Centrifugal Bioinstrument with Optical Waveguides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bioinstruments face challenges in accurately measuring analytes in samples due to interference from particle components, such as blood cells and other particles, which cause turbidity and light scattering during spectroscopic measurements, and current methods like centrifugation are inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A bioinstrument design that utilizes centrifugal force to separate particle components from samples, incorporating a rotating body with cartridge holders and optical waveguides to guide light around the centrifugal force acting surface, preventing interference during spectroscopic measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If centrifugal force is applied to separate particle components from samples, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the rotating body structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the centrifugal separation function and spectroscopic measurement function into a single integrated rotating body structure. The cuvette holder is designed to rotate, creating centrifugal force that separates particles from the sample solution, while simultaneously positioning the cuvette for optical measurement. This merging eliminates the need for separate centrifugation and measurement devices, resolving the contradiction between improved measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating body serves multiple functions: it acts as both a centrifugal separator and a measurement platform. By making the cuvette holder rotatable, the system achieves particle separation through centrifugal force while maintaining the capability for spectroscopic analysis in the same structural component. This multi-functionality approach allows one structure to fulfill both separation and measurement roles, addressing the technical contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If optical waveguides are positioned to avoid the centrifugal force acting surface, then measurement precision is improved by preventing particle interference, but device complexity increases due to waveguide configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The optical waveguides are strategically positioned to extract or avoid the centrifugal force acting surface where particles accumulate. By routing the light paths through regions not affected by centrifugal particle deposition, the system prevents particle interference with the optical measurement. This extraction of the measurement path from the particle accumulation zone resolves the contradiction between precision improvement and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical waveguides act as intermediaries that transfer light from the light source to the detector while bypassing the centrifugal force acting surface. The waveguides mediate the optical path, allowing measurement of the clarified solution without direct exposure to particle-laden regions. This intermediary approach enables precise measurement while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
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
Effectively separates particle components using centrifugal force, ensuring accurate spectroscopic measurements by positioning optical waveguides to avoid the centrifugal force acting surface, thus preventing interference and enhancing measurement precision.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugal force acting surface of the cuvette on which a particle component in the sample is separated from the sample and adsorbed or precipitated by centrifugal force generated according to rotation of the rotating body
Implementation Method 2
a light emitting optical waveguide to guide light of the light emitting part to a light irradiation surface, and a light receiving optical waveguide to guide light having passed through a light receiving measurement surface to the light receiving part
Data Source
AI summary
A biological material measuring instrument is described. The biological material measuring instrument includes a rotating body and a main body. The rotating body includes one or more cartridge holders having cuvettes in which a reagent and an analyte in a sample react. The main body includes a pair of light-emitting parts and light-receiving parts to optically measure the analyte in the sample. The rotating body further includes a light-emitting optical waveguide for guiding the light of the light-emitting parts to the cuvette and a light-receiving optical waveguide for guiding.