Rotating Diagnostic Analyzer Carrier with Darkened Compartments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current diagnostic analyzers are costly, space-consuming, and high-maintenance, and often have issues with light leakage in shutter devices used for optical analysis.

Innovation Solution

A diagnostic analyzer with a rotating device and dual optical readers, featuring darkened compartments and compartments that travel along an optical path, allowing for efficient sample reading without external light leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If shutter devices are used to place samples in a dark environment for optical analysis, then optical reading accuracy is improved, but external light leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical reading accuracyVSAvoidexternal light leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the shutter device entirely from the system and replaces it with a rotating carrier that has dedicated darkened compartments. This extracts the light-blocking function from a separate shutter mechanism and integrates it into the sample carrier itself, eliminating the light leakage problem while maintaining optical reading accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The darkened compartments on the rotating carrier serve as an intermediary between the external environment and the optical reading process. These compartments provide the necessary dark environment for accurate optical measurements without requiring additional shutter mechanisms that could leak light.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate devices are used for transferring reaction vessels to detection systems, then sample transfer functionality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesample transfer functionalityVSAvoidnumber of separate devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single rotating carrier device. The carrier simultaneously provides sample transport, dark environment creation, and positioning for optical reading. This merges what would traditionally require separate shutter devices, transfer mechanisms, and positioning systems into one integrated rotating assembly, reducing overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating carrier serves multiple functions: it transports reaction vessels from the processing track, provides a dark environment for optical analysis through its darkened compartments, and positions samples for reading. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple specialized devices, reducing system complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3314224B1Rotating device in a diagnostic analyzer
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 ABBOTT LAB INC
  • EP3314224B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3314224B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3314224B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A diagnostic analyzer includes a rotating device, a first optical reader, and a second optical reader. The rotating device includes a first darkened compartment, a second darkened compartment, and an optical path along which the first darkened compartment and the second darkened compartment travel. The first optical reader is operable to read the first darkened compartment and the second optical reader is operable to read the second darkened compartment.