Blood Analysis Cartridge Segmentation and Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood chemistry analysis equipment is bulky, limited to specific locations, and prone to solution leakage, reducing reliability and commercial value.
Innovation Solution
A portable apparatus with a cartridge system containing solution bags, a sensor card, and a blood introducing unit, featuring a solution valve unit, controller, and power transmitting unit to prevent solution leakage, allowing for easy and accurate analysis of electrolytes, gases, and metabolites anywhere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cartridge type blood analysis system is used to integrate solution, sensor, and blood introducing unit in one cartridge, then portability and ease of maintenance are improved, but solution leakage occurs reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is divided into separate functional modules: solution storage unit, blood introducing unit, and sensing unit. Each module is independently sealed and connected through controlled interfaces, preventing solution leakage while maintaining portability. The solution storage unit contains solution bags with dedicated tubing that connects to the sensing unit without exposing the solution to the external environment.
Solution Approach 2:
A valve mechanism acts as an intermediary between the solution storage unit and the sensing unit, controlling solution flow through the tubing. The valve prevents unauthorized or accidental solution discharge, ensuring that solution is delivered only when needed and in a controlled manner, thereby preventing leakage while maintaining system integration.
2Reliability
If traditional blood analysis equipment is used with separate components, then solution delivery control is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional units (solution storage, blood introduction, sensing, and waste collection) are merged into a single integrated cartridge that attaches to a compact analysis device. The cartridge contains all necessary components including solution bags, tubing, valves, and sensors in one replaceable unit, simplifying the overall system structure while maintaining reliable solution delivery control through the integrated valve mechanism.
3Ease of repair
If periodic replacement of solutions and sensors is performed in traditional systems, then maintenance capability is improved, but operational continuity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is pre-filled with multiple solution bags and pre-assembled with all necessary components before use. This preliminary preparation allows the entire cartridge to be quickly replaced as a single unit when solutions are depleted, eliminating the need for separate solution replacement operations and minimizing interruption to the analysis workflow. The pre-assembled nature of the cartridge ensures immediate operational readiness upon replacement.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a cartridge for an apparatus for analyzing blood chemistry that is used for medical treatment, and automatically analyzes and records data needed for medical service, such as the concentrations of electrolytes, the partial pressures of gases, and the concentrations of metabolites, or the volume ratio of red blood cells contained in blood. The apparatus for analyzing blood chemistry of present invention includes: an apparatus frame having a compartment; a cartridge that is is inserted into the compartment of the apparatus frame and includes a sensor card, a solution valve unit, and a blood introducing unit; a controller that receives a signal generated from the sensor card and processes the signal; a lever for the blood introducing unit is connected to the apparatus frame; a power transmitting unit that is provide to the apparatus frame and transmits power of the lever for the blood introducing unit to open/ close the blood introducing unit of the cartridge; a solution transporting unit that is provided to the apparatus frame and transports the solutions in the cartridge; and driving units that actuates the solution valve unit of the cartridge by the controller and opens or close the tubing flowing of the solutions.