Blood Analysis Apparatus Specimen Sufficiency Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blood analysis apparatuses face challenges in determining whether the amount of blood specimen sucked into the sampling nozzle is sufficient, leading to potential incorrect diagnoses due to insufficient specimen-sucking, which is difficult to detect without additional sensors and complex control circuits.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus calculates the ratio or number of blood cells from count data obtained in each chamber to determine if the specimen amount is normal or insufficient, utilizing existing count data without the need for additional hardware or sensors, by comparing results across multiple blood cell counting parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional sensors and complex control circuits are added to detect specimen sufficiency, then detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecimen sufficiency detection accuracyVSAvoidcontrol circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses its existing blood cell counting functionality to automatically detect specimen sufficiency. The control unit analyzes count data from multiple chambers that are already being used for blood cell analysis, and determines specimen sufficiency without requiring external detection mechanisms. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional sensors and control circuits while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If additional sensors are added to detect specimen sufficiency, then detection accuracy improves, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecimen sufficiency detection accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system leverages existing hardware components (chambers, blood cell counting devices) to perform dual functions: both blood cell analysis and specimen sufficiency detection. By reusing existing count data from multiple chambers for sufficiency determination, the system avoids additional manufacturing costs while achieving accurate detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If specimen amount is not monitored, then device simplicity is maintained, but diagnostic reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoiddiagnostic reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors blood cell count data from multiple chambers and uses this feedback to determine specimen sufficiency. When the count data indicates insufficient specimen amount, the system can identify and flag potential diagnostic errors. This feedback mechanism maintains device simplicity while significantly improving diagnostic reliability through automatic monitoring and error detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 method allows for accurate determination of specimen sufficiency without increasing the apparatus's complexity or cost, enhancing diagnostic reliability by using existing count data from multiple chambers to ensure the specimen amount is within a predetermined range.

Implementation Method 1

a sampling nozzle (a long and thin pipe which is also called a 'needle') 2 moves to suck the blood specimen in the specimen container 1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

an impedance method utilizing changes in the electrical characteristics

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpedance method: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Implementation Method 3

flow cytometry which is an optical technique

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow cytometry:

Implementation Method 4

a light-focused flow impedance method which is a combination of the aforementioned impedance method and the flow cytometry

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight-focused flow impedance method:

Data Source

PatentEP2804003B1Blood analysis apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 HORIBA LTD
  • EP2804003B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2804003B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2804003B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A blood analysis apparatus configured such that a nozzle 2 sucks a predetermined amount of a blood specimen in a specimen container 1, and dispenses the specimen to each blood cell counting part (31 - 34), each blood cell counting part obtains each count data, and a control part processes each count data to perform blood analysis. In this apparatus, two or more blood cell counting parts (BASO chamber 31 of basophil counting part, LMNE chamber 32 of LMNE counting part, RBC chamber 33 of red blood cell counting part, WBC chamber 34 of white blood cell counting part in Fig. 1 ) are constituted to obtain the count data of the same particular blood cell (white blood cell in Fig. 1 ), and the control part calculates the ratio or number of the existing blood cell from each count data, and judges whether the amount of the blood specimen sucked in the nozzle is normal or insufficient by comparing respective calculation results to determine whether they are within the predetermined allowable ranges.