Cleaning Liquid Supply Modes for Sample Analyzer Reservoirs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sample analysis systems face challenges in quickly and efficiently using newly prepared cleaning liquids for cleaning the measurement units, as the liquid supply often contains a mix of old and new solutions, leading to suboptimal cleaning performance and accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A sample analysis system with a cleaning liquid preparation apparatus that selectively executes two supply modes: a first mode to replenish the cleaning liquid when the reservoir reaches a certain level, and a second mode to replace the liquid more frequently, ensuring that the stored cleaning liquid mainly consists of newly prepared solution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cleaning liquid is supplied to the reservoir when the liquid amount reaches a predetermined level, then the reservoir is replenished with cleaning liquid, but the newly prepared cleaning liquid mixes with old cleaning liquid in the reservoir, reducing cleaning effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidproportion of new cleaning liquid
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between two supply modes based on the liquid amount in the reservoir. When the liquid amount is below a first threshold, the system uses first supply mode to replenish to a second threshold. When the liquid amount is between the first and second thresholds, the system uses second supply mode to replenish to the first threshold, ensuring frequent replacement of old cleaning liquid with new cleaning liquid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the supply parameters by implementing two different supply modes with different replenishment thresholds. The first supply mode replenishes from a lower threshold to a higher threshold, while the second supply mode replenishes from the lower threshold to an intermediate threshold, optimizing the proportion of new cleaning liquid in the reservoir.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the cleaning liquid is frequently replaced to maintain high proportion of new liquid, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the frequency of supply operations increases, reducing system efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidsupply operation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the supply frequency and amount based on the current liquid level in the reservoir. By implementing two supply modes with different replenishment targets, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining high proportion of new cleaning liquid and avoiding excessive supply operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The second supply mode performs partial replenishment (from lower threshold to intermediate threshold) rather than full replenishment, which is sufficient to maintain the proportion of new cleaning liquid without requiring complete replacement, thus improving operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3156802B1Sample analysis system and cleaning liquid supply method
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 SYSMEX CORP
  • EP3156802B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3156802B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3156802B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a sample analysis system (100) comprising a cleaning liquid preparation apparatus (4) that prepares a cleaning liquid, and a sample analyzer (1) that comprises a measurement unit (2) that measures a sample and a reservoir that stores the cleaning liquid prepared by the cleaning liquid preparation apparatus (4). The sample analyzer (1) cleans at least a part of the measurement unit (2) with the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid preparation apparatus (4) selectively executes a first supply mode to supply the cleaning liquid to the reservoir when a liquid amount in the reservoir reaches a first amount, and a second supply mode to supply the cleaning liquid to the reservoir when the liquid amount in the reservoir reaches a second amount less than the first amount.