Automatic Analyzer Probe Position Detection via Flow-Path Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzing apparatuses face challenges in detecting abnormalities in the relative positional relationship between a probe and cleaning water due to surface wetting, dew condensation, electromagnetic noise, or low conductivity of cleaning water, using conductivity or capacitance detection sensors.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzing apparatus with a pipetting mechanism, syringe, flow path, pressure sensor, and control unit that measures pressure changes in the flow of the probe to detect abnormalities in the flow path, and a cleaning mechanism that uses pressure changes to determine the positional relationship between the probe and cleaning water, and a cleaning mechanism that uses pressure changes to determine the positional relationship between the probe and cleaning water, and a cleaning mechanism that uses pressure changes to determine the positional relationship between the probe and cleaning water, and a cleaning mechanism that uses pressure changes to determine the positional relationship between the probe and cleaning water, and a cleaning mechanism that uses pressure changes to determine the positional relationship between the probe and cleaning water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conductivity detection type sensor or capacitance detection sensor is used to detect abnormality in positional relationship between probe and cleaning water, then detection capability is provided, but detection reliability deteriorates when surface wetting, dew condensation, electromagnetic noise, or low conductivity of cleaning water occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical detection system (conductivity or capacitance sensors) with a pressure-based detection system. A pressure sensor detects changes in pressure within the flow path when the probe moves through the cleaning water, enabling detection of positional abnormalities without being affected by surface wetting, dew condensation, electromagnetic noise, or cleaning water conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pressure as an intermediary parameter to detect the positional relationship between the probe and cleaning water. Instead of directly detecting electrical properties that are susceptible to interference, the system uses pressure changes in the flow path as a mediator that reliably indicates when the probe is properly positioned in the cleaning water.
2Ease of operation
If cleaning water is sprayed onto the probe outer wall to clean it, then cleaning function is provided, but detection of positional abnormality becomes unreliable due to changing contact area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical detection methods with pressure-based detection to overcome the problem of varying contact area during cleaning. The pressure sensor detects pressure changes in the flow path that occur when the probe enters or exits the cleaning water, providing reliable positional detection regardless of the contact area between the cleaning water and probe surface.
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
Enables accurate detection of the positional relationship between the probe and cleaning water without relying on the probe's surface state or cleaning water's conductivity, improving cleaning efficiency and reliability of the analysis results.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor that measures a pressure in the flow path
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an automatic analyzing apparatus and a probe position detecting method that enable detection of an abnormality in a relative positional relationship between a probe and cleaning water without depending on a surface state of the probe or without depending on electromagnetic noise or physical properties such as conductivity of cleaning water. Included are: a pipetting mechanism that aspirates and discharges liquid by a probe; a syringe that causes the pipetting mechanism to aspirate and discharge the liquid; a flow path connecting the pipetting mechanism and the syringe; a pressure sensor that measures a pressure in the flow path; a cleaning mechanism that discharges cleaning water and cleans an outer wall of the probe with the cleaning water; a probe drive unit that causes the probe under aspiration to move so as to aspirate the cleaning water when the probe passes through the cleaning water; and a control unit that detects an abnormality in a relative positional relationship between the probe and the cleaning water on the basis of a change in the pressure in the flow path when the probe under aspiration passed through the cleaning water in one direction.