Reagent Preparing Device Expiration Date Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reagent preparation devices do not effectively manage and prevent the use of reagents beyond their expiration dates, which can lead to unreliable analysis results and waste, as they lack mechanisms for monitoring and managing the expiration dates of reagents during preparation and storage.
Innovation Solution
A reagent preparation device equipped with a controller that determines the suppliability of reagents to a measurement section based on expiration date information, including a liquid expiration date information obtainer, flow-in sensor, and memory for storing and updating reagent expiration data, ensuring only valid reagents are used and expired reagents are discarded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reagent preparation devices mix and store reagents without expiration date monitoring, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but reliability of analysis results deteriorates due to use of expired reagents
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring expiration date information from reagent bottles during the preparation process, storing it in memory, and setting expiration timestamps before the reagents are actually used. This proactive approach ensures that expiration dates are tracked in advance, preventing the use of expired reagents and maintaining analysis reliability without requiring complex real-time monitoring during measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors the current time against stored expiration timestamps and provides feedback by issuing warnings when reagents are approaching expiration or have expired. This feedback mechanism ensures that expired reagents are not supplied to the measurement section, maintaining reliability while using a relatively simple time-comparison algorithm rather than complex analytical methods.
2Loss of information
If multiple reagents with different expiration dates are stored simultaneously without tracking, then storage capacity is maximized and device complexity is minimized, but loss of information occurs regarding which reagents are expired
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments information management by assigning unique identifiers to individual reagent bottles and storing their expiration dates separately in a structured data format. Each reagent's expiration information is stored as an independent record with fields for bottle ID, expiration date, and expiration timestamp, allowing the system to track multiple reagents with different expiration dates without requiring a complex centralized tracking system.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of physically labeling each reagent bottle with expiration information, the system creates digital copies of expiration date information in its memory. The controller reads expiration dates from reagent bottles during preparation and stores these as data copies, allowing information to be retained and referenced without physical markers on the reagents themselves.
3Reliability
If expired reagents are not monitored and discarded, then productivity is maintained by continuously using available reagents, but reliability deteriorates due to use of expired reagents
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by setting expiration timestamps when reagents are prepared or transferred to storage containers, and continuously monitors these timestamps. When a reagent approaches or exceeds its expiration time, the system proactively issues warnings and prevents further use, ensuring reliability is maintained while allowing uninterrupted operation during the valid period of reagents.
Solution Approach 2:
The reagent management system operates autonomously by automatically comparing current time against stored expiration timestamps and issuing warnings without requiring manual intervention. The controller independently determines when reagents are expired and prevents their supply to the measurement section, maintaining both reliability and productivity without requiring operators to manually track expiration dates.
Data Source
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AI summary
A reagent preparing device for preparing a reagent to be supplied to a measurement section for measuring a specimen is discharged. The reagent preparing device comprises: a reagent preparing section for preparing a reagent including a first liquid and a second liquid, different from the first liquid; a reagent storage container, connected to the measurement section, for storing the reagent prepared by the reagent preparing section; and a controller configured for determining whether or not the reagent stored in the reagent storage container is suppliable to the measurement section based on reagent expiration date information related to an expiration date of the reagent stored in the reagent storage container. A reagent preparing method is also disclosed.