Milk Sample Needle Positioning for Lateral Flow Stick Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing systems face challenges in ensuring precise application of a milk sample to a lateral flow stick, leading to issues like carry-over of milk samples between animals due to inconsistent needle positioning, which results in wasted samples and delayed testing.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a milk dosing arrangement with a needle, a moveable structure, and a controller to monitor and control the application of the milk sample to the lateral flow stick, ensuring the needle tip abuts the sample pad accurately by adjusting the distance based on predetermined measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the needle is moved a fixed distance from the retracted position towards the lateral flow stick, then the positioning is simple and quick, but the needle tip may not reach the sample pad surface or may puncture through it, causing sample waste and carry-over
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration to determine the actual distance between the needle tip and the lateral flow stick in the retracted position. This preliminary measurement allows the control unit to calculate and adjust the precise movement distance required for the needle to reach the sample pad surface, preventing both under-penetration and over-penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the calibrated distance information to adjust the needle positioning. The control unit receives feedback about the actual distance measurement and uses this information to control the movement of the needle, ensuring it reaches the correct position on the sample pad without wasting the milk sample.
2Reliability
If the needle positioning is adjusted to ensure accurate sample application, then sample waste is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to additional calibration and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls the movement of the needle, processes distance measurements, stores calibrated distance values, and adjusts positioning parameters. By making the control unit multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable sample application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically determining the distance between the needle tip and the lateral flow stick and storing this information for future use. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual calibration procedures and reduces the complexity of requiring external calibration equipment or procedures.
3Ease of operation
If the needle position is not precisely controlled, then the system operation is simple, but carry-over between milk samples occurs, compromising measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration to establish the correct needle positioning parameters before actual sample testing begins. This preliminary action ensures that subsequent measurements are performed with accurate needle positioning, preventing carry-over between samples while maintaining simple operation during the actual testing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated control system that uses stored distance information to precisely position the needle. This substitution eliminates the need for manual adjustment while ensuring consistent, accurate positioning that prevents carry-over between samples.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for monitoring and controlling application of milk samples to lateral flow test sticks. The system includes a milk dosing assembly with a needle that moves between an application position contacting a test stick and a retracted position. A moveable structure holds and positions the dosing assembly, while a drive unit controls the movement. A controller determines and maintains proper spacing between the needle tip and test stick by comparing measured distances with predetermined values and making adjustments as needed. The system enables accurate and automated application of milk samples for biomarker testing while preventing sample cross-contamination and ensuring proper sample delivery to the test area.