Diagnostic Analyzer Controller Self-Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diagnostic analyzers face challenges in maintaining quality control, leading to potentially invalid test results due to mechanical errors, which often require manual intervention by a service agent, causing delays and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A quality control method and apparatus that utilize a controller to monitor mechanical devices within the diagnostic analyzer, detect errors indicated by error codes, and initiate automated or user-guided calibration procedures to restore proper operation without the need for a service agent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual intervention by a service agent is performed for quality control issues, then the diagnostic analyzer can be maintained and calibrated, but the process causes delays and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic analyzer performs self-diagnosis and self-calibration through automated error detection and calibration procedures. The controller automatically detects mechanical errors through monitored parameters, identifies the specific error condition, and initiates calibration routines without requiring external service intervention, enabling the system to maintain itself
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous monitoring of mechanical devices with feedback loops that detect errors and trigger corrective actions. The controller receives feedback from monitored parameters, processes error conditions, and automatically initiates calibration procedures when deviations are detected, creating a closed-loop quality control system
2Reliability
If manual intervention by a service agent is performed for quality control issues, then the diagnostic analyzer can be maintained and calibrated, but the process causes increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic analyzer performs self-diagnosis and self-calibration through automated error detection and calibration procedures. The controller automatically detects mechanical errors through monitored parameters, identifies the specific error condition, and initiates calibration routines without requiring external service intervention, enabling the system to maintain itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical calibration procedures with automated electronic control and software-based calibration routines. The controller uses electronic monitoring and software algorithms to detect and correct mechanical issues, substituting human-operated mechanical processes with automated electro-mechanical systems
3Loss of time
If automated error detection and calibration is implemented, then downtime is reduced and costs decrease, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it controls the diagnostic analyzer's operation, monitors mechanical devices for errors, identifies specific error conditions, and initiates calibration procedures. This multi-functional integration reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, managing complexity through consolidation
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnostic analyzer performs self-diagnosis and self-calibration through automated error detection and calibration procedures. The controller automatically detects mechanical errors through monitored parameters, identifies the specific error condition, and initiates calibration routines without requiring external service intervention, enabling the system to maintain itself
Data Source
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AI summary
A quality control method for a diagnostic analyzer includes performing a quality control test or a plurality of specimen tests; determining, with a controller, that a result of the quality control test or a plurality of specimen test results is outside of a threshold; monitoring one or more mechanical devices of the diagnostic analyzer with the controller; receiving, by the controller, an error code indicating an error in a mechanical device of the one or more mechanical devices; and initiating a calibration procedure in response to the result of the quality control test or the plurality of specimen test results being outside of the threshold and receiving the error code. Other apparatus and methods are disclosed.