Auto-sampler Needle Positioning via Visual Well Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The calibration process for an auto-sampler in liquid chromatography is prone to errors due to incorrect recognition of well numbers, leading to discrepancies between the intended and actual positions of the sampling needle, which can result in failed sample collection.
Innovation Solution
A sample introduction system that includes a display controller to show the identification of reference wells on a screen, allowing users to accurately guide the sampling needle to the correct position, eliminating the need for manual reference and improving user-friendliness by displaying well and plate identifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the user visually refers to printed well numbers on plates during calibration, then the user can identify well positions, but the user may incorrectly recognize well numbers leading to calibration errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy (image) of the plate and well positions displayed on a screen, which accurately represents the actual plate configuration. This digital copy eliminates the need for users to visually interpret printed well numbers on the physical plate, preventing misidentification errors while maintaining accurate well position information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying the plate image and well positions on a screen during the calibration process. This feedback mechanism allows users to confirm the correct well position before proceeding with calibration, ensuring accurate needle positioning and preventing calibration errors caused by misreading printed numbers.
2Measurement precision
If the user manually adjusts the needle position while visually checking well alignment, then the needle can be positioned at the well center, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent displays the plate image and well positions on a screen before the user performs manual adjustment. This preliminary visual information guides the user to the correct well position in advance, reducing the time and effort required for manual needle adjustment while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
By providing a visual copy of the plate configuration on the screen, the system enables users to quickly identify well positions without time-consuming visual searching or interpretation of printed numbers, thereby reducing calibration time while maintaining precision.
3Device complexity
If the system uses printed well numbers on plates for identification, then the plate configuration is simple, but the user burden increases due to the need to manually reference and interpret these numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital visual copy of the plate and well positions displayed on a screen during calibration. This eliminates the need for users to manually reference and interpret printed well numbers on the physical plate, significantly reducing user burden and making the calibration operation easier while maintaining the simplicity of the physical plate structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen display acts as an intermediary between the physical plate and the user. Instead of users directly interpreting printed numbers on the plate, the intermediary visual representation on the screen provides clear, unambiguous well position information, reducing cognitive load and operational difficulty.
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
Prevents incorrect adjustments during calibration, ensuring accurate needle positioning and reducing the burden on users by providing visual confirmation of the correct well position, thus enhancing the reliability of sample collection.
Implementation Method 1
the needle penetrates through the septum or film
Implementation Method 2
suctioning the liquid sample
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a sample introduction system for sequentially introducing a plurality of samples into an analyzer 200, the system including: an auto-sampler 300 including a sampling needle 302 for suctioning a sample from each well 312 provided in a plate 311 placed on a sample rack 310 or from a sample container 313 placed in the well 312, and a needle drive mechanism 303 for driving the sampling needle 302 in horizontal and vertical directions; an operation section 10 for allowing a user to command the needle drive mechanism 303 to drive the sampling needle 302; and a display controller 28 for displaying, on a screen of a display section 30, an identification of the well 312 related to a reference point defined on the plate 311 in a correction process conducted by the user by manipulating the operation section 10 so as to operate the needle drive mechanism 303 so that the sampling needle 302 is transferred to a predetermined position serving as the reference point.