Sample Analyzer Reagent Level Detection Standby State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sample analyzers often fail to detect reagent insufficiency before starting a measurement operation, leading to delays in replacing reagents, especially when reagents are stored in frozen or freeze-dried states, resulting in inefficiencies and extended downtime.
Innovation Solution
A sample analyzer with a reagent container holder, measurement unit, instruction receiver, and remaining reagent amount obtainer that automatically measures and displays the reagent level upon startup, ensuring sufficient reagents are available before initiating a measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid level detection is performed only during reagent aspiration to reduce measurement standby time, then measurement efficiency is improved, but reagent insufficiency is detected too late causing measurement delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs liquid level detection of reagents in advance during the measurement standby state, before the actual measurement process begins. This preliminary action allows the system to identify reagent insufficiency early, enabling timely reagent replacement without delaying the measurement workflow.
2Productivity
If reagent replacement is performed after measurement starts, then measurement continuity is maintained, but operational complexity increases due to frozen or freeze-dried reagent handling
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects reagent liquid levels in advance during the standby state, allowing operators to prepare and replace reagents (including frozen or freeze-dried ones) before measurement begins. This eliminates the complexity of handling special reagent types during active measurement while maintaining measurement continuity.
3Reliability
If liquid level detection is performed continuously before measurement, then reagent sufficiency is ensured, but system complexity and detection time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs liquid level detection periodically during the measurement standby state at predetermined intervals, rather than continuously. This periodic detection approach ensures reagent sufficiency is monitored reliably while avoiding excessive system complexity and unnecessary detection time consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is to present a sample analyzer comprising: a reagent container holder for holding a reagent container for containing a reagent to be used for analyzing a sample; a measurement unit for measuring a value representing an amount of the reagent in the reagent container held by the reagent container holder; an instruction receiver for receiving an instruction to obtain a remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container; a measurement controller for controlling the measurement unit so as to measure the value representing the amount of the reagent in the reagent container, when the instruction receiver has received the instruction; and a remaining reagent amount obtainer for obtaining remaining reagent amount information indicating the remaining amount of the reagent in the reagent container, based on a measurement result by the measurement unit.