Integrated Measuring Cartridge for Automated Liquid Quality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quality control systems for liquid sample analysis are cumbersome, expensive, and require manual handling, with quality control solutions typically used only once, necessitating user intervention and multiple equipment components.
Innovation Solution
A measuring cartridge with integrated quality control containers and a solution routing system that allows orthogonal and independent quality control without calibration, enabling automated measurement of liquid samples and quality control within a single, user-friendly device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional quality control systems use sealed ampules requiring manual handling, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to multiple equipment components and user intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple previously separate components (quality control containers, solution routing system, measurement cell) into a single integrated measuring cartridge. This merging eliminates the need for separate ampules, racks, carousels, and manual handling equipment, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy through automated solution delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring cartridge serves multiple functions: it contains both quality control solutions and measurement capabilities in a single device. The solution routing system can selectively deliver different solutions (quality control or sample) to the measurement cell, making the cartridge universal for both quality control and actual measurement operations without requiring separate equipment.
2Reliability
If conventional quality control systems use single-use ampules, then measurement reliability is maintained, but loss of substance and productivity deteriorate due to high cost and inability to reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring cartridge contains multiple quality control containers (e.g., three containers with different quality control solutions) that can be sequentially used. This allows continuous quality control measurements without discarding the entire system after a single use, reducing substance loss while maintaining reliability through multiple independent quality control solutions.
3Measurement precision
If conventional quality control requires manual ampule handling, then measurement precision can be ensured, but ease of operation and productivity deteriorate due to required user skills and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring cartridge is designed to be self-contained and automatically deliver quality control solutions from the containers to the measurement cell through the integrated solution routing system. This eliminates the need for users to manually open ampules, transfer solutions, or perform complex handling operations, making the system easy to operate while maintaining measurement precision through automated, consistent solution delivery.
4Measurement precision
If conventional quality control uses multiple separate components, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming manual operations
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring cartridge is pre-prepared with multiple quality control containers and the solution routing system configured before use. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for time-consuming manual setup during operation, allowing rapid sequential delivery of different quality control solutions to the measurement cell, thereby improving productivity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
It is provided a measuring cartridge (1) for measuring at least one constituent of a liquid sample, in particular blood, and for performing quality control, the cartridge comprising: a casing (3) insertable into a reception opening (51) of a measuring instrument (50), the casing (3) at least partly surrounding an inner space (5); wherein the inner space contains: a measurement cell (7) comprising a reception space (9) for the sample and at least one sensor area (11) with which the sample is in contact when loaded into the reception space (9); plural quality control containers (13a,13b,13c) for respectively holding different quality control solutions (15a,15b,15c); a solution routing system (17) adapted to selectively route one of the quality control solutions (15a,15b,15c) from the respective quality control container (13a,13b,13c) into the reception space (9) of the measurement cell (7).