Single Drive Stirring System for Biochemistry Analyzer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current biochemistry and immunity analyzers face issues with high costs, low reliability, and cross-contamination due to either multiple independent stirring subsystems or a single stirring system that cannot efficiently manage different stirring requirements, leading to inaccurate test results.

Innovation Solution

A single stirring system with multiple stirrers and a single drive that rotates along a circle track, allowing each stirrer to perform a stirring operation for a single purpose at a time, with strategically placed cleaning pools to minimize cross-contamination and optimize test speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple independent stirring subsystems are used, then different stirring requirements can be met, but cost increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestirring requirement fulfillmentVSAvoidsystem cost and reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single drive system is designed to control multiple stirrers, enabling one drive to perform multiple stirring functions for different reagents and samples. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate independent stirring subsystems, thereby reducing system cost and improving reliability while maintaining the ability to meet diverse stirring requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple stirrers are merged under a single drive system, combining what were previously separate independent subsystems into one integrated unit. This merging reduces the total number of components, simplifies the system structure, and lowers cost while preserving the functionality to handle different stirring tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If a single drive and single stirrer are used, then system cost is reduced, but test speed decreases and cross contamination occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem costVSAvoidtest speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The single drive system is segmented to control multiple independent stirrers, allowing different stirrers to operate simultaneously for different samples and reagents. This segmentation enables parallel processing of multiple stirring tasks, thereby increasing test speed while maintaining cost-effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs more than one stirrer (excessive action relative to the single drive) to handle multiple stirring operations concurrently. This allows the system to process multiple samples and reagents simultaneously, boosting productivity and test speed without requiring a proportional increase in drive systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If multiple stirrers are used simultaneously, then test speed increases, but cross contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetest speedVSAvoidcross contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A controller acts as an intermediary between the single drive and multiple stirrers, coordinating their operation to prevent cross contamination. The controller manages the timing and positioning of each stirrer to ensure that stirring operations for different samples do not interfere with each other, thereby maintaining high test speed while eliminating cross contamination risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Measurement precision

If stirring is performed for all tests, then reaction solutions are mixed uniformly, but unnecessary stirring increases cross contamination risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaction solution homogeneityVSAvoidcross contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller incorporates feedback mechanisms to determine when stirring is actually needed for each sample and reagent combination. By monitoring test requirements and providing feedback to the drive system, the controller enables selective stirring only where necessary, ensuring reaction solution homogeneity when needed while avoiding unnecessary stirring that would increase cross contamination risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8556496B2Stirring system and operating method thereof

Publication Date: 2013.10.15 SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are an improved stirring system and its operating method. The disclosed system includes at least two stirrers and a drive for driving the at least two stirrers to move between their stirring position and non-stirring position, the drive driving the stirrers to perform a stirring operation for a single purpose at a time. The system employs a single drive to drive a plurality of stirrers, which effectively avoids the disadvantage of redundantly stirring the reaction solutions in the reaction vessel not necessary to be stirred, reduces the risk of cross contamination caused by the stirrers and affecting the results by abnormal change in the absorbance, and makes the test results more accurate.