Sheath Flow Impedance Counting Liquid Path System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheath flow impedance counting devices require manual disassembly and cleaning of the front and rear cell inner cavities, leading to increased manual labor.

Innovation Solution

A liquid path system for sheath flow impedance counting that includes a sample treatment unit, a sheath liquid unit, and a counting component unit, which allows for automatic cleaning and reduced manual labor through controlled valve operations and metering pumps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual disassembly and cleaning of front and rear cell inner cavities is performed, then cleaning thoroughness is improved, but manual labor and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning thoroughnessVSAvoidmanual labor time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic cleaning of the counting component units through a control unit that coordinates valve operations and metering pumps to circulate cleaning solutions through the liquid path system, eliminating the need for manual disassembly and cleaning while maintaining thorough cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes a liquid path system with valves and metering pumps to hydraulically circulate cleaning solutions through the front and rear cell inner cavities, enabling automatic washing and cleaning operations without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Ease of manufacture

If bonding is used to connect components, then assembly simplicity is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to aging and liquid leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidsealing property
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the connection method from chemical bonding to mechanical connection with dedicated sealing structures, where sealing rings are installed in grooves at the interfaces of modular components (sample needle mounting portion, capture tube mounting portion, cell housings) to provide reliable sealing that does not degrade with aging

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of repair

If modular components with rotating buckle connections are used, then maintainability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemaintainabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into modular segments (sample needle mounting portion, capture tube mounting portion, front cell housing, rear cell housing) that can be independently removed and maintained through rotating buckle connections, allowing targeted cleaning and repair without disassembling the entire device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4542197A1Liquid path system for sheath flow impedance counting
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 URIT MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4542197A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4542197A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4542197A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of medical instruments, and in particular to a liquid path system for sheath flow impedance counting. The system includes a sample treatment unit, a sheath liquid unit and a counting component unit, where the sample treatment unit includes a sample cup, a first valve, a second valve, a first metering pump, a sixth valve, a ninth valve, a second metering pump, and an eleventh valve, the sample cup is connected to the sixth valve and the second valve, the first metering pump is connected to the first valve and the second valve, the ninth valve and the sixth valve are connected to the counting component unit, the second metering pump is connected to the ninth valve and the eleventh valve, and the sheath liquid unit is connected to the second valve. A sheath liquid tank is a liquid storage tank with positive pressure, and provides all sheath liquid and cleaning liquid for the system by accurately controlling the pressure, a fourth valve and a thirteenth valve are controlled to be on and off to complete the operations of bubble discharge of the counting component unit, washing of a gem hole of a front chamber, etc., and a fifth valve and an eighth valve are controlled to discharge bubbles and clean the rear chamber, such that automatic cleaning is realized, and labor is saved.