Specimen Container Storage With Priority Rack Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container storing devices complicate the transportation mechanism and increase the time required for specimen dispensing in automatic analyzers when specimens are mounted on racks in a freely-decided order, leading to reduced measurement and operation efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A container storing device that automatically decides and prioritizes the order of specimen containers to be mounted on a rack based on specific criteria such as type, concentration, expiration date, and measurement requests, ensuring specimens with higher priority are positioned forward in the transportation direction for efficient dispensing in the automatic analyzer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If specimen containers are mounted on the rack in freely-decided order, then the container storing device can operate with simple control logic, but the transportation mechanism becomes complicated and the time required for specimen dispensing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic simplicityVSAvoidtransportation mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit pre-determines the optimal mounting order of specimen containers on the rack based on measurement priorities before transportation. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustments during dispensing, resolving the contradiction between simple control logic and transportation mechanism complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If specimen containers are mounted on the rack in freely-decided order, then the container storing device can operate with simple control logic, but the time required until specimens are dispensed after the rack has reached the automatic analyzer becomes long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic simplicityVSAvoidspecimen dispensing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-arranges specimen containers on the rack in the optimal dispensing order before transportation to the automatic analyzer. This eliminates waiting time and repositioning operations during measurement, directly reducing the loss of time while keeping control logic simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By pre-ordering specimens on the rack according to measurement priority, the system ensures continuous dispensing operations without interruptions or repositioning, maintaining continuous useful action and minimizing idle time between measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If specimens are mounted on the rack in freely-decided order and rearranged in the automatic analyzer, then identification elements can be read and specimens can be organized by dispensing order, but the transportation mechanism becomes complicated and measurement efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecimen organization flexibilityVSAvoidmeasurement efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit pre-determines and enforces the optimal mounting order on the rack based on measurement requirements. This preliminary action eliminates the need for rearrangement in the automatic analyzer, maintaining adaptability while preventing productivity loss from complex transportation and repositioning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If manual work is used to mount specimen containers on the turn table or rack, then the system can maintain simple structure, but the operation efficiency of the examination room decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structure simplicityVSAvoidexamination room operation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The container storing device automatically determines and executes the optimal mounting sequence of specimen containers on the rack without requiring manual intervention. This self-service automation improves examination room operation efficiency while maintaining relatively simple system structure by using intelligent control rather than complex mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4585927A1Container storage device, automatic analysis system, and method for retrieving sample container

Publication Date: 2025.07.16 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP

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AI summary

A container storing device 101 connected to an automatic analyzer through a transportation path that transports a rack includes a storage 204 that stores specimen containers, a container transportation mechanism 208 that transfers the specimen containers between the storage and a rack 203, and a control unit. The transportation path transports the rack in a direction from the container storing device toward the automatic analyzer. The rack includes a plurality of container setting positions at which the specimen containers are to be set. After a plurality of taking-out target specimen containers in which specimens for which a measurement request has been made from the automatic analyzer are housed become capable of being taken out, the control unit decides taking-out priority regarding the plurality of taking-out target specimen containers and executes control such that the taking-out target specimen container having higher taking-out priority is mounted on the rack at the container setting position located more forward in a transportation direction of the transportation path. This reduces the burden on the user regarding specimen inputting and improves the measurement efficiency of the automatic analyzer.