Blood Analyzing Apparatus Short Sample Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blood analyzing apparatuses often result in erroneous measurements due to blood short samples, where insufficient blood is sucked by the suction tube, leading to incorrect analysis results.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that detect a blood short sample by determining the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration in the blood analysis region, determining a blood short sample if it is lower than a predetermined threshold, using the blood existing in the blood analysis region for detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If blood is sucked by a suction tube, then blood analysis can be performed, but a blood short sample may occur in the suction tube leading to erroneous measurement results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood analysis efficiencyVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by measuring the hemoglobin concentration of blood in the suction tube before performing the actual blood analysis. This preliminary measurement allows the system to detect potential blood short samples in advance, preventing erroneous measurement results from compromising the main analysis. The hemoglobin concentration measurement serves as a preliminary check that identifies sampling issues before they affect the primary blood cell analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If a blood short sample occurs in the blood analysis region, then the existing detection method cannot detect it, but erroneous measurement results are produced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection method simplicityVSAvoidblood analysis accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using the hemoglobin concentration measurement system for dual purposes: both as a preliminary quality check and as a direct indicator of blood sample adequacy in the analysis region. The same measurement mechanism serves multiple functions - it identifies blood short samples regardless of their location in the suction tube, making the detection method universally applicable to all sampling issues without requiring separate detection systems for different problem locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If the existing detection method is used, then blood short samples in non-analysis regions can be detected, but blood short samples in the analysis region remain undetected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort sample detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by using the hemoglobin concentration measurement results to determine whether a blood short sample has occurred. The system measures hemoglobin concentration, compares it against expected values, and uses this feedback to identify sampling problems. This feedback mechanism ensures that blood short samples in the analysis region are detected because the hemoglobin measurement directly reflects the blood quality in the region being analyzed, closing the loop between measurement and detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3499229B1Method and apparatus for analyzing blood
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 NIHON KOHDEN CORP
  • EP3499229B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3499229B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3499229B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

A blood analyzing method for detecting a blood short sample in a suction tube when blood is sucked by the suction tube, includes a determining step of determining that a blood short sample occurs, in a case where a mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration of the blood in a blood analysis region of the suction tube to be used for analysis of the blood is lower than a predetermined threshold.