Sample Analyzer Automatic Cleaning Liquid Aspiration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sample analyzers face issues with dirt accumulation in the fluid system, leading to reduced accuracy and operation failures, and current cleaning methods result in spills and odor issues due to excess cleaning liquid.
Innovation Solution
A sample analyzer with an identification system that aspirates and uses all or a predetermined amount of cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid tube to clean the fluid circuit, minimizing spills and odor by ensuring all liquid is utilized or aspirated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the liquid tube is filled with an amount of cleaning liquid same or greater than the necessary amount to carry out automatic cleaning, then the cleaning can be performed automatically, but the redundant cleaning liquid may spill out and attach to the clothes and hands of the operator or spread smell by volatilization
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a weight sensor to detect the weight of the liquid tube before and after cleaning. The control unit calculates the weight difference to determine the amount of cleaning liquid used, and uses this feedback information to control the aspiration process, ensuring all cleaning liquid is aspirated without spilling
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines the amount of cleaning liquid to be aspirated based on the weight difference measurement, and autonomously controls the aspiration process without requiring manual intervention or estimation by the operator
2Strength
If the pipette does not reach the bottom of the cleaning liquid tube during aspiration, then the tube may be damaged, but the cleaning liquid cannot be completely aspirated
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit controls the aspiration process to aspirate a calculated amount of cleaning liquid based on weight difference, which is slightly more than the exact amount needed for cleaning, ensuring complete utilization without excessive force that could damage the tube
Solution Approach 2:
The weight sensor provides continuous feedback during the aspiration process, allowing the control unit to monitor the amount of liquid aspirated and stop at the precise moment when all cleaning liquid has been removed, preventing both tube damage and liquid residue
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
The solution effectively cleans the fluid circuit without spills or odor issues, maintaining accuracy and preventing operation failures by ensuring all cleaning liquid is used for cleaning, thus addressing the accumulation and spill problems in existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a barcode reader for reading a barcode on the tube
Implementation Method 2
a piercer for piercing a lid of the tube
Implementation Method 3
a syringe pump for aspirating the liquid from the tube through the piercer
Data Source
AI summary
A sample analyzer for aspirating and analyzing a sample in a sample tube is disclosed. The sample analyzer comprises: a fluid processing section for aspirating liquid contained in a tube with a pipette and flowing the liquid through a fluid circuit; an obtaining section for obtaining identification information for identifying type of tube to be aspirated from; and a control unit. When identifying that the tube to be aspirated from is a cleaning liquid tube, the control unit controls the fluid processing section to aspirate substantially all the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tube with the pipette and use all or partial amount of the aspirated cleaning liquid to clean the fluid circuit.