Inductive Heating of Aspiration Devices for Carryover Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusing aspiration and dispense devices in medical diagnostic instruments increases the probability of biological carryover and contamination due to residual materials on the device surfaces, which can contaminate subsequent tests.
Innovation Solution
Inductive heating systems are integrated into diagnostic instruments to clean aspiration and dispense devices by using electromagnetic induction to heat the devices, often with a wash fluid, and a tank circuit driven at its resonant frequency to enhance efficiency and accommodate manufacturing and load variabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If aspiration and dispense devices are reused to reduce waste and operational costs, then productivity and cost-efficiency are improved, but the risk of biological carryover and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs inductive heating treatment on aspiration and dispense devices between uses to pre-sterilize them, removing biological carryover before the next test. This preliminary cleaning action enables safe reuse of devices, resolving the contradiction between cost-efficiency through reuse and prevention of biological contamination.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If inductive heating is used to clean aspiration and dispense devices, then biological carryover is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the magnetic properties of the aspiration and dispense devices (which contain magnetic components) to enable selective inductive heating. By changing the approach to use magnetic field interaction rather than direct thermal contact, the system can target specific device components for heating, reducing overall energy consumption while effectively eliminating biological carryover.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a tank circuit driven at resonant frequency is used to enhance heating efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tank circuit is designed to automatically resonate at its natural frequency when the aspiration and dispense device is placed in the heating zone. The magnetic components of the device itself become part of the resonant circuit, allowing the system to self-tune without requiring complex external control mechanisms. This self-service approach improves heating efficiency while minimizing additional circuit complexity.
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
The inductive heating effectively removes residual materials, reducing the risk of biological carryover and contamination, while improving heating efficiency and accommodating device variations.
Implementation Method 1
an oscillating magnetic field generated by a tank circuit... inductively heat a work piece
Implementation Method 2
inductively heating a work piece disposed proximate to the tank circuit
Implementation Method 3
driven at its resonant frequency to enhance efficiency and accommodate manufacturing and load variabilities
Data Source
AI summary
Inductive heating systems and method of controlling the same to reduce biological carryover are disclosed herein. An example system includes an induction heater including a tank circuit, the tank circuit including a work coil and a sense coil. The sense coil is to detect a magnetic field generated by the work coil and to output signals in response to the detection. The example system includes a controller to cause the tank circuit to oscillate at a resonant frequency in response to the signals and a power drive unit in communication with the controller and the induction heater. The power drive unit is to adjust power provided to the induction heater in response to the controller driving the tank circuit to oscillate at the resonant frequency.