Immune Measuring Apparatus Transfer Unit Magnetic Collection

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing immune measuring apparatuses require a significant wait time for magnetic particle collection, which increases the overall time required for sample processing due to the need to position reaction chambers correctly for magnetic collection.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a transfer unit with a magnetic source integrated into the holder, allowing for magnetic collection of magnetic particles during the transfer of reaction chambers, thereby eliminating the need for additional stop time and reducing processing time by enabling continuous transfer and aspiration of the liquid phase containing the immune complex.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the reaction chamber is positioned at the aspiration position and magnetic collection is performed, then the magnetic particle can be collected for liquid phase aspiration, but the time required for magnetic collection increases the overall sample processing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic source is activated during the transfer process itself, performing magnetic collection in advance of the aspiration step. This preliminary action ensures that magnetic particles are collected before aspiration begins, eliminating the need for separate waiting periods and reducing overall processing time while maintaining collection completeness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the reaction chamber is transferred to the aspiration position, then liquid phase aspiration can be performed, but the transfer process requires additional time that increases sample processing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The transfer process and magnetic collection process are merged into a single simultaneous operation. The magnetic source is activated during transfer, allowing both relocation of the reaction chamber and collection of magnetic particles to occur together, thereby eliminating sequential time addition and reducing overall processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration significantly shortens the sample processing time by allowing for simultaneous magnetic collection and transfer of reaction chambers, reducing the time required for immune complex extraction and measurement.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic source (15) configured to magnetically collect the magnetic particle (82)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3141906B1Immune measuring apparatus and immune measuring method
Publication Date: 2018.06.27
  • EP3141906B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3141906B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3141906B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Immune measuring apparatus 100 includes a processing mechanism unit 10 that performs, in a first reaction chamber 16, processing of forming an immune complex 84 containing a test substance 81 in the sample and a labeled substance 83 contained in a labeled reagent on a magnetic particle 82 contained in a solid-phase reagent and then liberating the immune complex 84 from the magnetic particle 82 with a liberating reagent 85; a transfer unit 11 that includes a first holder 14 and a magnetic source 15, and transfers the first reaction chamber 16 received in the first holder 14 at a first position 61 to a second position 62 while magnetically collecting the magnetic particle 82 in the first reaction chamber 16 by the magnetic source 15; a dispenser 12 that aspirates a liquid phase 80a containing the liberated immune complex 84 in the first reaction chamber 16 transferred to the second position 62, and dispenses the liquid phase 80a into a second reaction chamber 17; and a detector 13 that detects a signal based on a label contained in the immune complex 84 in the liquid phase 80a dispensed into the second reaction chamber 17.