Centralized Controller for Sample Analyzer Start-up

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical facilities with multiple sample analyzers face a significant burden in setting up automatic start-ups, as each analyzer requires individual time settings, leading to wasted time and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A centralized start-up controller system that communicably connects to multiple sample analyzers, allowing for collective control of start-up times, including the ability to set different start-up dates and times for each analyzer, reducing the user's workload and automating the activation process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If individual start-up time settings are configured for each sample analyzer, then automatic start-up can be achieved for each device, but the setting burden increases significantly for medical facilities with multiple analyzers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic start-upVSAvoidsetting burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the start-up control functions of multiple sample analyzers into a single centralized start-up controller. This controller manages and coordinates the start-up operations of all connected analyzers through a unified interface, eliminating the need for individual configuration of each device and significantly reducing the setting burden while maintaining automated start-up capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual start-up time settings are configured for each sample analyzer, then each analyzer can be activated independently, but the time and effort required for configuration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent activationVSAvoidconfiguration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The start-up controller is designed with universal functionality to manage multiple sample analyzers of different types through a single device. It provides independent activation capability for each analyzer while offering centralized control features that allow bulk configuration and scheduling, thereby reducing configuration time without sacrificing adaptability.

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

3Reliability

If multiple sample analyzers are activated individually, then each device can perform its initial operation independently, but the overall system activation becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent operationVSAvoidsystem activation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments control into two levels: centralized scheduling at the controller level and independent execution at each analyzer level. The start-up controller handles high-level coordination and scheduling, while each sample analyzer maintains independent operation capability for its initial operations, achieving both ease of system-wide activation and reliable independent operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3667326B1Sample analysis system, controller, start-up method for sample analyzer, and non-transitory storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 SYSMEX CORP
  • EP3667326B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3667326B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3667326B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is related to a sample analysis system includes a plurality of sample analyzers (40a to 40g) for measuring samples, and a controller (1), communicably connected to the plurality of sample analyzers (40a to 40g), for controlling the start-up of the plurality of sample analyzers (40a to 40g); wherein the controller (1) selectively starts up a sample analyzer among the plurality of sample analyzers (40a to 40g).