Dual Zone Sample Loop Thermal Disintegration for Automated Blood Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing whole blood samples are cumbersome and require manual preprocessing to remove cellular components, which hinders fully automated analysis, especially when target analytes are present within these components.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a dual zone sample loop with controlled heat application to disintegrate cellular components in whole blood, followed by solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography, allowing for automated processing and identification of components without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual preprocessing procedures (centrifugation, filtration, lysis) are used to remove cellular components, then cellular components are effectively removed, but the analysis process becomes complicated and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical preprocessing procedures (centrifugation, filtration, homogenization) with an automated thermal field-based system. A heated flow cell at controlled temperatures (60-90°C) automatically disintegrates cellular components through thermal energy, eliminating the need for complex mechanical preprocessing steps while maintaining effective cellular component removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service processing where the blood sample itself undergoes thermal disintegration in the flow cell without requiring external manual intervention. The automated sample introduction and thermal processing allows the system to perform preprocessing functions autonomously, reducing operational complexity.
2Reliability
If chemical reagents or mechanical treatment are used for lysis, then cellular components are disrupted, but the procedures are difficult to integrate into automated test formats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes chemical reagents and manual mechanical treatment with an automated thermal field system. The heated flow cell uses controlled thermal energy (60-90°C) to achieve cellular disintegration, which can be easily integrated into automated test formats through computer-controlled temperature regulation and automated sample handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the processing parameter from chemical/reagent-based to temperature-based. By controlling the thermal parameter (temperature and exposure time), the system achieves reliable cellular disruption while maintaining compatibility with automated testing platforms through precise parameter control.
3Reliability
If preprocessing steps are added to remove cellular components, then analyte analysis is enabled, but the analysis time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual preprocessing steps with a rapid automated thermal disintegration process. The heated flow cell achieves cellular component breakdown quickly through thermal energy, significantly reducing preprocessing time while enabling comprehensive analyte analysis including those within cellular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous flow of the blood sample through the heated flow cell, enabling simultaneous heating, disintegration, and preparation for analysis without interruption. This continuous processing eliminates idle time between steps and accelerates the overall analysis timeline.
4Extent of automation
If heat treatment is applied to disintegrate cellular components, then automated analysis is enabled, but viscosity of the sample may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thermal parameter range (60-90°C) and exposure time to achieve cellular disintegration while minimizing adverse effects on sample viscosity. By precisely controlling these parameters, the system maintains sample composition stability and avoids excessive viscosity increase that would hinder automated analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous flow through the heated flow cell ensures uniform heat distribution and prevents localized overheating that could cause viscosity changes. The steady-state flow condition maintains consistent sample composition throughout the processing period, preventing viscosity instability.
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
Enables efficient and automated analysis of whole blood samples by effectively disintegrating cellular components, facilitating the separation and identification of analytes through controlled heat treatment and subsequent chromatography, thereby improving the analysis process.
Implementation Method 1
apply sufficient heat or energy to the whole blood to disintegrate the cellular components
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for analyzing a whole blood sample can include injecting whole blood into a first zone of a dual zone sample loop, applying sufficient heat or energy to the whole blood to disintegrate the cellular components of the whole blood sample to produce cell disintegrated blood, and injecting a sufficient volume of the buffer into the dual zone sample loop to move the cell disintegrated blood into a second zone of the dual zone sample loop. The method can further include switching a multiport value to an inject position, flowing the cell disintegrated blood from the dual zone sample loop into a solid phase extraction column, and eluting components of the cell disintegrated blood from the solid phase extraction column into a liquid chromatography column.