Tilted Reagent Bottle Access for Automatic Analyzer Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing automatic analyzers require prolonged time for reagent dispensing steps, especially when using magnetic particle reagents, due to the need to rotate the reagent disk and move the reagent container between stirring and dispensing devices, which increases the operational time and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer with a reagent disk that accommodates reagent bottles at a predetermined inclination, allowing a reagent dispensing mechanism to rotate and access multiple suction ports efficiently, thereby reducing the need for disk rotation and streamlining the dispensing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the reagent disk rotates to access different suction ports, then all suction ports can be accessed, but the dispensing time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent bottle is tilted at a predetermined inclination angle relative to the radial direction of the reagent disk, transforming the traditional radial arrangement into a three-dimensional oblique configuration. This dimensional change allows the reagent dispensing mechanism to access multiple suction ports without requiring rotation of the reagent disk, as all suction ports become accessible from a fixed position above the tilted bottle.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reagent container is moved between stirring and dispensing devices, then magnetic particle reagent can be processed, but the operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent dispensing mechanism is designed to perform both stirring and dispensing operations on magnetic particle reagents through a single integrated system. The mechanism can stir the magnetic particle solution and then dispense it without requiring separate devices or complex movement sequences, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining full functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the reagent disk rotation is required for each operation, then all operations can be performed, but the processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent bottle is pre-positioned at a predetermined inclination angle on the reagent disk before the dispensing process begins. This preliminary configuration ensures that all suction ports are already accessible from the fixed position of the reagent dispensing mechanism, eliminating the need for time-consuming rotations during the actual dispensing operations and thereby increasing processing speed.
Data Source
AI summary
In the case of adopting a configuration in which reagent bottles are radially disposed on a reagent disk and a reagent dispensing mechanism is rotated to access the reagent bottles, one reagent bottle includes a plurality of suction ports in which suction positions are different from each other, resulting in prolonging a step of dispensing a reagent. The invention is directed to an automatic analyzer including: a reagent disk that accommodates a plurality of reagent bottles including a plurality of suction ports and conveys the reagent bottles to a desired position by rotating in a circumferential direction around a central axis; and a reagent dispensing mechanism that rotates around a rotational axis and sucks a reagent of the reagent bottle placed at a predetermined position on the reagent disk. The reagent bottle is accommodated in the reagent disk such that the central axis of the reagent bottle and a diameter of the reagent disk form a predetermined inclination.