Immunological Test Apparatus Elapsed Time Tracking for Infection Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current immunological test apparatuses struggle to differentiate between early-stage and middle-stage infectious disease patients, leading to longer determination times for early-stage patients, which hinders effective infection prevention strategies.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a timing unit to measure elapsed time and an information output unit to provide required determination time information, allowing for differentiation between early-stage and middle-stage patients by associating this time with determination results, and transmitting this information to an information processing system for statistical analysis and disease mapping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If immunological test is performed on early stage patients with small amount of test substance, then determination result can be obtained, but required determination time becomes longer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of test substanceVSAvoidrequired determination time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing sensitization processing before the main measurement. The apparatus pre-treats the carrier with a sensitizing solution that enhances the coloration reaction, allowing early stage patients with small amounts of test substance to be detected within a standard time frame rather than requiring extended determination time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the test system by introducing a sensitizing solution that modifies the coloration characteristics. This parameter change amplifies the coloration response even when test substance amount is small, thereby maintaining determination time without sacrificing detection precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If required determination time is used to distinguish early stage and middle stage patients, then infection prevention effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinfection prevention effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an information processing apparatus as an intermediary that receives determination time data from the immunological test apparatus and performs the classification analysis. This mediator handles the complex statistical processing and disease map creation, keeping the actual test apparatus simple while achieving reliable patient classification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the system into two functional parts: the immunological test apparatus that performs the physical test and collects determination time, and the information processing apparatus that analyzes the data and creates disease maps. This segmentation allows each component to remain simple while the integrated system achieves high reliability in infection prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 effective use of determination time to prevent the spread of infection by distinguishing between early-stage and middle-stage patients, facilitating timely predictive measures based on disease mapping.

Implementation Method 1

a reagent (antibody) that is combined with a test substance (antigen) to be colored

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectColoration reaction: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3584579B1Immunoassay apparatus and operating method therefor, information processing apparatus, operating method and operating program therefor, and information processing system
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3584579B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3584579B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3584579B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There are provided an immunological test apparatus and an operation method thereof, an information processing apparatus and an operation method and an operation program thereof, and an information processing system capable of effectively using a required determination time, which is the elapsed time of a test taken until a determination result indicating that a test substance is present in a sample is obtained from the start of the test, to prevent the spread of infection. A main controller (80) of an immunological test apparatus (10) counts an elapsed time (TP). An information output unit (86) outputs required determination time information (92) regarding a required determination time so as to be associated with information of a determination result (91). The required determination time information (92) is at least information indicating that the elapsed time (TP) exceeds a set time (TS) at which sensitization processing, in which a chemical solution for sensitizing the coloration state of a reagent that is combined with influenza virus to be colored is spread onto a carrier, is started, that is, information indicating that the sensitization processing has been performed.