Blood Coagulation Analyzer Miniaturization via Single Photometric Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analysis apparatuses for blood coagulation face inefficiencies due to complex mechanisms, increased size, and high costs, particularly in coagulation time measurement, where specimens often remain on the sample disk, reducing dispensing efficiency and requiring multiple photometric ports and light sources.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analysis apparatus with a sample dispensing mechanism, reagent dispensing mechanism, and reaction container transfer mechanism that allows for efficient transfer and measurement of specimens, minimizing the need for multiple light sources and reducing apparatus size by temporarily placing reaction containers on a sample disk, thereby preventing specimen stagnation and optimizing dispensing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple photometric ports are provided to measure multiple specimens simultaneously, then the measurement capacity is improved, but the apparatus size becomes large and device costs become high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single photometric port. The reaction container accommodating unit serves both as a temporary storage location for specimens and as a measurement location. The same photometric port is used sequentially for both coagulation time measurement and absorbance measurement, eliminating the need for separate photometric ports for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The reaction container accommodating unit is designed to serve multiple purposes: it temporarily holds reaction containers waiting for measurement, and it also serves as the measurement position. This multi-functional design allows a single photometric port to handle multiple measurement tasks, improving productivity without increasing apparatus size.
2Extent of automation
If reaction containers are moved at constant speed on a transfer path, then the measurement process is automated, but the mechanism system becomes complex and apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex constant-speed transfer mechanism from the system. Instead of automatically moving reaction containers along a driven transfer path, the containers are temporarily placed in a stationary accommodating unit, eliminating the need for complex driving mechanisms while maintaining automated measurement through coordinated control of the single photometric port.
Solution Approach 2:
The reaction container accommodating unit serves as a self-service storage and measurement position. Reaction containers are placed in the unit and remain there until needed for measurement, at which point the photometric port is directed to measure them. This eliminates the need for active transfer mechanisms, reducing device complexity.
3Reliability
If specimens are measured in coagulation time measurement, then the measurement is completed, but specimens stay on the sample disk and dispensing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary placement of reaction containers into the reaction container accommodating unit before measurement begins. This allows the dispensing mechanism to continue operating without waiting for measurement completion, as containers are pre-positioned and ready. The photometric port then measures containers in sequence without interfering with the continuous dispensing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the measurement process from the dispensing process by using the reaction container accommodating unit as an intermediate buffer. This segmentation allows dispensing to occur continuously while measurement occurs separately, preventing specimens from staying on the sample disk and maintaining dispensing efficiency.
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 miniaturizes device configuration, reduces costs, and maintains dispensing efficiency even when multiple specimens are measured, allowing continuous operation without stopping the dispensing process, thus preventing specimen stagnation and reducing waiting times.
Implementation Method 1
a light source 42 and a photometric port 41 for shining light from the light source 42 through the reaction container 31
Implementation Method 2
a scattered light receiving unit 41c for receiving scattered light from the reaction container 31
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~4a
AI summary
Provided is an automatic analysis apparatus for inspecting blood coagulation, which is capable of miniaturizing device configuration and reducing device costs. The automatic analysis apparatus includes: a reaction container in which a specimen and a reagent are mixed with each other and the mixed solution is reacted; a sample dispensing mechanism which dispenses the specimen into the reaction container; a blood coagulation time measuring unit in which the reaction container is mounted to measure a coagulation time of the mixed solution within the reaction container; a reaction container accommodating unit which accommodates a plurality of reaction containers provided to the blood coagulation measuring unit; a reaction container transfer mechanism which grasps the reaction container and transfers the reaction container to the blood coagulation measuring unit; and a control unit which controls the reaction container transfer mechanism, wherein the control unit controls the transferring and mounting of the reaction container, into which the specimen is dispensed, to the reaction container accommodating unit by means of the reaction container transfer mechanism.