Glycated Hemoglobin Testing With Automated Cartridge Chemical Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for measuring glycated hemoglobin are manual and prone to errors, necessitating a more automated and accurate process.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method utilizing a cartridge with integrated chemicals, a rotating tray, a driver with a movable nozzle, and a measurement unit to perform automatic chemical treatment and measurement of glycated hemoglobin, incorporating error-minimizing information patterns like barcodes or QR codes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual methods are used for measuring glycated hemoglobin, then operational flexibility is maintained, but measurement accuracy and reliability deteriorate due to human errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service through automated chemical treatment and measurement processes. The cartridge automatically mixes chemicals with blood samples, and the driver automatically transports and processes multiple cartridges through the rotating tray, eliminating manual intervention and reducing human error while maintaining operational simplicity for the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical operations are replaced with an automated mechanical system. The driver with movable nozzle replaces manual pipetting and chemical handling, while the rotating tray automates the positioning and processing of multiple cartridges, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly increasing user operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated chemical treatment is implemented, then productivity and measurement speed improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system is segmented into modular components: individual cartridges containing pre-measured chemicals, a rotating tray for organized processing, and a driver with nozzle for automated liquid handling. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high productivity through automation while managing complexity by dividing functions into independent, replaceable modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The driver with movable nozzle serves multiple functions: it transports blood samples, adds chemicals, mixes solutions, and removes processed samples. The rotating tray simultaneously holds multiple cartridges and positions them for processing. This multi-functionality increases productivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If information patterns like barcodes are incorporated, then measurement reliability improves by minimizing errors, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror minimizationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Information patterns such as barcodes or QR codes on cartridges provide feedback to the system about cartridge identity, chemical contents, and processing requirements. This automated information exchange improves reliability by preventing mismatches and errors in chemical selection and processing parameters, while the simplicity of barcode technology keeps the added complexity minimal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4080218B1Apparatus and method for measuring glycated hemoglobin
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BODITECHMED INC
  • EP4080218B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4080218B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4080218B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Provided is a glycated hemoglobin measuring apparatus. The apparatus for measuring glycated hemoglobin includes a cartridge for receiving blood and a plurality of chemicals, a rotating tray for rotating the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is disposed inside the rotating tray, a driver having a nozzle disposed above the cartridge and movable in a vertical direction, and a measurement unit located above the cartridge and measuring glycated hemoglobin of the blood, wherein the driver sucks at least one of the blood, the plurality of chemicals, and mixed solution of the blood and the plurality of chemicals into the nozzle or discharges the sucked at least one into the cartridge such that the blood is chemically treated through the plurality of chemicals.