Integrated Dilution Chamber in Immunodiagnostic Test Card

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current immunodiagnostic systems face issues with fluid carry-over and require additional consumables and complex cleaning apparatus due to the use of reusable dilution cups, leading to inefficiencies in handling and resource management.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating dilution or mixing chambers directly into a disposable immunodiagnostic test card format, which allows for manual or automated use, eliminating the need for separate dilution cups and reducing fluid carry-over by integrating dilution chambers within the card, either between test chambers or on a separate card, with options for pre-filled or empty chambers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reusable dilution cups are used, then fluid carry-over is resolved through cleaning, but cleaning complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid carry-over preventionVSAvoidcleaning apparatus complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable dilution cups that are discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for complex cleaning apparatus and procedures. Each cup is designed to be used once and then disposed of, ensuring no fluid carry-over occurs while simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning function is extracted from the system entirely by using disposable cups. Instead of incorporating cleaning mechanisms into the reusable cups, the solution removes the need for cleaning by using single-use items that are discarded after use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If disposable dilution cups are used, then fluid carry-over is eliminated, but additional consumables and handling requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid carry-over preventionVSAvoidhandling and disposal requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the dilution cup with the test card into a single integrated unit. The dilution cup is pre-attached to the test card, eliminating the need for separate handling, transfer, and disposal of dilution cups. This integration simplifies the操作流程 while maintaining the benefits of disposable dilution containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If intermediate dilution cups are incorporated into analyzer, then dilution functionality is improved, but hardware complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedilution functionalityVSAvoidhardware and software requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the dilution cup and test card into a single pre-assembled unit that is loaded directly into the analyzer. This integration eliminates the need for separate dilution cup handling mechanisms, trays, and control software, thereby maintaining dilution functionality while reducing hardware and software complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If reusable dilution cups are used, then resource utilization is optimized, but cleaning time and detergent consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses disposable dilution cups that eliminate cleaning time and detergent consumption. Although each cup is used only once, the elimination of cleaning procedures overall increases productivity by freeing up time and resources that would otherwise be dedicated to cleaning reusable cups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

This solution minimizes fluid carry-over issues, eliminates the need for additional hardware and software, optimizes analyzer space, and improves inventory management by integrating dilution functionality within the test card, enhancing throughput and reducing consumable requirements.

Implementation Method 1

mixing said patient sample and said diluent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing:

Implementation Method 2

subsequently spun to produce an agglutination reaction that is graded based on the position of formed agglutinates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentUS8187538B2Diluent wells produced in card format for immunodiagnostic testing

Publication Date: 2012.05.29 ORTHO CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS INC

AI summary

An immunodiagnostic test card includes a flat planar member and at least one dilution chamber that is supported by the flat planar member. The at least one dilution chamber can be disposed adjacent chambers used for testing a patient sample that are provided on the immunodiagnostic test card or can be provided separately.