Fluid Container Storage with Flat Spring Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern clinical analyzers face challenges in balancing the number of reagent containers and the frequency of manual reloading, leading to issues with reagent access and stability during automated pipetting operations, which can result in impeded processing and potential crashes.
Innovation Solution
A device with a storage system featuring multiple levels and a handler with flat springs to securely hold and transfer fluid containers, allowing for compact design, reduced reloading frequency, and reliable pipetting without manual lid removal, using a handler with a lug to counteract the spring's force for easy transfer and maintaining container position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of reagent containers is increased to reduce reloading frequency, then productivity is improved, but the device complexity and storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-level storage system where reagent containers are arranged vertically on different levels rather than only horizontally. This three-dimensional arrangement allows the analyzer to store a larger number of reagent containers within a compact footprint, thereby reducing reloading frequency without proportionally increasing the device's overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage system is divided into multiple independent levels, each capable of holding reagent containers. This segmentation allows for efficient space utilization and enables the system to accommodate more containers by adding vertical levels rather than expanding horizontal space, thus improving productivity while controlling device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is removed from the reagent container to enable pipette access, then ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of the pipetting operation deteriorates due to container position instability
Solution Approach 1:
The container lid is pre-configured with a penetration opening that allows the pipette tip to access the reagent without removing the lid. This preliminary design of the lid structure eliminates the need for lid removal while maintaining container stability, thereby preserving both ease of operation and reliability of the pipetting operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The function of lid removal is extracted and replaced by creating a penetration opening in the lid. This allows the pipette to access the reagent through the lid itself, eliminating the problematic step of lid removal while maintaining stable container positioning during pipetting operations.
3Ease of operation
If the pipette tip penetrates the lid to access reagent, then ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to frictional force causing container movement
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is pre-designed with a penetration opening that facilitates smooth pipette tip insertion and reagent access. This preliminary configuration reduces frictional resistance during penetration, minimizing the force required and thereby reducing the likelihood of container movement, which maintains both ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid material or structure at the penetration point is modified to reduce friction between the pipette tip and lid. By changing the physical parameters of the lid surface (such as material composition or surface properties), the frictional force is reduced, preventing container movement while maintaining easy reagent access.
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 high-throughput sample processing with reduced reloading needs, secure fluid container positioning, and efficient pipetting operations, ensuring continuous cooling and stable fluid storage, while maintaining a compact analyzer size.
Implementation Method 1
Each storing position (9) of the pipetting storing level (19) comprises a flat spring (23), arranged to bias a fluid container (2) against the container holder (10)
Implementation Method 2
the reagent container is likely to be raised due to a frictional force arising between the upwards moved pipette tip and the lid
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for storing of fluid containers (2), comprising at least one storage (7), provided with one or more storing levels (8) including a pipetting storing level (19), adapted for pipetting of fluids, each storing level (8) having a plurality of storing positions (9), each of which having a container holder (10), adapted to detachably hold at least one fluid container (2), a handler (13), movable with respect to the storage (7), adapted for automatically transferring fluid containers (2) at least with respect to the storing positions (9), wherein a storing position (9) of the pipetting storing level (19) includes a flat spring (23), arranged to bias a fluid container (2) against the container holder (10), with the flat spring (23) being provided with at least one through-hole (26) positioned to provide a pipette (21) access to a container lid (36) of the fluid container (2) . It further relates to a system (100) for pipetting of fluids, comprising such device and a pipettor (20), movable at least with respect to the pipetting storing level (19), provided with at least one pipette (21) for pipetting of fluid contained in a fluid container (2) stored in the pipetting storing level (19), wherein the pipette (21) has a pipette tip (22), configured to penetrate a lid (36) of the fluid container (2).