Blood Measuring Apparatus Swirling Flow Recirculation
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood measuring apparatuses using the electric resistance method face measurement errors due to recirculation of blood cells, which complicates the configuration and reduces measurement accuracy, especially when using sheath flows to prevent recirculation.
Innovation Solution
A blood measuring apparatus with a dual liquid supply system and a flow controller that adjusts the flow rate and pressure between two chambers, generating a sheath flow and a swirling flow to prevent recirculation of blood cells, ensuring accurate measurement by maintaining a strong flow near the aperture and preventing bubble adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a back sheath or sweep sheath is used to block blood cells from recirculating to the aperture, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the configuration becomes complicated and the flow near the aperture becomes weak
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex back sheath or sweep sheath mechanism from the system. Instead of using these complicated recovery mechanisms, the patent employs a simple swirling flow generated by a single liquid supply source to achieve the same goal of preventing blood cell recirculation, thereby simplifying the overall configuration while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The swirling flow mechanism is self-generating and does not require separate recovery pipes or additional sheath liquid supply systems. The single liquid supply source creates a swirling flow that automatically prevents recirculation without needing external intervention or complex auxiliary mechanisms, making the system self-sufficient and simpler in design.
2Measurement precision
If a back sheath or sweep sheath is used to prevent recirculation, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the flow near the aperture becomes weak making it difficult to remove floating blood cells and bubbles
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the back sheath or sweep sheath components that cause weak flow near the aperture. By replacing them with a swirling flow mechanism driven by a single liquid supply source, the system maintains strong flow velocity near the aperture while still preventing recirculation, thus enabling effective removal of floating blood cells and bubbles.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes hydraulic principles by creating a swirling flow pattern through a single liquid supply source. This swirling flow generates centrifugal forces and maintains high velocity near the aperture, effectively utilizing fluid dynamics to prevent recirculation and remove floating particles without requiring additional mechanical or pneumatic components.
3Measurement precision
If sheath flow is used upstream of the aperture to obtain clean blood cell pulses, then measurement accuracy is improved, but blood cells recirculate downstream causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to block recirculation with additional sheath flows (back sheath or sweep sheath), the invention inverts the approach by using a single liquid supply source to create a swirling flow that naturally prevents recirculation from occurring in the first place. This inverted approach eliminates the harmful recirculation effect without adding complex blocking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for multiple sheath flow systems (upstream sheath plus back sheath or sweep sheath). By using only a single liquid supply source to generate swirling flow, the system achieves both upstream blood cell focusing and downstream recirculation prevention, removing the harmful recirculation effect while simplifying the overall fluid control system.
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 apparatus effectively prevents blood cell recirculation and enhances measurement accuracy by maintaining a strong sheath flow and swirling flow, ensuring accurate blood cell counting without complications in configuration.
Implementation Method 1
a sheath flow producing unit which is configured to cause the blood sample supplied to the first chamber to flow to the aperture by using a sheath flow due to sheath liquid supplied from a liquid supply source
Implementation Method 2
a swirling flow producing unit which is configured to cause the blood sample which has flowed to the second chamber through the aperture to flow in a direction separating from the aperture by using a swirling flow due to sheath liquid supplied from the liquid supply source
Implementation Method 3
The present invention relates to a blood measuring apparatus which performs a blood measurement by employing the electric resistance method
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A blood measuring apparatus includes: a liquid supply source storing a sheath liquid and applying a pressure to supply the sheath liquid to first and second chambers, pressures of the sheath liquids to be supplied to the first and second chambers different from each other; a sheath flow generator sending a blood sample supplied to the first chamber, to the aperture while causing the blood sample to be converged by a sheath flow due to the sheath liquid supplied from the liquid supply source; and a swirling flow generator causing the blood sample in the second chamber, to be converged by a swirling flow due to the sheath liquid supplied from the liquid supply source, thereby allowing the blood sample to flow in a direction separating from the aperture.