled. This substitution eliminates the displacement issues inherent in contact-based positioning while maintaining user-friendly operation, as users only need to place the biochip on the platform without worrying about precise alignment.
3Productivity
If a disk-shaped biochip is used, then productivity is improved through efficient optical measurement, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The movable platform serves as an intermediary that simplifies the positioning of disk-shaped biochips. The platform can accommodate the circular geometry of disk-shaped biochips and provides a user-friendly interface for placement, while the system's control mechanisms handle the precise positioning and rotation required for efficient optical measurement, thereby maintaining ease of operation.
4Device complexity
If the biochip is placed on a fixed tray, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to optimize optical path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed tray into a movable platform that can dynamically adjust the biochip's position. This dynamic capability allows the system to optimize the optical path by moving the biochip to the precise location required for accurate measurement, while the platform remains a simple integrated component that does not significantly increase device complexity.
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
This solution prevents biochip displacement, enhances analytical precision, and allows for efficient optical measurement of disk-shaped biochips by simplifying the positioning process and reducing operational complexity while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a light source unit that emits light for optical measurement, a light-receiving unit that receives light emitted from the light source unit and transmitted through the sample
Data Source
AI summary
An analyzer in which optical measurement is performed with respect to a sample placed in optically transparent cells of an analysis tool includes a light source unit, a light-receiving unit, a tray on which the tool is placed, and a drive mechanism for driving the tray. The tray includes a holding section that holds the tool in a predetermined position. The drive mechanism reciprocates the tray between a first position where the tool placed on the tray is exposed to the outside of the analyzer and a second position where the tool is accommodated inside the analyzer. The light source unit is disposed so that emitted light is incident on a cell of the tool when the tray is located in the second position. The light-receiving unit is disposed so as to receive light transmitted through the cell when the tray is located in the second position.