Integrated Incubation Chamber for High-Throughput Immune Reaction Analysis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing immune reaction analysis devices lack an integrated incubation chamber, leading to difficulties in controlling incubation time for multiple tests, increased user workload, and reduced cartridge throughput.

Innovation Solution

An immune reaction analysis device with an incubation chamber featuring a plurality of slits, cartridge input and withdrawal units, a determination unit, and a control unit to manage the incubation process, ensuring accurate and efficient handling of multiple cartridges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a separate incubation device is used alongside the flow cytometer, then immune reaction analysis can be performed, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune reaction analysis capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the flow cytometer and incubation chamber into a single integrated device. The incubation chamber is built directly into the flow cytometer structure, allowing immune reaction analysis to be performed without requiring a separate incubation device. This merging of functions reduces overall device complexity and space requirements while maintaining the versatility to perform both flow cytometry and immune reaction analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flow cytometer is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a flow cytometer for cell analysis and an incubation chamber for immune reaction analysis. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require two separate devices, thereby reducing device complexity while enhancing adaptability for different types of immunological assays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a separate incubation device is used, then immune reaction analysis can be performed, but the number of components and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune reaction analysis capabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the incubation chamber into the flow cytometer structure, the patent reduces the total number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled. The incubation chamber shares structural and functional elements with the flow cytometer, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly complexity compared to using two completely separate devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If samples are analyzed without incubation, then analysis time is reduced, but immune reaction detection sensitivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis throughputVSAvoiddetection sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The incubation chamber allows samples to be pre-incubated before flow cytometry analysis. This preliminary incubation step enables immune reactions to proceed to completion, enhancing detection sensitivity. The system can accommodate different incubation times based on the specific assay requirements, allowing optimization of both sensitivity and throughput by selecting appropriate incubation durations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides flexible incubation conditions that can be dynamically adjusted based on the specific immune reaction being analyzed. Different temperature, time, and environmental conditions can be applied during incubation to optimize detection sensitivity for various assays, while maintaining the ability to quickly process multiple samples through automated flow cytometry analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 device provides improved usability, accurate incubation control, and increased cartridge throughput per unit time, enhancing the efficiency of immune reaction analysis.

Implementation Method 1

an incubation chamber (40) configured to maintain a predetermined environment for the sample

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal incubation: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a flow cytometer (10) that measures a signal generated by the sample after the sample has been subjected to the immune reaction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence detection: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentEP4279921B1Immune reaction analysis device equipped with incubation chamber
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 BODITECHMED INC
  • EP4279921B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4279921B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4279921B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an immune reaction analysis device. The analysis device of the present invention comprises: an incubation chamber which has a plurality of slits for accommodating cartridges, and in which an incubation for an immunodiagnostic reaction is performed; a cartridge input driving unit for inputting the cartridge into the slit of the incubation chamber; a determination unit for determining the result of the reaction in the cartridge; a cartridge withdrawal driving unit for withdrawing the cartridge accommodated in the slit of the incubation chamber; a cartridge transfer driving unit for transferring the withdrawn cartridge to the determination unit; and a control unit for controlling the cartridge input driving unit, the cartridge withdrawal driving unit, and the cartridge transfer driving unit. The immune reaction analysis device of the present invention provides excellent ease of use and can accurately perform a good number of incubations.