Blood Sample Processing Apparatus Lid Adherence Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

In blood sample processing apparatuses that perform inclining-stirring operations, blood samples often adhere to the back side of the lid, leading to leakage through the aspiration tube's groove when the pressure inside the specimen container is higher than the atmosphere, resulting in reduced quantitative precision and sample wastage.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus performs a repeated inclining-stirring operation with a longer second process in the final cycle, ensuring the sample container is returned to the upright position for at least 0.8 seconds, allowing the blood sample to flow to the bottom and preventing adherence to the lid, thus minimizing leakage during aspiration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an aspiration tube with a groove is used to open the specimen container to the atmosphere, then the inside of the specimen container can be opened to the atmosphere, but blood sample adhering to the back side of the lid may leak through the groove

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening to atmosphereVSAvoidblood sample leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs a preliminary action by extending the second rotation process in the final inclining-stirring operation to ensure blood sample adhering to the lid back side flows down to the bottom portion before the aspiration tube penetrates the lid. This preliminary flow prevention action eliminates the harmful effect of leakage through the groove while maintaining the atmosphere opening function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of substance

If the second process of the final inclining-stirring operation is extended, then blood sample adhering to the lid is moved to the bottom, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood sample wastageVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies partial action by selectively extending only the second process (returning to upright position) of the final inclining-stirring operation, rather than extending the entire stirring cycle. This targeted extension of the downward flow phase achieves sufficient blood sample redistribution to prevent lid adherence and subsequent leakage, while minimizing the additional processing time required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the aspiration tube penetrates the lid while blood sample adheres to the back side, then aspiration can proceed, but leakage occurs through the groove

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaspiration speedVSAvoidblood sample leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively reduces blood sample leakage and wastage by ensuring the sample adhering to the lid is moved to the container's bottom, maintaining precision and efficiency in blood sample aspiration.

Implementation Method 1

the second process is carried out for a longer time than other second processes, thereby the blood sample in the specimen container can be moved to a bottom portion of the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9448247B2Blood sample processing apparatus and blood sample processing method

Publication Date: 2016.09.20 SYSMEX CORP

AI summary

A blood sample processing apparatus including: a container holder securing a sample container that contains a blood sample, the sample container having a lid, the container holder coupled to a rotation driver that longitudinally rotates the sample container; and a controller that commands the rotation driver to repeatedly perform an inclining-stirring operation that includes a first process and a second process, wherein in the first process, the sample container is initially held in an upright position by the container holder and then rotated to an inclined position, and in the second process, the inclined sample container is returned to the upright position, and wherein in a final inclining-stirring operation, the second process is carried out for a longer time than previous second processes.