Sensor Cartridge with Guide Rails for Biosensor Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensor cartridges for biosensors are complex, leading to high manufacturing costs and instability in measurements due to inaccurate positioning of electrodes, which worsens with the miniaturization of biosensors, and user handleability is compromised by the need for external cables.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cartridge with a casing that allows multiple sensors to be arranged in a line or stack, featuring a connection structure that electrically connects the sensor electrodes to an external device while housed, simplifying the device structure, reducing manufacturing costs, and enabling stable measurements without the need for precise electrode positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If biosensors are miniaturized to improve portability and reduce cost, then the size and cost decrease, but positioning accuracy of electrodes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two functional parts: the miniaturized biosensor cartridge and the measuring device with positioning mechanisms. The biosensor itself remains small for portability, while the positioning function is transferred to the measuring device through guide rails and positioning pins that guide the cartridge into correct alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
Guide rails and positioning pins act as intermediary elements between the measuring device and the biosensor cartridge. These intermediaries ensure accurate positioning of the miniaturized biosensor without requiring the biosensor itself to have complex positioning features, thus maintaining small size while achieving precise electrode alignment.
2Ease of operation
If a sensor cartridge with multiple biosensors is introduced to improve user convenience, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biosensor cartridge is designed with a simple push-out mechanism where the biosensor is automatically delivered when the user pushes the cartridge forward. The measuring device's arm automatically pushes the biosensor out of the cartridge and into position, eliminating the need for complex manual manipulation or additional actuating mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the user manually position each biosensor or operate complex mechanisms to advance the cartridge, the system is inverted so that the measuring device actively pushes the biosensor out of the cartridge. This simplifies the cartridge structure to essentially a storage container with a push-out feature.
3Reliability
If connection terminals are made reliable for electrical connection, then measurement reliability improves, but the positioning requirement becomes more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
Positioning pins and guide rails serve as intermediary elements that ensure the biosensor cartridge is precisely positioned relative to the measuring device's electrodes. This mechanical guidance system guarantees reliable electrical connection between the biosensor terminals and measuring device electrodes without requiring extremely tight tolerances in the biosensor manufacturing itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rails and positioning features are designed in advance to compensate for potential positioning errors. By providing mechanical guidance and alignment features before the electrical connection is made, the system ensures that even with variations in biosensor manufacturing, reliable electrical contact is achieved through the pre-established mechanical alignment.
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 simplifies the sensor cartridge and measuring device structures, improves user handleability, and ensures stable measurements by allowing sensors to be connected and replaced easily within the cartridge, reducing the complexity and cost associated with conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
A sample introduced from the inlet is transferred to a position where the sample comes into contact with these electrodes, using capillary action or the like.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor cartridge for supplying a sensor is used. The sensor cartridge includes a casing within which the plurality of sensors can be arranged, and that allows a sample to be introduced to a sensor located at a preset location, and a connection structure. The connection structure electrically connects an external device and a sensor electrode of the sensor located at the preset location. The casing is formed so as to be held by the external device when the external device and the sensor electrode of the sensor are electrically connected via the connection structure.