Reagent Preparation Device with Heat Exchanger for Temperature Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reagent preparation devices for in vitro diagnostic medical devices face inefficiencies due to temperature variations affecting conductivity measurements, leading to slow reconstitution times and potential inaccuracies in reagent concentration, requiring cumbersome regulation loops and additional equipment like conductivity meters and buffer tanks.
Innovation Solution
A reagent preparation device with a heat exchanger that equalizes the temperatures of diluent and concentrated reagent before mixing, eliminating the need for conductivity regulation loops and allowing for precise reagent production without the need for conductivity meters, thereby simplifying the process and reducing preparation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a control loop with conductivity measurement is used to regulate reagent concentration, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to slow response time and lengthy preparation processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-heats or pre-cools the diluent and concentrated reagent separately before mixing, so that temperature equalization occurs in advance. This preliminary temperature adjustment eliminates the need for slow conductivity-based feedback control during mixing, thereby maintaining precision while dramatically reducing preparation time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the temperature control function from the conductivity regulation loop. By independently controlling temperatures of diluent and concentrate before mixing, the system removes the bottleneck of conductivity measurement and feedback, enabling faster preparation without sacrificing concentration accuracy
2Manufacturing precision
If temperature equalization is performed slowly to ensure homogeneous mixing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs temperature equalization of diluent and concentrated reagent separately and in advance, before the mixing step. This preliminary action ensures that when mixing occurs, both components are already at the target temperature, eliminating the need for lengthy temperature homogenization during or after mixing
Solution Approach 2:
The process is segmented into distinct stages: separate temperature adjustment of diluent and concentrate, followed by rapid mixing. This segmentation allows temperature control to occur independently and simultaneously for both components, reducing total preparation time while ensuring homogeneous final product
3Reliability
If a buffer tank and recirculation loop are added to ensure continuous reagent supply and detect heterogeneity, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the pump arrangement and heat exchanger to automatically maintain temperature and flow conditions that ensure homogeneous mixing and continuous supply. The pre-heating/pre-cooling and controlled mixing process inherently prevents heterogeneity, eliminating the need for additional monitoring equipment like conductivity meters in recirculation loops
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
This solution significantly reduces preparation time, enhances efficiency, and ensures accurate reagent concentration by maintaining consistent temperatures, resulting in a more reliable, faster, and simpler reagent production process.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger connected to the first circuit and the second circuit, upstream of the mixer and downstream of the inlet for diluent and the inlet for concentrated reagent and arranged to carry out a heat exchange between diluent from the first circuit and concentrated reagent from the second circuit
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A device for preparing reagent for particle analysis devices comprises an input for the diluent (8), an input for the concentrated reagent (10), a first circuit (4) connected to the diluent (8) input, a second circuit (6) connected to an input for the concentrated reagent (10), and a mixer (14) connected to the first circuit (4) and to the second circuit (6) and arranged to produce a reagent by mixing the diulent and the concentrated reagent. Said device further comprises a heat exchanger (12) connected to the first circuit (4) and to the second circuit (6), upstream from the mixer (14) and downstream from the input for the diluent (8) and the input for the concentrated reagent (10) and designed to create a heat exchange between the diluent from the first circuit (4) and the concentrated reagent from the second circuit (6).