Reagent Container State Tracking to Prevent Analysis Reagent Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analysis devices face issues with reagent concentration due to premature perforation of reagent containers, which can adversely affect analysis results.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analysis device with a reagent container having a perforable lid, a perforation unit, and an RFID tag to track the usage state of the reagent, ensuring the lid is only perforated when the reagent is about to be used, thus minimizing reagent concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the lid of the reagent container is perforated in advance to prepare for use, then the processing capacity and operation efficiency are improved, but the reagent concentration changes due to evaporation through the perforation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification and preparation actions by reading the RFID tag and determining the reagent container type and usage state before actual perforation occurs. This allows the system to plan the perforation timing in advance while delaying the actual perforation action until the optimal moment, thus preparing for efficient processing without prematurely exposing the reagent to evaporation risks
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the usage state of the reagent container through RFID tag reading and provides feedback control. The perforation decision is made based on real-time feedback about whether the container is in unused or used state, ensuring perforation occurs only at the appropriate time when reagent concentration is still intact, thereby resolving the contradiction between preparing in advance and preventing premature evaporation
2Speed
If the lid is perforated before use to ensure readiness, then the operation speed is improved, but the reagent may concentrate due to evaporation from the perforation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical approach of visual inspection and manual tracking of reagent container states with an RFID-based electromagnetic identification system. This substitution enables automatic, contactless reading of container information and usage states, allowing the system to rapidly determine whether perforation should occur without physical handling delays, thus maintaining high operation speed while precisely controlling perforation timing to prevent evaporation-related concentration changes
3Device complexity
If the perforation is performed early to simplify the process flow, then the process complexity is reduced, but the analysis result accuracy deteriorates due to reagent concentration changes
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent container itself provides the necessary information about its usage state through the RFID tag, eliminating the need for external tracking systems or manual recording. The container self-identifies whether it has been used or not, enabling the system to automatically make informed decisions about perforation timing without adding complex external monitoring mechanisms, thus maintaining process simplicity while ensuring accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an automatic analysis device that can suppress concentration of a reagent made to react with a specimen. This automatic analysis device is provided with: a reagent container which accommodates a reagent and which has attached thereto a perforable lid; a perforation unit for perforating the lid; and a reagent suction nozzle that is inserted into a hole formed by perforation and that sucks up the reagent. The automatic analysis device is characterized by being further provided with a state storage unit that stores the state as to whether the reagent container is in an unused state or in a used state, and a state update unit that, when the lid is perforated by the perforation unit while the reagent container is in an unused state, updates the state stored in the state storage unit to the used state.