Blood Cell Counter Stirrer and Force Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional blood cell counting apparatuses face issues with aspirating whole blood samples due to blood components settling and adhering to the cap, leading to incomplete aspiration and potential leakage during the counting process.

Innovation Solution

A blood cell counter system that includes a stirrer to mix the blood sample, an aspirator to penetrate the cap and remove the sample, and a force applying member to ensure the blood is dislodged from the cap before aspiration, preventing leakage and ensuring complete sampling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the sample container is stirred to equalize blood cell concentration, then the blood cells are evenly distributed, but blood components settle and adhere to the cap during the stirring process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood cell concentration uniformityVSAvoidblood component settling and adhesion to cap

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing agitation of the blood sample before aspiration. The sample container is agitated to equalize blood cell concentration and prevent settling, and this agitation is completed before the aspirating tube penetrates the cap. This ensures that when aspiration occurs, the blood is evenly distributed and not adhering to the cap, thereby preventing the harmful effect of incomplete aspiration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the aspirating tube penetrates the cap to aspirate blood sample, then the blood cells can be counted, but blood adhered inside the cap is emitted to the outside causing leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood cell counting efficiencyVSAvoidblood sample leakage from cap

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by completing the agitation process before aspiration. The blood sample is thoroughly agitated to ensure even distribution and prevent adhesion to the cap before the aspirating tube penetrates. This preliminary agitation ensures that when the cap is pierced, no blood is adhered to the cap interior, thereby preventing leakage while maintaining counting efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining the blood sample in a well-mixed state throughout the process. The agitation is performed continuously or in sequence immediately before aspiration, ensuring the blood remains evenly distributed and not adhering to the cap. This continuous maintenance of sample uniformity prevents the harmful effect of blood emission during penetration while allowing efficient aspiration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Stability of the object's composition

If manual agitation is performed by the user, then the blood sample can be mixed, but the operation becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood sample mixingVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the sample container to be agitated automatically through the aspiration process itself. The aspirating tube, when it penetrates the cap and aspirates blood, naturally creates agitation and mixing action within the container. This self-induced agitation eliminates the need for separate manual mixing operations by the user, simplifying the overall operation while achieving thorough blood sample mixing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The system effectively removes blood samples from the cap, preventing leakage and ensuring accurate counting by ensuring the blood is fully aspirated, improving the efficiency and reliability of the blood cell counting process.

Implementation Method 1

a stirrer which stirs a whole blood sample in a sample container by moving the sample container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical movement: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

an aspirator which aspirates the whole blood sample by penetrating a lid of the sample container with an aspiration tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAspiration: Suction

Implementation Method 3

a force applying member which applies a force to the sample container in an upright state after stirring by the stirrer so as to remove the whole blood sample from the lid of the sample container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS9068964B2Blood cell counter and cell counting method

Publication Date: 2015.06.30 SYSMEX CORP

AI summary

A blood cell counter comprises a stirrer which stirs a whole blood sample in a sample container by moving the sample container, an aspirator which aspirates the whole blood sample by penetrating a lid of the sample container with an aspiration tube after stirring by the stirrer, a detector which counts the blood cells in the whole blood sample aspirated by the aspirator, and a force applying member which applies a force to the sample container in an upright state after stirring by the stirrer so as to remove the whole blood sample from the lid of the sample container.