Optical Boundary Detection for Centrifugal Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional analyzers using optical discs for centrifuging and analyzing blood samples lack confirmation of complete separation between blood plasma and cell components during centrifugation, leading to potential clogging of capillary tubes and inaccurate analysis results.
Innovation Solution
An analysis system with an analyzing disk and an analyzer that includes a driving unit for centrifugation, an optical unit for detecting light changes between components, and a controller to determine the boundary between centrifuged components, ensuring accurate separation monitoring and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If centrifugation is performed without monitoring separation completion, then the analysis process is simpler and faster, but the separation may be incomplete leading to clogging and inaccurate results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using an optical detection system to monitor the separation process in real-time. The detector measures light transmission through the centrifuge chamber, and when the boundary between plasma and cell components reaches a predetermined position, the system automatically stops centrifugation. This feedback mechanism ensures complete separation while preventing over-centrifugation, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex manual monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical monitoring methods with an optical detection system. Instead of using mechanical sensors or visual inspection, the system uses light transmission detection to monitor the separation process. The optical unit shines light through the centrifuge chamber, and the detector measures changes in light transmission as the boundary between components moves, substituting a simple optical mechanism for complex mechanical monitoring systems.
2Measurement precision
If the boundary detection is implemented to ensure complete separation, then analysis accuracy improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses light as an intermediary to detect the boundary between plasma and cell components. Instead of directly measuring physical properties of the components, the system uses light transmission as an intermediary measurement. The optical unit emits light through the centrifuge chamber, and the detector measures light transmission changes caused by the boundary passage, providing accurate detection without complex direct measurement systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors changes in light transmission parameter to detect the boundary position. As the boundary between plasma and cell components passes through the detection area, it causes a characteristic change in light transmission. The system detects this parameter change and uses it to determine when separation is complete, converting a complex physical separation measurement into a simple optical parameter measurement.
3Reliability
If centrifugation continues until complete separation is confirmed, then component separation quality improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent sets predetermined parameters for the centrifugation process, including rotation speed and detection threshold positions, before the actual centrifugation begins. The boundary detection position is predetermined based on the expected separation pattern. This preliminary configuration allows the system to automatically stop centrifugation at the optimal moment when the boundary reaches the detection point, ensuring complete separation without requiring extended centrifugation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The real-time feedback from the optical detection system allows the control unit to monitor the separation progress and stop centrifugation precisely when the boundary reaches the predetermined position. This feedback control prevents both under-centrifugation (incomplete separation) and over-centrifugation (wasted time), optimizing the processing time while ensuring complete separation quality.
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 system effectively monitors and ensures proper separation of blood plasma and cell components, preventing clogging and ensuring accurate analysis by determining the boundary between the components, thus enhancing the reliability of centrifugation and analysis processes.
Implementation Method 1
a driving unit for rotating the analyzing disk so as to centrifuge the first component and the second component of the test sample from each other in the first chamber
Implementation Method 2
an optical unit movable in a radial direction of the analyzing disk for illuminating light to the analyzing disk and detecting light from the test sample in the first chamber
Implementation Method 3
These chambers are connected with each other with capillary tube 1109, a minute duct
Data Source
AI summary
An analysis system includes an analyzing disk, and an analyzer. The analyzing disk includes a chamber into which a test sample is input. The test sample includes a first component and a second component. The analyzer includes a driving unit for rotating the analyzing disk so as to centrifuge the first component and the second component of the test sample from each other in the first chamber, an optical unit movable in a radial direction of the analyzing disk for illuminating light to the analyzing disk and detecting light from the test sample in the first chamber, and a controller for detecting, based on the light from the optical unit, a boundary between the first component and the second component centrifuged in the first chamber. This analysis system monitors the status of the separation due to the centrifugation, hence analyzing the test sample accurately.