Automatic Analyzer With Stationary Cuvette Array for Faster Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated analyzers face inefficiencies due to fixed cycle times and rigid cuvette movement, leading to prolonged throughput times and limited test capacity, particularly in systems with rotating or linearly moving cuvettes, which hinder immediate measurement, washing, and reagent dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A stationary cuvette array system with movable pipetting units and optical elements allows for simultaneous processing of multiple samples and reagents, enabling flexible and efficient analysis without the need for cuvette movement during measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rotating cuvette carousel is used to hold and transport cuvettes, then cuvettes can be sequentially presented to different processing stations, but the system suffers from fixed cycle times and prolonged throughput times due to mandatory stopping at each station
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving cuvettes through a rotating carousel to stationary processing stations, the patent inverts the approach by keeping cuvettes stationary in a linear array and moving the processing stations (pipetting units, optical elements, washing units) along the cuvette array. This eliminates the need for cuvette movement and stopping, allowing continuous processing and immediate measurement without fixed cycle times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotating carousel system with a stationary linear cuvette array. The processing stations use linear motion along rails to access cuvettes, eliminating the rotational mechanics and associated stopping requirements. This substitution enables continuous operation and reduces throughput time significantly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cuvettes are moved in a rotating carousel system, then multiple processing functions can be integrated, but the system complexity increases and flexibility decreases due to rigid cycle time constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by making the cuvette array stationary and the processing stations movable. This allows each processing station to independently access any cuvette in the array without being constrained by a fixed rotational sequence, thereby reducing system rigidity while maintaining functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements by making the processing stations (pipetting units, optical measuring units, washing units) movable along linear rails. This dynamic configuration allows flexible positioning and simultaneous access to multiple cuvettes, reducing system rigidity while maintaining integrated processing capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If a stationary detection unit with moving cuvettes is used, then optical measurement can be performed, but measurement efficiency is reduced due to the need to stop the cuvette carousel at each measurement position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the measurement approach by keeping cuvettes stationary and moving the optical detection units along the cuvette array. This allows continuous measurement of multiple cuvettes without stopping the cuvettes themselves, significantly improving measurement efficiency while maintaining optical measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous optical measurement by moving the detection units along the stationary cuvette array without interruption. Multiple cuvettes can be measured in sequence without stopping the cuvettes, maintaining continuous useful action and improving overall measurement efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If cuvettes are sequentially processed in a rotating system, then washing and reagent dispensing can be integrated, but the number of tests per hour is limited due to fixed cycle times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the processing sequence by keeping cuvettes stationary and moving multiple processing stations (pipetting units for reagent dispensing, washing units) along the cuvette array. This allows simultaneous or overlapping processing operations on different cuvettes, increasing the number of tests that can be performed per hour while maintaining integrated processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary actions by allowing reagent dispensing and washing operations to be performed in advance on cuvettes that will be measured later. The stationary cuvette array allows processing stations to prepare multiple cuvettes simultaneously, increasing throughput and the number of tests per hour.
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 enhances analysis efficiency by allowing immediate measurement, washing, and reagent dispensing, reducing overall throughput time and increasing the number of tests per hour without the limitations of traditional carousel-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
The physical effect underlying photometric measurement is the absorption of light of specific wavelengths by certain substances present in a liquid. The resulting reduction in the intensity of the light passing through the cuvette is measured
Implementation Method 2
This reaction creates larger structures that cause increased light scattering or turbidity of the reaction mixture. In a detection angle of, for example, 90° the intensity of the scattered light beam increases with increasing turbidity
Implementation Method 3
Luminescence (e.g., fluorescence, phosphorescence, chemiluminescence) measures the light emitted by molecules. In the case of chemiluminescence, the light emission results from a chemical reaction
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 2e~2h
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for carrying out chemical, biochemical and/or immunochemical analyses of liquid samples, which are present in a sample store (920) of an automatic analyzer (100), with the aid of liquid reagents which are present in at least one reagent store (950a, 950b) of the analyzer (100), with cuvettes (201) for receiving the liquid samples and reagents, wherein a plurality of cuvettes is arranged as at least one stationary, linear cuvette array (200) in the analyzer. The analyzer has movable and stationary automated components, wherein at least two automated components are designed so as to be movable in the x-direction independently of one another along or parallel to the line of movement defined by the linear cuvette array (200) and each have access to different cuvettes (201) or groups of cuvettes (201) in a freely selectable sequence.