Piston Pump Pressure Sensor for Air Detection in Blood Sampling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automated blood analysis systems face sampling errors due to foam formation, air suction, clotting, and incomplete fluid displacement, as existing systems rely solely on plunger displacement verification, which fails to detect air or plug interference during sampling and discharge.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a pressure tap or sensor within the pumping circuit, allowing for pressure threshold measurements to differentiate between liquid and air suction or discharge, ensuring accurate volume verification by monitoring instantaneous pressure conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plunger displacement verification is used to ensure sampling accuracy, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of sampling is insufficient because air suction or plug interference cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
A pressure sensor is introduced as an intermediary element in the pumping circuit to detect pressure variations that indicate air suction or plug interference. The sensor acts as a mediator between the pumping system and the control system, providing critical information about sampling conditions without requiring complex mechanical modifications to the plunger mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor provides continuous feedback about the pumping conditions to the control system. By monitoring pressure variations during the pumping cycle, the system can detect deviations from normal operation (such as air suction or clots) and adjust or reject the sampling result accordingly, thereby improving reliability through real-time monitoring.
2Reliability
If pressure sensor is added to detect air suction and plug interference, then the reliability of sampling verification is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical verification systems with a simpler pressure-based detection system. Instead of using elaborate mechanical sensors to detect air suction or plug interference, the invention uses pressure sensors that provide the same verification function through electrical measurements, thereby improving reliability while keeping the added complexity manageable.
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 effectively prevents sampling errors by accurately detecting air or plug interference, ensuring precise liquid suction and discharge, thereby enhancing the reliability of automated blood analysis systems.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor forming the whole or part of a wall of said chamber
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for monitoring sample-collection carried out using a piston pump (3, 8) such as a syringe, characterized in that said device includes a pressure sensor (11) close to the suction and/or delivery opening (6). Said device is in particular suited for use in an analysis automaton, in particular for analyzing a blood sample. Such a sensor guarantees that the liquid to be analyzed is properly sucked up, in particular that no air is sucked up and that neither the suction or delivery sides are blocked.