Pressure Waveform Tip Identification for Precise Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing devices face contamination issues due to mismatch between the dispensing amount and the type of tip used, particularly in PCR methods, where even slight contamination affects examination results, and there is a need to determine the appropriate tip for accurate dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing device equipped with a pressure sensor that determines the type of tip based on pressure waveforms generated during suction or discharge operations, allowing for precise matching of the tip with the required dispensing amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional syringe or pump is used for dispensing, then the device structure is simple, but the dispensing precision and control accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing device is segmented into multiple independent modules: a drive unit with motor and drive shaft, a separate dispensing needle assembly, a control unit with processor, and memory components. This modular segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall system precision and control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical pumping mechanisms with an electronically controlled drive system. The motor-driven drive shaft mechanically actuates the dispensing mechanism through precisely controlled rotational movements, enabling digital control of dispensing parameters such as volume, speed, and timing, thereby achieving high dispensing precision while maintaining manageable device complexity through electronic control.
2Manufacturing precision
If the dispensing device is made highly automated with precise control, then the dispensing precision improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically manages the dispensing process based on pre-stored dispensing parameters in memory. The system self-regulates motor speed, dispensing volume, and timing without requiring manual adjustment during operation. This automation maintains high dispensing precision while simplifying user interaction, as operators only need to initiate the process rather than continuously control parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
Dispensing parameters such as volume, speed, and timing are pre-configured and stored in memory before the dispensing operation begins. The control unit retrieves these pre-set parameters during operation, eliminating the need for real-time manual adjustments and ensuring consistent precision across multiple dispensing cycles while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If multiple components are integrated for precise control, then the control accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes sensor inputs, retrieves pre-stored dispensing parameters from memory, controls motor speed and positioning, monitors dispensing progress, and manages error handling. This multi-functional integration consolidates what could be separate complex subsystems into a single coordinated control unit, maintaining high control accuracy while managing overall device complexity through functional consolidation.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
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AI summary
The present invention determines whether or not a mounted tip and a dispensing amount match with each other in order to prevent contamination in a dispensing device. The present invention is provided with a pipette mechanism 108, 109 that performs suction and discharge, a motor 102 that drives the pipette mechanism, and a pressure sensor 113 that detects a pressure of the pipette mechanism. A dispensing tip 110 is mounted to the pipette mechanism. A control computer 116 controls the motor 102, drives the pipette mechanism in a suction or discharge direction, and determines a type of the dispensing tip 110 on the basis of a difference in pressure waveform detected by the pressure sensor 113.