Hematology Analyzer Single Module Acoustic Workflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blood samples often undergo interference due to hemolysis, lipemia, and coagulation issues during collection, storage, and transport, leading to unreliable hematology analysis results, which can result in false diagnoses and increased costs due to the need for re-testing or new blood draws.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing a single fluidic channel for pre-analytical and post-analytical testing that focuses cells in one region and analyzes cell-free regions for extracellular hemoglobin, lipid content, and clot length, automatically flagging samples with abnormal values to prevent further analysis or indicating the need for a new sample.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-analytical testing is performed using separate analyzers or cartridges, then sample quality can be assessed, but cost and time to result increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines pre-analytical testing (quality assessment) and analytical testing (hematology analysis) into a single integrated analyzer platform. The system uses a shared sample handling infrastructure, fluidic system, and processing architecture to perform both quality checks and full hematology analysis without requiring separate devices or additional sample preparation steps, thereby eliminating the time penalty associated with sequential testing while maintaining comprehensive quality assessment capabilities
2Reliability
If pre-analytical testing is performed using separate analyzers or cartridges, then sample quality can be assessed, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The analyzer is designed as a multi-functional platform that performs both pre-analytical quality assessment and full hematology analysis using a single sample. The system includes multiple sensing capabilities (optical, electrical, acoustic) and analysis modes that can be activated based on the sample being tested, allowing one device to replace multiple specialized instruments and reducing the need for duplicate testing or additional cartridges
3Measurement precision
If full test run is performed on all samples, then complete hematology analysis is obtained, but time and cost are wasted on affected samples
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary quality assessment measurements on all samples before committing to full hematology analysis. These preliminary tests evaluate sample suitability (detecting hemolysis, lipemia, clots, contamination) and automatically determine whether a sample should proceed to full analysis or be flagged/rejected. This preliminary sorting mechanism prevents wasted processing time and resources on compromised samples while ensuring complete analysis of viable samples
4Reliability
If visual inspection of blood tubes is performed by skilled technician, then obvious clotting and incorrect handling can be flagged, but this is not routinely carried out or possible in all cases
Solution Approach 1:
The analyzer performs automated quality assessment of blood samples without requiring manual visual inspection by technicians. The system uses integrated sensors and algorithms to automatically detect sample quality issues (hemolysis, lipemia, clots, contamination, incorrect filling) and flags problematic samples. This automation eliminates the dependency on technician availability and expertise while maintaining or improving detection reliability, and integrates seamlessly into the workflow without adding manual steps
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
This approach reduces analysis time and cost by identifying and flagging unreliable samples before full testing, potentially preventing false diagnoses and optimizing resource use by streamlining the workflow with automated preliminary and post-analytical controls.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic transducer which generates a standing acoustic wave with a pressure node linearly arranged along an axis passing through a desired region
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a device and method for analyzing a blood sample, particularly including pre-analytical (qualification), analytical and post-analytical (verification) testing. More particularly the disclosure relates in certain embodiments to a device configured for collecting, imaging and lysing blood cells in a sample vessel by means of ultrasonic acoustic waves, generated in the vessel by an acoustic transducer driven at one particular excitation frequency or more particular excitation frequencies, or one range of frequency or ranges of frequencies. In some non-limiting embodiments, the ultrasonic acoustic waves are generated by a single acoustic transducer. Further on, according to certain embodiments, the device and workflow are configured for three analytical steps in single device, comprising pre-analytical (qualification), analytical and post-analytical (verification) testing.