Nanoparticle Detection Accuracy in Disc-Based Analysis Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional analysis devices face accuracy issues due to displacement of reaction regions on the specimen analysis disc, leading to misalignment of measurement gate signals and nanoparticles, resulting in decreased detection accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The analysis device includes a turntable with a specimen analysis disc, a turntable drive unit, an optical pickup, and a controller that generates measurement gate signals and counts nanoparticles based on light reception levels, allowing for accurate detection and counting of nanoparticles even when reaction regions are displaced from predetermined positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gasket made of elastically-deformable material is used to seal between the cartridge and specimen analysis disc, then leakage of solutions is decreased, but the cartridge may be fixed in a deformed state causing displacement of reaction regions from predetermined positions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of reaction region positions using a reference signal (e.g., reflection from the disc surface) before actual nanoparticle measurement. Based on this preliminary detection, the measurement gate timing is adjusted in advance to compensate for any displacement caused by gasket deformation, ensuring accurate measurement despite the sealing requirement
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the timing parameter of the measurement gate signal dynamically based on the detected position of reaction regions. By adjusting the gate timing offset according to actual region positions, the system compensates for displacement while maintaining the sealing function of the elastic gasket
2Reliability
If the reaction regions are displaced from predetermined positions, then the sealing function is maintained through gasket deformation, but the timing of measurement gate signals does not conform to the timing of nanoparticle pulse signals leading to decreased detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the detected reaction region positions (via reference signal timing) to adjust the measurement gate timing. The detected positional information feeds back to the control system, which then modifies the gate signal timing to match the actual nanoparticle passage timing, ensuring accurate detection while maintaining sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of reaction region positions before nanoparticle measurement. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-adjust the measurement gate timing to compensate for any displacement, ensuring that the gate opens at the correct time relative to nanoparticle passage even when regions are displaced from predetermined positions
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 solution ensures accurate detection and counting of nanoparticles by specifying the measurement gate sections and summing the nanoparticles across the reaction regions, improving the overall detection accuracy despite potential displacement of reaction regions.
Implementation Method 1
an optical pickup driven in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the turntable, and configured to emit laser light to the reaction region, to receive a reflected light from the reaction region
Data Source
AI summary
An analysis device includes a turntable, an optical pickup, and a controller. The turntable holds a specimen analysis disc having reaction regions on which nanoparticles binding to substances to be detected are captured. The optical pickup emits laser light to each reaction region, receives a reflected light from each reaction region, and generates a light reception level signal. The controller sequentially generates a plurality of measurement gate signals for counting the number of the nanoparticles captured on each reaction region, counts the number of the nanoparticles of each of the measurement gate signals based on the light reception level signal, specifies a measurement gate section in each reaction region according to a measurement result per measurement gate signal, and adds up the number of the nanoparticles of the respective measurement gate signals in the measurement gate section.