Laboratory Instrument Safety Indicator for Reagent Compartment Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laboratory instruments face challenges in securely handling reagents during power outages and in efficiently restarting after such events, particularly due to the need for a new teaching process when reagent storage compartments are reinserted.
Innovation Solution
A laboratory instrument equipped with a reversibly removable reagent storage compartment and an electronically readable safety indicator that automatically alters its state during removal and reinsertion, allowing for secure handling and convenient restart without the need for a routine initial teaching process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a teaching process is performed to enable the laboratory instrument to correctly address reagent containers, then the instrument can operate without collisions or misplacement, but the process requires time and user intervention, especially after reagent storage compartment removal and reinsertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by equipping the reagent storage compartment with a teaching device that automatically performs the teaching process during insertion into the housing. This eliminates the need for separate manual teaching operations after compartment removal and reinsertion, as the teaching data is transferred automatically through the connection established during insertion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reagent storage compartment is made reversibly removable for secure retrieval during power outages, then reagents can be securely stored externally, but the instrument requires additional mechanisms to detect and respond to compartment removal
Solution Approach 1:
The connection interface serves multiple functions: it mechanically secures the reagent storage compartment to the housing, establishes electrical connections for power and data transfer, and enables automatic teaching data transfer. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate detection mechanisms, as the same connection structure that enables removable mounting also provides the teaching capability.
3Extent of automation
If the safety indicator automatically alters state during removal and reinsertion, then the system can detect compartment status changes without user intervention, but the indicator mechanism adds complexity to the housing structure
Solution Approach 1:
The safety indicator function is merged with the connection interface structure. The housing includes a safety indicator that is integrated into the mounting mechanism, allowing the same structural elements that enable compartment removal and insertion to also provide automatic status indication. This integration avoids adding separate indicator mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A laboratory instrument (110) for processing at least one sample is proposed. The laboratory instrument (110) comprises: a. at least one housing (114) having at least one sample processing device (116) disposed therein; b. at least one reagent storage compartment (118) reversibly removable from the housing (114), and c. at least one safety indicator (128), the safety indicator (128) being configured for indicating if the reagent storage compartment (118) has been removed from the housing (114) and reinserted into the housing (114), wherein the laboratory instrument (110) is configured for automatically altering a detectable state of the safety indicator (128) during the process of removing and reinserting the reagent storage compartment (118). Further, a method of operating the laboratory instrument (110), a computer program and a computer-readable storage medium are proposed.