Optical Measurement Variation in Sample Wells with Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical measurements in sample wells containing sample carriers are prone to variation due to the stochastic location of the sample carrier, which can attenuate or enhance radiation, leading to increased measurement deviation and additional work in laboratories.
Innovation Solution
Conducting multiple optical measurements from different locations within the sample well, with the final result calculated using a predetermined rule, such as maximum, minimum, or average, to mitigate the disturbing effect of the sample carrier's location, without removing the carrier or transferring the sample.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If optical measurement is taken from a sample well containing a piece of sample carrier, then the measurement process is simplified and no sample transfer is needed, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to stochastic location of the sample carrier causing radiation attenuation or enhancement
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is segmented into multiple independent measurements taken from different locations within the sample well. Instead of taking a single measurement that may be affected by the sample carrier's position, the method divides the measurement into multiple parts (first measurement at first location, second measurement at second location), thereby reducing the impact of any single location's interference from the sample carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement approach transitions from a single-point measurement to a multi-location measurement within the sample well. By introducing spatial dimensionality (measuring at multiple distinct locations rather than one), the method captures a more comprehensive signal that averages out the stochastic interference from the sample carrier's random position.
2Measurement precision
If the piece of sample carrier is removed from the sample well prior to measurement, then measurement precision is improved by eliminating interference, but additional work and time are required for sample preparation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically extracting or removing the sample carrier from the sample well (which would improve precision but reduce productivity), the method extracts only the necessary measurement information by taking multiple measurements at different locations. This virtual extraction approach achieves precision improvement without the time-consuming physical removal step.
Solution Approach 2:
The method creates multiple measurement copies or readings from different locations within the same sample well rather than physically moving or copying the sample itself. These multiple measurement copies are then combined to produce a final result that eliminates the need for physical sample manipulation while maintaining precision.
3Measurement precision
If multiple optical measurements are taken from different locations in the sample well, then measurement precision is improved by reducing the effect of sample carrier location, but the complexity of the measurement process increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual measurements taken from different locations are merged or combined to produce a single final measurement result. This merging process integrates the information from multiple locations, canceling out the stochastic interference from the sample carrier's position, while presenting a simplified final output that doesn't require complex data processing.
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 measurement variation and eliminates the need to remove the sample carrier, resulting in more accurate and consistent optical measurement results with reduced laboratory workload.
Implementation Method 1
The optical measurement can be, for example, a fluorescence measurement
Implementation Method 2
a luminescence measurement
Implementation Method 3
an absorbance measurement
Implementation Method 4
the piece of the sample carrier may attenuate or enhance the radiation being measured
Implementation Method 5
the piece can disturb the optical measurement by typically enhancing the measured radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A measurement device includes mechanical support elements (101-104) for supporting a sample well, other mechanical support elements (105-109) for supporting a measurement head (112) suitable for optical measurements, and a control system (111) configured to control the measurement head to carry out at least two optical measurements from at least two different measurement locations inside the sample well, where each measurement location is a center point of a capture range from which radiation is captured in the respective optical measurement. The final measurement result is formed from the results of the at least two optical measurements in accordance with a pre-determined rule. The use of the at least two optical measurements from different measurement locations reduces measurement variation in situations where the sample well (153) contains a piece (158) of sample carrier.