Ion-Selective Electrode Voltage Deviation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ion-selective electrode measurements in clinical chemistry analyzers for sodium and potassium in biological samples are prone to errors due to disturbances like air bubbles and electrostatic discharges, which can cause small deviations in potential differences that are difficult to detect, leading to questionable measurement results and unnecessary re-analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the measurement of a series of biological samples and calibration standards to calculate and verify voltage differences, flagging results as doubtful if deviations exceed predetermined threshold values, ensuring accurate identification of questionable deviations and preventing erroneous reporting of valid results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional measurement methods with basic plausibility checks are used, then the measurement process remains simple and quick, but small deviations caused by air bubbles or electrostatic discharges remain undetected, leading to erroneous results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs a preliminary check by measuring a calibration standard immediately after each sample measurement. This preliminary action detects potential disturbances (air bubbles, electrostatic discharges) before they affect subsequent measurements, allowing early identification and correction of measurement errors without complicating the overall process flow
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by comparing the calibration standard measurement results against expected reference values. When deviations exceed predetermined thresholds, the system generates flags and alerts, providing continuous monitoring and automatic detection of measurement disturbances, thereby improving reliability through systematic feedback loops
2Measurement precision
If repeated re-analysis of flagged samples is performed, then the accuracy of questionable results can be verified, but unnecessary re-analysis of valid results increases measurement time and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
By performing calibration standard checks immediately after each sample measurement, the system proactively identifies potential errors before they require re-analysis. This preliminary detection mechanism reduces the number of unnecessary re-analyses by filtering out false positives early in the process
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism provides detailed information about the nature and magnitude of deviations through flagging systems. This allows operators to distinguish between genuine measurement errors requiring re-analysis and minor variations within acceptable ranges, thereby reducing unnecessary re-processing while maintaining measurement precision
3Productivity
If conventional single-sample measurement procedures are used, then the measurement process is efficient, but disturbances like air bubbles or electrostatic discharges can cause undetected errors in critical electrolyte measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sample measurement and calibration standard check into a unified measurement sequence. By combining these two operations and analyzing both results together, the system maintains measurement efficiency while simultaneously detecting disturbances that would be missed in isolated single-sample measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration standard measurement serves as a preliminary check that prepares and validates the measurement system before critical sample analysis. This preliminary validation ensures that subsequent measurements are performed under optimal conditions, improving reliability without significantly impacting overall productivity
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 method reliably identifies and flags questionable deviations, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of ion-selective electrode measurements, reducing unnecessary re-analysis and maintaining the integrity of clinical chemistry results.
Implementation Method 1
The underlying measurement principle is potentiometry. A potential develops over this membrane, which under ideal circumstances only depends on the activity of the ion to be measured (the analyte). The potential difference measured between the measurement electrode and the reference electrode is related to the concentration of the ion in question employing the Nernst equation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for measuring the concentration of at least two analytes in a biological liquid sample by using a set of ion selective electrodes is disclosed. The method obtains from the ion selective electrodes first voltage values representative of the concentration of sodium and potassium respectively in those biological samples, and obtains from the ion selective electrodes second voltage values representative of the concentration of sodium and potassium respectively in calibration standards. The method verifies by a predetermined procedure whether each of the second voltage values obtained by measuring the calibration standards has an abnormal value caused by a disturbance of the measurement conditions in one of the ion selective electrodes, and if this is the case, marks with a flag as doubtful the measurement results derived from the first voltage values obtained for the corresponding sample which was measured before measuring the calibration standards for sodium and potassium.