Specimen Analyzer Controller for Overlapping Agitation and Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing specimen analyzers have limitations in processing efficiency, as they perform operations sequentially, leading to a lower number of specimens being analyzed per unit time, particularly due to the time-consuming agitation process.
Innovation Solution
A specimen analyzer with a controller that coordinates the agitation, suction, and transport processes, allowing concurrent execution of operations such as transferring, suctioning, and returning of specimen containers, thereby overlapping the time required for agitation with other processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sequential operations are performed on each specimen container (taking out, agitating, transferring, suctioning, returning), then the processing procedure is simple and easy to control, but the number of specimens processed per unit time is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous processing by enabling overlapping execution of agitation for one specimen container with transferring and suctioning operations for other specimen containers. The controller coordinates these operations so that the agitation process (which cannot be interrupted) runs concurrently with other necessary operations, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous productive action across all specimen containers in the rack.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning and preparation of specimen containers in the rack before the actual analysis sequence begins. The rack transport part pre-positions multiple specimen containers at accessible locations, and the container transport part prepares transfer paths in advance, so that when agitation is ongoing for one container, other containers are already positioned and ready for rapid transferring and suctioning without delays.
2Measurement precision
If the agitation process is performed for each specimen container before suctioning, then the specimen is properly mixed for accurate analysis, but the total processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the processing sequence based on real-time operation status. While agitation is ongoing for one specimen container (which requires full duration for proper mixing), the controller dynamically initiates transferring and suctioning operations for other specimen containers that are ready. This dynamic coordination ensures that each specimen receives adequate agitation time for accurate analysis while the overall system minimizes total processing time through parallel operations.
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 approach significantly increases the number of specimens that can be processed per hour by overlapping the agitation process with other operations, enhancing processing efficiency and throughput.
Implementation Method 1
a suction part (11) configured to suction the specimen from the specimen container (1)
Implementation Method 2
an agitating part (12) configured to agitate a specimen in each of the specimen containers (1)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a specimen analyzer comprising: a rack transport part configured to transport a rack accommodating a plurality of specimen containers; an agitating part configured to agitate a specimen in each of the specimen containers; a suction part configured to suction the specimen from the specimen container; a container transport part configured to transport the specimen container between the rack on the rack transport part, the agitating part, and a suction position for specimen suctioning by the suction part; a measurement part configured to measure a measurement sample prepared from the specimen suctioned by the suction part; and a controller configured to control at least the agitating part, the suction part, and the container transport part, wherein the specimen analyzer is configured such that control by the controller causes, during a period from start to end of agitation of one of the specimen containers, at least one of transferring to the suction position, suctioning of a specimen, and returning to the rack to be executed on another one of the specimen containers.