Sample Analyzer Consumable Management for User-Selected Periods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for managing consumable replenishment in sample analyzers are inflexible and do not account for varying user requirements, leading to potential interruptions in sample analysis due to insufficient consumables.
Innovation Solution
A sample analysis system with a consumable manager that tracks consumable usage and predicts replacement timings based on user-defined periods, allowing for flexible management of consumable replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed-period replenishment methods are used, then consumable replacement can be scheduled, but the system cannot flexibly meet varying user requirements for different time periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the prediction period based on user selection, allowing switching between short-term (daily) and long-term (multi-day) prediction modes. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible to different user needs without requiring multiple fixed systems
Solution Approach 2:
The consumable manager serves multiple functions: it predicts consumable depletion for both short-term operational planning and long-term inventory management, and provides alert notifications. This multi-functionality allows a single system to meet diverse user requirements across different time scales
2Reliability
If real-time consumable monitoring is implemented, then analysis interruptions can be prevented, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The consumable manager automatically monitors consumable levels, calculates prediction timelines, and sends alerts without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach ensures continuous operation reliability while keeping the system simple by automating the monitoring process rather than requiring complex manual tracking mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously receives feedback from sample analyzers about consumable usage and automatically adjusts predictions based on actual consumption rates. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable operation by preventing depletion while maintaining system simplicity through automated closed-loop control
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple prediction periods are supported, then user-specific requirements can be met, but the information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prediction functionality is segmented into distinct time-based modes (short-term daily predictions and long-term multi-day predictions). Each segment handles specific user needs independently, allowing the system to be adaptable to different requirements while managing information processing complexity by dividing the problem into manageable segments
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a sample analysis system comprising a plurality of sample analyzers configured to analyze samples by using consumables, and a consumable manager configured to manage a replacement timing of the consumables in each of the sample analyzers, wherein the consumable manager comprises a controller, a storage, and an interface for an input and an output of information, wherein the controller is configured to obtain a usage record of the consumables from each of the sample analyzers and store the usage record in the storage, receive, via the interface, an input specifying a desired period among multiple periods of different lengths of time including (i) a period longer than a day and (ii) a period of a day or shorter, and provide, via the interface, information regarding a predicted replacement timing of the consumables during the desired period based on the usage record.