Sample Analyzer Placement Part Dirt Detection Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sample analyzers face challenges in effectively and appropriately cleaning the placement part where test strips are placed, leading to potential contamination and inefficiencies in sample analysis.
Innovation Solution
A sample analyzer equipped with a transport part having a placement part for test strips, a controller for analyzing images of the test strip and the placement part, and an imaging part to detect dirt on the placement part, allowing for automated detection and potential cleaning of dirt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cleaning of the placement part is performed manually or periodically, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to potential contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging part captures images of the placement part before sample analysis to detect dirt in advance. This preliminary detection allows for proactive cleaning decisions, preventing contamination from affecting measurement precision while maintaining a relatively simple system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own imaging part to automatically monitor and detect dirt on the placement part, enabling self-diagnosis functionality. This self-service approach allows the system to identify cleaning needs without external intervention, maintaining measurement precision through automated monitoring while avoiding complex external cleaning mechanisms.
2Reliability
If automated dirt detection is implemented using imaging, then the measurement precision is improved through timely cleaning, but the device complexity increases due to additional imaging components
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging part serves dual purposes: it captures images of test strips for sample analysis and simultaneously captures images of the placement part for dirt detection. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve reliable dirt detection without adding dedicated imaging components, thereby maintaining cleaning effectiveness while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where images of the placement part are analyzed to detect dirt, and this information feeds back into the cleaning control process. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable cleaning decisions are made based on actual dirt detection, improving cleaning effectiveness while using a straightforward feedback architecture rather than complex control systems.
3Loss of time
If the imaging part is used to detect dirt on the placement part, then the loss of time is reduced through automated detection, but the use of energy increases due to additional imaging operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs dirt detection imaging before sample analysis, allowing for proactive identification of dirt and timely cleaning. This preliminary action prevents delays during actual sample analysis that would occur if cleaning were needed, thereby reducing overall time loss while scheduling imaging operations during idle periods to minimize energy impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging part performs dirt detection at periodic intervals or at predetermined timings between sample analyses. This periodic action approach allows the system to balance detection frequency with energy consumption, performing imaging operations only when necessary rather than continuously, thus reducing time loss through automated detection while controlling energy usage.
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 enables effective and automated detection of dirt on the placement part, facilitating appropriate cleaning and maintaining the integrity of sample analysis results.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging part (20) configured to be able to image the placement part (11)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a sample analyzer configured to image a test strip and analyze an image of the test strip, to analyze a sample, the sample analyzer including: a transport part having a placement part on which the test strip is placed, the transport part being configured to move the placement part to an imaging position for the test strip; a controller programmed to analyze the image of the test strip obtained through imaging; and an imaging part configured to be able to image the placement part, wherein the controller is programmed to analyze an image of the placement part obtained through imaging, to detect dirt on the placement part.