Automatic Analyzer Integrating Biochemical and Coagulation Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combining biochemical and blood coagulation analyzers results in increased system size, cost, and reduced processing capacity due to varying analysis times and the need for disposable reaction vessels, which limits throughput and increases consumable costs.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer with a reaction disk, reagent dispensing mechanisms, and a photometer that uses disposable reaction vessels for both biochemical and blood coagulation analysis, with a controller optimizing the analysis cycle times to maintain high throughput and reduce system and lifecycle costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed photometric port is used for both coagulation time and coagulation-fibrinolysis marker measurement, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to sequential processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The photometric system is segmented into two independent photometric ports: a first photometric port for coagulation time measurement and a second photometric port for coagulation-fibrinolysis marker measurement. This segmentation allows simultaneous or independent operation of both measurement functions, eliminating the bottleneck of sequential processing through a single port while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
2Reliability
If disposable reaction vessels are used for blood coagulation analysis, then reliability of measurement is improved, but loss of substance increases due to single-use consumables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable reaction vessels for blood coagulation analysis to ensure measurement reliability by eliminating cross-contamination and carryover effects. While this generates consumable waste, the use of inexpensive single-use vessels minimizes the economic impact, and the reliability improvement justifies the necessary consumption for accurate clinical diagnostics.
3Productivity
If analysis cycle time is reduced for high throughput, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate due to insufficient reaction time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions during idle periods: reagents are pre-heated to required temperatures, reaction vessels are prepared and positioned, and measurement parameters are pre-configured. This allows the actual analysis cycle to proceed quickly without compromising reaction completeness, as essential preparatory steps are completed in advance during non-productive time.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual photometric port configuration enables continuous useful action by allowing one measurement to occur while another is being prepared or completed. The first photometric port handles coagulation time measurements while the second port simultaneously handles coagulation-fibrinolysis marker measurements, ensuring that the system is continuously productive without sacrificing measurement quality.
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
The solution enables a high-throughput automatic analyzer that integrates biochemical and blood coagulation analysis sections, reducing system size and cost while efficiently using reaction cells and minimizing consumable waste, thereby improving processing capacity and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
irradiates a reaction solution in the reaction cell with light to thereby detect light
Implementation Method 2
identifies fibrin that deposits in the reaction solution as changes in intensity of scattered light or transmitted light over time
Implementation Method 3
a reagent dispensing mechanism with a reagent heating function that dispenses a reagent to the disposable reaction vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A high-throughput automatic analyzer integrates a biochemical analysis section and a blood coagulation analysis section. The analyzer is capable of achieving a reduction in size, system cost, and lifecycle cost. The automatic analyzer includes: a reaction disk; a first reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent to reaction cells on the reaction disk; a photometer that irradiates a reaction solution in the reaction cell with light; a reaction cell cleaning mechanism; a reaction vessel supply unit that supplies a disposable reaction vessel for mixing and reacting a sample and a reagent with each other; a second reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent to the disposable reaction vessel; a blood coagulation time measuring section that irradiates a reaction solution in the disposable reaction vessel with light to detect transmitted or scattered light; and a sample dispensing mechanism that dispenses a sample to the reaction cell and the disposable reaction vessel.