Reaction Tray Rotation Pattern for Sample Analyzer Reagent Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic biochemical analyzers face challenges in maintaining constant test speeds for both single and double-reagent items, leading to inconsistent and unpredictable test results due to complex structural configurations and separate operating cycles for reagent dispensing, which affects repeatability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sample analyzer with a reaction tray and sample/reagent tray that rotates and stops in a specific pattern, allowing for simultaneous dispensing of a sample and two reagents during the same operating cycle, optimizing the rotation and stop positions to ensure each vessel position is visited once before being used again, thereby maintaining consistent test speeds and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate operating cycles are used for single and double-reagent items, then reagent dispensing can be completed, but test speed consistency and repeatability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction tray is designed to perform periodic rotations with fixed stop positions during each operating cycle. The tray stops at least three times and rotates at least three times, with the number of rotated vessel positions minus the number of rotated integral loops being a fixed value. This periodic motion ensures that sample and reagent dispensing operations occur at consistent intervals, maintaining constant test speeds for both single and double-reagent items while improving result repeatability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex structural configurations are used for reagent dispensing, then multiple reagents can be dispensed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction tray serves multiple functions: it holds reaction vessels, rotates to position vessels under the probe, and stops at predetermined positions to enable sequential dispensing of sample and multiple reagents. This single multi-functional component replaces what would otherwise require separate mechanisms for each dispensing operation, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the capability to handle both single and double-reagent test items.
Solution Approach 2:
The reaction tray employs dynamic rotation and stopping motion rather than static positioning. During each operating cycle, the tray rotates to different positions and stops sequentially, allowing the same physical structure to access multiple reagent containers and dispense different reagents at different times. This dynamic approach enables versatile reagent dispensing without requiring complex separate mechanisms for each reagent.
3Quantity of substance
If additional operating cycles are used for second reagent dispensing, then complete reagent addition can be achieved, but test efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction tray continues its rotation and stopping sequence throughout a single operating cycle to complete all dispensing operations. Instead of finishing sample dispensing and then starting a separate cycle for reagent dispensing, the tray continuously rotates and stops at predetermined positions within the same cycle to dispense the first reagent, second reagent, and any additional reagents. This continuous action eliminates idle time between dispensing operations, maintaining high test efficiency while ensuring complete reagent addition.
Data Source
AI summary
A sample analyzer comprises a reaction tray, a sample/reagent tray, and a probe. The reaction tray performs a first number of stops and rotations during an operating cycle, wherein the first number is configured to cause each of the reaction vessels to stop once at a position for the test before any of the number of the reaction vessels stops at the position for a second time. The sample/reagent tray rotates one of a sample container and reagent containers to a sample/reagent retrieving position during an operating cycle. The probe dispenses test sample(s), first reagent, and second reagent during different periods in different stop periods during an operating cycle. A method for analyzing samples is also disclosed.