Portable Clinical Analyzer Motion Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Point-of-care analyte testing systems face challenges with motion and device impact errors due to their portable and handheld nature, leading to potential inaccuracies and the need for improved stability and orientation management during testing.

Innovation Solution

A portable clinical system that includes a computing device to monitor and correct for motion and orientation issues by using accelerometers to determine spatial orientation and motion, providing alerts or suppressing results if thresholds are exceeded, ensuring accurate immunoassay performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If point-of-care analyte testing systems are made portable and handheld for immediate testing, then productivity and speed of results are improved, but reliability and measurement precision deteriorate due to motion and device impact errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of test resultsVSAvoidaccuracy of measurements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting motion and orientation deviations during the test cycle and implementing corrective measures before they compromise the immunoassay results. The computing device continuously monitors accelerometer data and takes corrective action when thresholds are exceeded, preventing motion-induced errors from affecting the measurement outcome.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by using accelerometers to detect motion and orientation of the portable device during testing, comparing this data against threshold values, and providing real-time alerts or corrective actions when deviations are detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that motion errors are identified and addressed to maintain measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If point-of-care testing systems are made portable for immediate patient care, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to being influenced by motion and device impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveportability for immediate testingVSAvoidstability during testing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The portable testing system performs self-service by autonomously monitoring its own motion and orientation status during testing using integrated accelerometers. The computing device automatically detects when the device is moved or impacted beyond acceptable thresholds and implements corrective actions without requiring external intervention, ensuring continuous reliable operation in portable conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If traditional central laboratory systems are used for accurate testing, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity and speed of results worsen due to sample transport and processing delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of test resultsVSAvoidturnaround time for results

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical sample transport process with electronic data processing. Instead of physically transporting samples to centralized laboratories, the portable device performs measurements at the patient location and electronically processes results through the computing device, eliminating transport delays while maintaining measurement accuracy through motion compensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If point-of-care systems are made portable for untrained hands to operate, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability worsens due to dropping or jostling of the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation by untrained personnelVSAvoidprotection against mishandling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements beforehand cushioning by establishing threshold values for acceptable motion and orientation during testing. When the accelerometer detects deviations beyond these pre-set thresholds, the system automatically implements protective measures such as alerting the user or suppressing results, thereby cushioning against the effects of dropping or jostling before they can compromise the test integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 enhances the reliability and accuracy of point-of-care testing by minimizing the impact of motion and orientation errors, thereby improving the quality of analytical results in uncontrolled environments.

Implementation Method 1

The computing device is optionally configured to measure static acceleration on at least three axes of the analyzer to determine the spatial orientation of the analyzer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS20210164968A1Portable clinical analysis system for immunometric measurement

Publication Date: 2021.06.03 ABBOTT POINT OF CARE INC

AI summary

The present invention covers the integration and utility of accelerometer features into a clinical analysis system. For example, measurement of dynamic acceleration and orientation of a blood-testing instrument with respect to Earth's gravitational field may be used to determine reliability of a test procedure and optionally to provide corrective elements thereof.