Automatic Analyzer Water Shortage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic blood analyzers face water shortages due to fluctuating pure water supply capabilities and inefficient maintenance procedures, leading to potential analysis interruptions and bacterial contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer with a control section that switches between simultaneous and time-differenced maintenance execution for analysis sections based on user input, optimizing water usage and preventing interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If maintenance is executed simultaneously for all analysis sections, then productivity is improved, but water consumption exceeds supply capability causing water shortage
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between simultaneous execution mode and time-difference execution mode based on real-time water supply capability detection. The control section adjusts the maintenance execution strategy adaptively, transitioning from parallel maintenance (high productivity) to sequential maintenance (low water consumption) when water shortage is detected, and vice versa when sufficient water is available.
2Quantity of substance
If maintenance is executed sequentially for each analysis section, then water consumption is reduced, but productivity decreases due to troublesome operations
Solution Approach 1:
The control section automatically detects water supply capability and autonomously determines the optimal maintenance execution mode without requiring user intervention. The system self-adjusts between simultaneous and time-difference execution, eliminating the need for users to manually choose maintenance modes or provide complex inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the execution parameter (simultaneous vs. time-difference) based on the detected water supply capability parameter. When water supply capability is sufficient, simultaneous execution is enabled; when insufficient, time-difference execution is activated, thereby adapting to varying water availability conditions.
3Reliability
If water tank is introduced to store pure water, then water shortage is avoided, but device complexity and space occupancy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the water storage function from the system by eliminating the need for a water tank. Instead of storing water locally, the system directly utilizes the water supply apparatus during maintenance operations, thereby removing the water tank and associated piping while maintaining reliable water supply.
4Productivity
If maximum amount of pure water is supplied, then maintenance can be executed at any time, but water consumption during operation becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system supplies water in appropriate amounts based on actual needs rather than always providing maximum water. During maintenance, water is supplied at the required rate without excessive provision, and the control section manages water usage to prevent both shortage and waste, achieving balanced water management.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic analyzer configured to automatically prevent interruption of an analysis owing to water shortage in use includes a plurality of analysis sections using water supplied from the outside, an operation section for giving operation instructions to the analysis sections, and a control section executing a program for controlling operations of the analysis sections. The control section switches maintenance using water between simultaneous execution and time difference execution for all the analysis sections in accordance with an instruction input through the operation section.