Electrolyte Analyzer Press Switching for Leak-Reduced Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrolyte analyzers require users to replace consumable electrodes at different times, leading to potential liquid leaks and increased cleaning burdens due to mismatched expiration dates and usage counts.

Innovation Solution

The electrolyte analyzer features a housing with press switching units that allow simultaneous attachment and detachment of ion selective (ISE) and reference electrodes, maintaining secure contact with one while releasing the other, reducing leakage and simplifying cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If electrodes are replaced individually at different times, then electrode replacement flexibility is improved, but liquid leakage and cleaning burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode replacement flexibilityVSAvoidliquid leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode replacement mechanism is segmented into independent control units - a first press switching unit for the ISE electrode and a second press switching unit for the reference electrode. This allows each electrode to be replaced independently while maintaining proper sealing through the modular design of the housing and pressing units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Pressing units with pressing members act as intermediaries between the user's pressing action and the electrode attachment/detachment. The pressing members transmit force through the housing to securely attach or detach electrodes without causing liquid leakage, mediating the interaction between user operation and electrode handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If electrodes are replaced individually at different times, then electrode replacement flexibility is improved, but cleaning burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode replacement flexibilityVSAvoidcleaning burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented with separate pressing units for each electrode type, allowing independent access and replacement. This segmentation enables users to replace only the expired electrode without disturbing the other, significantly reducing the frequency and scope of cleaning operations required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing units are designed to be easily operable by users without specialized tools or complex procedures. The simple pressing and releasing mechanism allows users to perform electrode replacement themselves, and the design minimizes the need for additional cleaning steps, making the system self-maintaining to a greater extent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If multiple electrodes are secured simultaneously, then structural simplicity is improved, but replacement complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidreplacement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing contains multiple independent pressing units, each with its own pressing member and switching unit. This segmentation allows the structure to remain relatively simple while enabling independent control of each electrode's attachment and detachment, avoiding the need for complex coupled mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing members are designed to be dynamically controllable - they can be pressed to attach electrodes and released to detach them. The switching units enable dynamic selection of which electrode to replace, providing operational flexibility without requiring a complex overall structure. The system transitions between static (electrode attached) and dynamic (electrode being replaced) states easily.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4296659B1Electrolyte analysis apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP4296659B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4296659B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4296659B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Problem Provided is an electrolyte analyzer that allows reducing a load of a user in a replacement work compared with conventional one. Solution An electrolyte analyzer includes an ISE electrode 1 that includes at least one electrode, a reference electrode 2 that includes at least one electrode different from the ISE electrode 1, and a housing 200 that houses the electrodes of the ISE electrode 1 and the reference electrode 2. The housing 200 includes a pressing unit that presses the electrodes to one another, a first press switching unit 210 that switches the ISE electrode 1 between a secured state and a released state, and a second press switching unit 215 that switches the reference electrode 2 between a secured state and a released state. The ISE electrode 1 and the reference electrode 2 are each switched between the secured state and the released state.