Piezoelectric Hemolyzer with Wide Frequency Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hemolyzers based on resonant ultrasonic transducers are bulky, have high energy consumption, and are limited in frequency range, making them unsuitable for efficient hemolysis and quality control, especially when using exchangeable cuvettes with varying material properties.
Innovation Solution
A hemolyzer with piezoelectric multilayer actuators that can be excited in a wide frequency range (20-50 kHz) for tunable mechanical vibrations, allowing for adaptable hemolysis and integration with an exchangeable cuvette design for easy maintenance and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If resonant ultrasonic transducers are used for hemolysis, then hemolysis function is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and has high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters from resonant frequency operation to wide frequency range operation (20-50 kHz). This allows the use of compact piezoelectric multilayer actuators instead of large resonant transducers, reducing both device size and energy consumption while maintaining effective hemolysis through frequency-tunable mechanical vibrations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical resonant oscillator system with an electrically controlled piezoelectric actuator system. This substitution enables precise electronic control of vibration frequency and amplitude, eliminating the need for bulky mechanical resonance structures and reducing overall device power requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If resonant ultrasonic transducers operate at fixed frequency, then hemolysis is performed, but adaptability to different cuvette materials is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fixed-frequency resonant system into a dynamic wide-frequency system (20-50 kHz). The piezoelectric multilayer actuators can be excited at different frequencies to match the vibration properties of various cuvette materials, ensuring reliable hemolysis across different materials while providing adaptability through frequency tuning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous adjustment of the vibration frequency parameter to optimize coupling with different cuvette materials. By changing the excitation frequency within the 20-50 kHz range, the system adapts to different material properties while maintaining effective mechanical vibration transmission for hemolysis
3Adaptability or versatility
If resonant oscillators with narrow frequency range are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but quality control and system testing capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the hemolyzer multi-functional by enabling it to perform both hemolysis and quality control/system testing functions. The wide frequency range (20-50 kHz) allows the same piezoelectric actuators to be used for different purposes: hemolysis at optimized frequencies and quality control tests at different frequencies, eliminating the need for separate testing equipment
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 solution enables a compact, low-energy, and adaptable hemolysis system that maintains performance across different cuvette materials, facilitating efficient blood sample hemolysis and internal quality control, even with consumable cuvettes, and is intuitive for untrained users.
Implementation Method 1
piezoceramic elements 211, which are excited by electrical AC signals due to the reverse piezo effect (i.e. the physical phenomenon in which mechanical deformations are caused by the application of electrical signals to a piezo element are caused) generate mechanical vibrations
Implementation Method 2
the vibrations are propagated into the sample 205 and the blood cells therein can burst due to cavitation effects
Implementation Method 3
hemolysis, in which the blood cells in a whole blood sample are destroyed by ultrasound
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The hemolyzer (1) has vibration generating elements (2) i.e. piezoelectric multi-layer actuator, acting on an ultrasonic horn plate (3) and displaceable in mechanical vibrations by an electrical alternating current (AC) signal generator. The ultrasonic horn plate transmits the mechanical vibrations on a sample chamber (6), and the vibration generating elements are excitable to the mechanical vibrations in a broad frequency band of 20 to 50 kilo hertz. A replaceable vessel (20) is insertable into the sample chamber, and has a sample channel (25) for accommodating blood sample (28). Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a spectroscopic analyzer comprising a hemolyzer (2) a method for operating a hemolyzer.