Micro-well Plate Automation for Clinical Assay Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated analyzers for clinical laboratories face issues such as high sample and reagent volumes, significant waste generation, high costs, limited modularity, inflexible assay scheduling, and maintenance challenges, which hinder efficiency and flexibility in performing both clinical chemistry and immunochemistry assays.
Innovation Solution
The use of micro-well plates with inverse magnetic particle processing for immunoassay reactions, allowing for flexible arrangement of functional modules, reduced reagent and sample volumes, and integration of immunoassays with clinical chemistry assays through a novel scheduling system and aspirating/dispensing protocols, along with radio frequency identification technology for tracking and automated maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional automated analyzers are used for clinical chemistry and immunochemistry assays, then assay processing can be performed, but high sample and reagent volumes are required, leading to significant waste generation and high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the assay processing by using micro-well plates that can be divided into multiple sections or levels. Different assay types (clinical chemistry and immunochemistry) can be performed in different sections of the same plate, allowing efficient use of small sample and reagent volumes while minimizing waste through targeted processing of only the necessary wells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by placing multiple micro-well plates vertically stacked within a single processing chamber. This allows the system to process multiple assays simultaneously using minimal volumes of sample and reagents, as each nested plate contains only the specific assays required, thereby reducing overall waste generation while maintaining high throughput.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional automated analyzers are used, then assays can be performed, but the analyzers have limited modularity and inflexible assay scheduling
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic assay scheduling where the processor can adaptively assign different assay protocols to different micro-well plates based on real-time requirements. The controller dynamically adjusts processing parameters, reagent delivery sequences, and incubation times without requiring physical reconfiguration of the analyzer, thereby achieving high flexibility while maintaining a fixed modular structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The micro-well plate processor is designed as a universal platform that can handle both clinical chemistry assays and immunochemistry assays using the same physical hardware. The system uses universal reagent reservoirs, common processing chambers, and standardized micro-well plate formats, allowing a single analyzer to perform multiple assay types without requiring separate dedicated instruments, thus reducing overall system complexity while enhancing versatility.
3Reliability
If conventional automated analyzers are used, then assays can be performed, but maintenance challenges arise and reliability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates self-diagnostic capabilities where the controller automatically monitors processing parameters, detects anomalies in reagent delivery or incubation conditions, and alerts operators to potential issues before they affect assay results. The modular design allows individual components such as reagent reservoirs and micro-well plate holders to be easily replaced without complex disassembly, enabling quick maintenance while ensuring high reliability through continuous self-monitoring.
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 approach reduces assay processing resources, improves reliability, and enhances flexibility by enabling simultaneous performance of multiple assays with minimal reagent and sample usage, efficient waste management, and automated maintenance, leading to improved sensitivity and throughput.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic particle processing apparatus that processes immunoassay reactions in a micro-well plate by transferring magnetic particles through different micro-wells
Data Source
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AI summary
A laboratory automation system that is capable of carrying out clinical chemistry assays, immunoassays, amplification of nucleic acid assays, and any combination of the foregoing, said laboratory automation system employing at least one of micro-well plates and deep multi-well plates as reaction vessels. The use of micro-well plates as reaction vessels enables the laboratory automation system to assume a variety of arrangements, i.e., the laboratory automation system can comprise a variety of functional modules that can be arranged in various ways. In order to effectively carry out immunoassays by means of micro-well plates, a technique known as inverse magnetic particle processing can be used to transfer the product(s) of immunoassays from one micro-well of a micro-well plate to another.