Probe Cleaning Control for Carryover Reduction in Auto Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic analysis apparatuses face challenges in avoiding carryover and maintaining analysis performance when handling multiple analyte types, reagents, and analysis items with a single dispensing mechanism, due to varying contamination states of the sample and reagent probes.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a dispensing mechanism with a probe for dispensing samples or reagents, a cleaning mechanism, and a control unit that accumulates count values indicating contamination weightings based on analysis conditions. The control unit triggers cleaning of the probe when the cumulative count exceeds a set threshold, ensuring efficient cleaning reflecting the contamination factors involved.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single dispensing mechanism handles multiple analyte types and reagents, then the device complexity is reduced and adaptability is improved, but the contamination state varies and carryover cannot be effectively avoided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle multiple analyte types and reagentsVSAvoidavoidance of carryover

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning mechanism dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time contamination assessment. The control unit evaluates contamination state using multiple parameters (analyte type, number of dispensing operations, suction amount) and adaptively determines cleaning necessity and intensity, allowing the system to maintain reliability while handling diverse samples with a single probe

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters to assess and respond to contamination states. By monitoring parameters such as the number of dispensing operations, suction amounts, and analyte types, the control unit determines when contamination reaches critical levels and triggers appropriate cleaning actions, enabling reliable operation across multiple analyte types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If cleaning is performed frequently to avoid carryover, then analysis reliability is improved, but the productivity decreases due to increased cleaning time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavoidance of carryoverVSAvoidanalysis throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors contamination parameters (number of dispensing operations, suction amounts, analyte types) and triggers cleaning only when the cumulative contamination assessment exceeds predetermined thresholds. This feedback-based approach ensures cleaning is performed at optimal moments to prevent carryover while minimizing unnecessary cleaning operations that would reduce productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing full cleaning operations after every dispensing cycle, the system applies partial cleaning actions only when contamination reaches critical levels. The cleaning mechanism is activated selectively based on accumulated contamination assessment, performing just enough cleaning to maintain reliability without excessive cleaning that would reduce analysis throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the probe is cleaned after each dispensing operation, then carryover is avoided, but the time required for analysis increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavoidance of carryoverVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit uses feedback from multiple contamination parameters (analyte type, number of dispensing operations, suction amount) to determine when cleaning is actually needed. This feedback mechanism prevents unnecessary cleaning operations while ensuring cleaning is performed when contamination reaches levels that could cause carryover, thereby minimizing time loss while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of cleaning after every single dispensing operation, the system implements periodic cleaning based on accumulated contamination assessment. The control unit evaluates whether the cumulative contamination from multiple dispensing operations warrants a cleaning cycle, transforming cleaning from a continuous action to a periodic one that maintains reliability while reducing total cleaning time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12298324B2Automatic analysis apparatus and cleaning method for same

Publication Date: 2025.05.13 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP

AI summary

An automatic analysis apparatus includes: an automatic analysis unit 100 which includes a dispensing mechanism including a probe which is configured to dispense a sample or a reagent into a reaction container, a cleaning mechanism; and a control unit 124. The control unit includes a storage unit 124a configured to store count values which indicate weightings to contamination and are set in advance in accordance with a plurality of analysis conditions, a processing unit 124b configured to obtain a cumulative count for each dispensing of the sample or the reagent on the basis of the stored count values and to determine whether the obtained cumulative count exceeds a threshold value set in advance, and an instruction unit 124c configured to instruct an operation of the cleaning mechanism to clean the probe when a result of determination is that the cumulative count exceeds the threshold value.