Sample Measurement Device Buffy Coat Contamination Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices that perform both blood coagulation tests and other tests, such as immunological tests, do not adequately address the issue of sample dispensing, leading to potential contamination from the buffy coat layer formed during centrifugation, which can result in false positives.
Innovation Solution
A sample measurement method where the sample for the blood coagulation test is dispensed before the sample for the immunological test, ensuring that the sample for the blood coagulation test is aspirated from the plasma region away from the buffy coat, thereby preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sample for the immunological test is dispensed before the sample for the blood coagulation test, then the immunological test can be performed, but the buffy coat is likely to be mixed into the blood coagulation test sample causing false positives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by dispensing the blood coagulation test sample first before the immunological test sample. This sequence is established in advance to prevent the buffy coat from being mixed into the blood coagulation sample, thereby ensuring measurement precision while maintaining test throughput.
2Ease of operation
If the aspiration position is not controlled precisely, then the sampling process is simpler, but the buffy coat is likely to be mixed into the sample
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the plasma layer as an intermediary zone. By controlling the aspiration needle to enter through the plasma layer and reach a specific depth, the system creates a buffer zone that prevents direct contact with the buffy coat, thereby ensuring sample purity while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Productivity
If the sample container is not centrifuged or the buffy coat is not separated, then the sampling process is faster, but the measurement results may be affected by buffy coat contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing centrifugation and buffy coat separation before the sampling process. This preparatory step is completed in advance to ensure the buffy coat is clearly separated and positioned away from the plasma layer, thereby ensuring measurement precision without significantly impacting overall productivity.
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
This method allows for proper performance of blood coagulation tests by preventing buffy coat contamination, leading to more accurate diagnoses when combined with results from other tests.
Implementation Method 1
the sample container (10) contains plasma, a buffy coat, and red blood cells obtained by centrifuging whole blood
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
A sample measurement method of performing first measurement for a blood coagulation test and second measurement for a test different from the blood coagulation test includes: dispensing a sample for use in the first measurement into a first container from a sample container; dispensing the sample for use in the second measurement into a second container different from the first container from the sample container from which the sample for use in the first measurement has been dispensed; performing the first measurement based on the sample dispensed into the first container; and performing the second measurement based on the sample dispensed into the second container.