Photometer Reagent Age Correction for Analyte Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing photometer arrangements face challenges in accurately determining the concentration of analytes in liquid samples due to the limited stability of reagents, which results in a short reagent lifetime, especially when not all cuvettes in a package are used promptly, leading to expired reagents and reduced measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A photometer arrangement that includes an analyzer device, a reagent container with a machine-readable identifier, a reagent ageing database, and an evaluation device, which uses age-specific correction factors to enhance measurement precision by linking the reagent's age to the photometric raw measurement value, thereby extending the reagent's effective lifetime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the reagent lifetime period is extended to 12 months or more, then the reagent stability must be maintained, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to reagent degradation over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining ageing correction factors for different reagent ages through accelerated ageing tests. These correction factors are stored in a database before actual use. When measurements are performed with aged reagents, the appropriate correction factor is retrieved and applied to compensate for reagent degradation, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy throughout the extended reagent lifetime.
2Ease of manufacture
If simple two-dimensional barcodes are used for reagent identification, then the cost is reduced, but the information storage capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a centralized database as an intermediary to store comprehensive reagent information. Instead of encoding all reagent details in the barcode, the barcode serves as a key that links to the database containing full reagent specifications, ageing characteristics, and correction factors. This approach maintains simple, cost-effective barcodes while providing access to extensive information through the database intermediary.
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 significantly increases the accuracy of measurement values and extends the reagent's usable lifetime from 3-5% to 24 months or more by applying age-specific correction factors, ensuring precise results even with older reagents.
Implementation Method 1
The photometer typically, but not necessarily, is a transmissive photometer and thereby provides a transmission or an absorption measurement value
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention refers to a photometer arrangement (8) with a reagent container (10,10') comprising a reagent (14) and being provided with a machine-readable reagent identifier (16), an analyzer device (30) comprising a photometer (40) for providing a photometric raw measurement value (M), a reagent identifier reader (45) for providing a reagent identity (R) and a photometer controller (36), a time stamp generator (38) for providing a measurement date (MD), a reagent ageing database (76) with reagent-identity-specific and age-specific ageing correction factors (C), and an evaluation device (50) having a data connection with the analyzer device (30) and the reagent ageing database (76). The long time accuracy of the photometric results is improved significantly.