Specimen Preprocessing Conveyance System for Multi-Analyzer Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In sample preprocessing and conveying systems with multiple analyzers of minimal configuration, managing consumables and operational states becomes challenging, leading to delayed test results due to insufficient reagent supply and incorrect sample conveyance, as current systems rely solely on buffer load status and lack recognition of analyzing system operational states.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that collectively manages the operational status of multiple analyzing systems, allowing for cross-sectional sample conveyance and automatic restart of analysis, reducing operator intervention by using a conveyance management unit that assesses operational states and adjusts conveyance destinations based on consumable availability and system readiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple analyzing systems of minimal configuration are installed to improve throughput, then processing capacity increases, but managing consumables and operational states becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple analyzing systems into a unified networked architecture where a central control unit aggregates operational state information and consumable status data from all systems. This merging enables centralized management of consumables across multiple analyzers, reducing the complexity burden on individual systems while maintaining high throughput capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: monitoring operational states, managing consumable inventory, determining sample conveyance destinations, and coordinating between multiple analyzing systems. This multi-functional approach consolidates management tasks that would otherwise be distributed and complex across minimal-configuration systems.
2Ease of operation
If sample conveyance is based solely on buffer load status, then conveyance control is simple, but samples may be conveyed to analyzing systems unable to conduct analysis due to operational state issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where analyzing systems continuously report their operational states and consumable status to the control unit. The control unit uses this feedback to dynamically determine appropriate sample conveyance destinations, ensuring samples are routed only to systems currently capable of performing analysis, thereby maintaining both simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit preliminarily assesses the operational state and consumable availability of analyzing systems before determining sample conveyance destinations. This preliminary action prevents samples from being conveyed to incapable systems, ensuring analysis execution reliability while keeping the conveyance control logic relatively simple through pre-evaluation.
3Speed
If samples are conveyed to analyzing systems without checking operational states, then conveyance speed is high, but test result reporting is delayed when systems cannot conduct analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary checks of operational states and consumable status before sample conveyance decisions are made. This preliminary action ensures that samples are rapidly conveyed to appropriately capable systems, maintaining high conveyance speed while preventing delays in test result reporting by avoiding misrouting to incapable systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Analyzing systems automatically report their own operational states and consumable status to the control unit, enabling the control unit to make rapid, informed conveyance decisions without manual intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains high conveyance speed while ensuring samples are directed to systems that can immediately process them, minimizing reporting delays.
4Measurement precision
If manual intervention is required during calibration or operational interruptions, then system control is precise, but operator load increases and automation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the control unit autonomously monitors operational states, manages consumable inventory, determines conveyance destinations, and coordinates sample reloading without operator intervention. This maintains measurement precision through automated calibration protocols while significantly reducing operator load and enhancing automation extent.
Solution Approach 2:
Automated feedback loops continuously monitor system states and trigger appropriate actions, including calibration procedures and sample reloading, without requiring manual operator input. This feedback-driven automation maintains precision through consistent, rule-based control while eliminating the need for operator intervention in routine tasks.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a large-scale analyzing system arrangement with a multi-sample processing capability, connecting a plurality of analyzing systems each having a minimum analyzer configuration makes it difficult for each analyzing system to continue analysis while managing and sharing the consumables information required for measurement between the analyzers. Additionally, since the sample preprocessing and conveying system does not recognize operational states of the analyzing systems during the analysis, conveyance of the sample to an analyzing system unable to conduct the analysis is likely to happen and if this actually occurs, reporting test results on the sample will be delayed. Current sample preprocessing and conveying systems calculate a load status of analyzing systems from a congestion status of buffers connected to the analyzing systems. However, there may arise a situation under which the analyzing systems should not use only the buffer load status.. This invention continues analysis by collectively managing an internal operational status of a plurality of analyzing systems and conveying a sample between the analyzing systems in a cross-sectional way. If the analysis is determined not to be capable of being continued, the sample is temporarily placed in a stand-by condition and then the analysis, after returning to a restartable state, is automatically continued using the sample.