Dual-Pipette Detection Device Layout for Contamination Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detection devices face contamination risks due to repeated use of a single probe for dispensing sample and reagent, necessitating increased device size to avoid probe interference.

Innovation Solution

The method and device utilize separate pipettes for sample and reagent dispensing, with limited movement ranges along intersecting axes to reduce contamination risk and compactness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single probe is used to repeatedly dispense sample and reagent, then the device structure is simplified, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single probe is divided into two separate probes: a sample dispensing probe and a reagent dispensing probe. This segmentation eliminates cross-contamination between sample and reagent while maintaining a relatively simple device structure through dedicated functional separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple probes are used for sample and reagent dispensing, then contamination risk is reduced, but device size increases due to required movement range margins

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination riskVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The reaction vessel rack is moved along the vertical axis to bring different vessels to the working position, allowing the sample and reagent probes to operate in horizontally separated positions. This vertical dimension utilization enables compact horizontal arrangement and reduces the overall device footprint while maintaining separate dispensing paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If multiple probes are used for sample and reagent dispensing, then contamination risk is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination riskVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Both the sample dispensing probe and reagent dispensing probe share a common movement mechanism along the vertical axis through the reaction vessel rack. This multi-functional design allows both probes to access different positions without requiring completely independent movement systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining separate dispensing functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4006554B1Detection method and detection device

Publication Date: 2025.10.29 SYSMEX CORP

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AI summary

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detection method and a detection device capable of contributing to the compactness of the device and reducing the risk of contamination. SOLUTION: This detection method includes transporting a rack (50) holding a reaction vessel (51) along a first axis (41) toward a sample dispensing position (61), linearly moving the sample dispensing pipette (10) above the rack (50) along a second axis (42) intersecting the first axis (41) and dispensing a sample into the reaction vessel (51) located at the sample dispensing position (61), transporting the rack (50) along the first axis (41) toward a reagent dispensing position (62), linearly moving a reagent dispensing pipette (11) above the rack (50) along a third axis (43) intersecting the first axis (41), and dispensing a reagent into the reaction vessel (51) located at the reagent dispensing position (62), and detecting a detection target in a measurement specimen prepared from the sample and the reagent.