Liquid Container Particle Detection with Calibrated Scan Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for checking if a particle has been dispensed into a container in a microtiter plate are time-consuming and inefficient, requiring cells to settle to the bottom for verification, which is impractical for large sample carriers.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that determine a partial volume region of the container before dispensing, allowing for quick detection of particles by scanning this region, eliminating the need to scan the entire liquid volume and wait for particles to settle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the entire liquid volume in the container is scanned to detect particles, then detection accuracy is improved, but detection time and computational effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid volume in the container is divided into multiple partial volume regions. Instead of scanning the entire volume, the system scans only the relevant partial volume region where particles are most likely to be located or where the liquid sample was dispensed. This segmentation reduces the scanning workload and detection time while maintaining adequate detection accuracy for the specific application.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the liquid volume are assigned different scanning priorities or intensities based on their relevance to particle detection. The partial volume region of interest receives focused scanning resources, while other regions are either scanned with lower resolution or skipped entirely. This local quality approach optimizes the balance between detection accuracy and detection time by concentrating resources where they are most needed.
2Measurement precision
If cells are allowed to settle to the bottom before verification, then particle detection accuracy is improved, but the process time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning of the partial volume region before particles have time to settle to the bottom. By detecting particles in the liquid sample while they are still suspended, the system eliminates the waiting time required for sedimentation. This preliminary action enables rapid verification without sacrificing detection capability, thereby maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention skips the traditional settling step by rushing through the verification process immediately after liquid sample dispensing. The detection system is capable of identifying particles in the liquid phase before sedimentation occurs, allowing the process to move quickly to the next sample without the time-consuming waiting period required by conventional methods.
3Measurement precision
If the liquid surface is determined to define the scanning region, then detection coverage is improved, but the complexity of the process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts or removes the requirement for liquid surface determination from the process. Instead of using the liquid surface as a reference to define the scanning region, the system uses alternative methods such as pre-defined partial volume regions based on container geometry or dispensing parameters. This extraction simplifies the process by eliminating a complex measurement step while maintaining adequate detection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The partial volume region to be scanned is predetermined in advance based on container specifications and expected liquid levels, rather than being determined dynamically during each measurement. This preliminary definition of the scanning region eliminates the need for real-time liquid surface determination, reducing process complexity while ensuring consistent detection coverage across multiple measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensing device includes a dispenser (4) operable to dispense a calibration liquid sample (5) having a calibration particle (8) into a container (3) containing liquid (2) during a calibration operation and to dispense a liquid sample (5) into the container (3) during a subsequent dispensing operation, and a detection device (6) configured to scan a partial volume region (7) of the container (3) to determine an upper limit (9) and a lower limit (10) of the partial volume region (7) in the calibration operation by determining a height of the calibration particle (8) above a container bottom (12), and by determining the upper limit (9) and the lower limit (10) of the partial volume region (7) based on the determined height of the calibration particle (8). The detection device (6) is further configured to scan the partial volume region (7) to detect one or more particles (8) located in the liquid sample (5) in the dispensing operation.