Liquid Housing Container Surface Roughness for Carry-Over Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Reaction cells in automatic analyzers face issues with carry-over and cross-contamination due to repeated use, which is economically unsustainable due to high manufacturing costs, and existing solutions like hydrophobic resins do not adequately address measurement accuracy and contamination control.
Innovation Solution
A liquid housing container design with specific sidewall configurations and materials, including sapphire or light-transmissive ceramics, featuring distinct cut level differences and roughness profiles to minimize bubble adherence and enhance measurement accuracy, while controlling cross-contamination through optimized surface roughness and material selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If reaction cells are made disposable to control carry-over, then cross-contamination is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface roughness parameter of the reaction cell inner wall to reduce carry-over. By controlling the arithmetic mean roughness Ra to be 0.03 µm or less, the cell achieves anti-adherence properties that minimize sample residue, allowing repeated use without disposable replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different surface quality requirements to different parts of the reaction cell. The inner wall surface requires ultra-smooth finish (Ra ≤ 0.03 µm) to prevent carry-over, while other external surfaces have different requirements, optimizing manufacturing cost by not making the entire cell disposable.
2Illumination intensity
If reaction cells are made of transparent resin for light measurement, then optical properties are satisfied, but carry-over control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface roughness parameter of transparent resin reaction cells to Ra ≤ 0.03 µm, transforming the surface properties to reduce carry-over while maintaining the transparent resin material's light transmission capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses transparent resin materials with specifically controlled surface properties, combining the optical transparency of resin with ultra-smooth surface characteristics to achieve both light measurement requirements and carry-over control.
3Ease of manufacture
If reaction cells are repeatedly used for economic reasons, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to cross-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface roughness parameter to Ra ≤ 0.03 µm, creating an anti-adherence surface that prevents sample residue and cross-contamination, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy across multiple uses while reducing manufacturing costs through repeated use.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultra-smooth surface structure enables the reaction cell to resist sample adherence automatically, with the surface properties themselves preventing contamination without requiring additional cleaning mechanisms or disposable replacement.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrophobic resin coating is applied to reduce carry-over, then sample adherence is reduced, but measurement accuracy and contamination control are not adequately addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes from chemical coating (hydrophobic resin) to physical surface structure control (Ra ≤ 0.03 µm), achieving carry-over reduction through ultra-smooth surface geometry that prevents sample adherence without compromising measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the hydrophobic resin coating approach with a permanent ultra-smooth surface structure, eliminating the need for coating applications and providing long-term carry-over control without affecting measurement precision.
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 design improves measurement accuracy by reducing bubble adherence and controlling wetting, thereby minimizing cross-contamination between adjacent containers, and allows for more efficient cleaning, addressing the economic and accuracy challenges of repeated use.
Implementation Method 1
a cut level difference Rδc1 in a roughness curve of an inner wall surface of the first sidewall and an inner wall surface of the second sidewall is larger than a cut level difference Rδc2 in a roughness curve of an inner wall surface of a sidewall of the distal end portion
Implementation Method 2
controlling wetting, thereby minimizing cross-contamination between adjacent containers
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a liquid housing container includes a frame-like distal end portion; a tubular portion including a first sidewall that introduces light for measurement, a second sidewall that guides the light outward, and a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall located between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the tubular portion being connected to the distal end portion on a bottom side of the distal end portion; and a base portion sealing a bottom side of the tubular portion. A cut level difference Rδc1 in a roughness curve of an inner wall surface of the first sidewall and an inner wall surface of the second sidewall is larger than a cut level difference Rδc2 in a roughness curve of an inner wall surface of a sidewall of the distal end portion. The cut level difference represents a difference between a cut level at a load length ratio of 25% in a roughness curve and a cut level at a load length ratio of 75% in the roughness curve.