Blood Analyzer Optical Retesting for Quantitative Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood cell analyzers can only provide qualitative results during morphological examination, and retests are based solely on test results, lacking the capability to output quantitative results.
Innovation Solution
A sample analysis system that includes a hematology analyzer, a controller, and a sample image capturing apparatus to analyze blood samples, determining abnormality types and generating retest instructions for the hematology analyzer to perform retests under specific conditions, such as using optical methods to correct initial test inaccuracies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If blood cell analyzer is used for initial testing, then testing efficiency is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to provide quantitative results during morphological examination
Solution Approach 1:
The testing process is segmented into initial automated blood cell analysis and subsequent optical retesting. The blood cell analyzer handles routine quantitative measurements for efficiency, while the optical system performs targeted retesting on suspicious samples to provide accurate morphological examination results, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical testing system that acts as a bridge between the automated blood cell analyzer and final diagnostic confirmation. This intermediary performs morphological examination on samples flagged by the initial test, providing the missing quantitative accuracy without compromising the overall testing efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If retest procedure is implemented based on blood cell analyzer results, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional testing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated blood cell analysis to identify suspicious samples before committing to full morphological examination. By pre-screening samples and only retesting those that trigger retest rules, the system minimizes unnecessary retesting time while ensuring measurement precision for samples that actually require it.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing morphological examination on all samples, the system applies partial action by conducting retesting only on samples that meet specific retest criteria. This selective approach reduces overall time loss while maintaining measurement precision for the subset of samples that require accurate morphological assessment.
3Extent of automation
If automated blood cell analysis is used, then extent of automation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to qualitative limitations in morphological examination
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using blood cell analyzer results to automatically trigger optical retesting when suspicious conditions are detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that automated testing maintains reliability by automatically correcting potential inaccuracies through targeted optical verification, thus resolving the contradiction between automation extent and reliability.
4Measurement precision
If morphological examination is performed manually, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional equipment and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a unified automated system that combines blood cell analysis with optical morphological examination. The system can perform both automated quantitative analysis and qualitative morphological examination within a single integrated platform, reducing device complexity compared to having separate manual and automated systems while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A sample analysis system and method, a sample image analysis system (100), and a hematology analyzer (110), the sample analysis system including at least one hematology analyzer (110), a controller (120), a first transport device (130), a sample slide preparation device (140) and a sample image capturing device (150), wherein one of the hematology analyzers (110) is configured to analyze a first test blood sample of a subject so as to obtain a sample analysis result; the controller (120) is configured to control the first transport device (130) to transport the first blood sample to the sample slide preparation device (140) when the sample analysis result meets a preset condition; the sample slide preparation device (140) is configured to prepare a sample slide of the first blood sample; the sample image capturing device (150) is configured to image a sample region in the sample slide so as to obtain a sample image; and the controller (120) is further configured to generate a retest instruction when the sample image includes information indicating that the first blood sample is an abnormal sample, and to send the retest instruction to one of the hematology analyzers. The foregoing systems and methods enable controlling the hematology analyzers (110) according to the sample image.