Indirect Temperature Determination in Liquid Sample Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical analytics equipment faces challenges in accurately determining the initial temperature of liquid samples, particularly in point-of-care settings, where rapid temperature equilibration is crucial for precise bioanalytical measurements, and existing solutions are either user-error prone, costly, or require hardware modifications.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a thermostatic sample heater and fluid handling system to rapidly condition liquid samples to a target temperature, with a processor unit determining the initial temperature from fluid flow and heating data, eliminating the need for additional temperature sensors and allowing for easy retrofitting of existing equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is installed in the fluid handling system to measure the initial temperature of the injected liquid, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the thermostatic sample heater as an intermediary device to indirectly determine the initial temperature. Instead of directly measuring temperature with a sensor, the system measures the heating power required to reach target temperature and uses this as a proxy to calculate initial temperature, avoiding direct temperature sensing in the fluid path
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical temperature sensor system with a computational approach. The processor unit calculates initial temperature based on heating power data and flow rate data from existing sensors, substituting direct temperature measurement with indirect calculation through mathematical modeling
2Productivity
If the QC-solution is taken directly from the storage cooler, then the productivity is improved by reducing preparation time, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to temperature deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating the QC-solution during the injection process itself. The thermostatic sample heater begins heating the liquid as it is being injected into the measurement chamber, so that by the time measurement occurs, the temperature has already equilibrated to the target temperature range
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control through the processor unit, which continuously monitors heating power consumption and flow rate data to dynamically adjust the heating process. This ensures the QC-solution reaches the correct temperature while providing real-time verification of temperature equilibration
3Loss of time
If the target temperature is rapidly achieved by increasing heating power, then the time required for temperature equilibration is reduced, but the measurement precision may deteriorate due to insufficient equilibration time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the heating process adaptive rather than static. The heating power is dynamically adjusted based on real-time feedback from temperature sensors and flow rate measurements, allowing the system to optimize the heating curve for each specific condition and achieve rapid yet controlled temperature equilibration
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters during the heating process, adjusting heating power levels based on the current temperature state and flow conditions. The processor unit modifies heating parameters in real-time to maintain optimal heating rates while ensuring complete temperature equilibration before measurement
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 enables rapid and precise temperature determination and correction of analyte sensor outputs, ensuring accurate bioanalytical measurements even in uncontrolled environments, improving measurement validity and reducing costs and hardware modification requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a thermostatic sample heater device (30) for controlling a sample temperature of the liquid sample in the measurement chamber to a target temperature
Data Source
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Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
The present invention relates in one aspect to an apparatus for the analysis of biological liquid samples, the apparatus comprising: a measurement chamber defining a sample volume with an inlet and an outlet; a fluid handling system adapted for feeding a liquid to the sample volume through the inlet and for removing the liquid through the outlet; a thermostatic sample heater device adapted for controlling a sample temperature of a liquid sample in the measurement chamber; and a processor unit. The processor unit is configured for determining an initial temperature of the liquid sample injected into the measurement chamber based on flow data from the fluid handling system and sample heating data from the sample heater device. An analyte sensor output may be corrected on the basis of the initial temperature thus determined. A corresponding method for the analysis of biological liquid samples is provided. Furthermore a method of performing a quality control procedure using the apparatus or the method is disclosed.