Tissue Processor Reagent Purity Sensing and Sensor-Safe Basket Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue processors are susceptible to user errors in reagent concentration and type selection, leading to contamination and poor tissue processing, and current baskets interfere with fluid sensors, affecting processing accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for automatically measuring reagent purity levels using sensors and a controller to ensure correct reagent concentration and type, and a basket design that minimizes interference with fluid sensors and facilitates stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual reagent concentration and type selection is used, then user operation is simple, but reagent quality is unreliable due to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-verification of reagent quality through automated sensors that measure refractive index and other properties to confirm reagent concentration and purity without requiring manual inspection or intervention by the user
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring reagent properties through sensors and providing real-time verification to the controller, which can alert operators or automatically adjust processing parameters based on measured reagent quality
2Ease of operation
If conventional baskets with handles are used, then ease of operation is improved for loading, but stacking and sensor interference worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is extracted from the basket body and repositioned on the lid, separating the handling function from the basket structure to eliminate interference with fluid level sensors while maintaining loading convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The handle position is changed from vertical (side-mounted) to horizontal (lid-mounted), moving it to a different spatial dimension where it no longer interferes with the optical path of fluid level sensors
3Productivity
If multiple baskets are stacked for efficient processing, then productivity is improved, but sensor interference and processing accuracy worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is removed from the basket body to eliminate the source of sensor interference, enabling accurate fluid level detection even when multiple baskets are stacked in the retort
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of reagent quality and basket positioning before initiating the tissue processing workflow, ensuring that all conditions are optimal before starting the actual processing to maintain high accuracy
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
Ensures accurate and reliable tissue processing by preventing reagent errors and optimizing fluid handling, reducing the risk of contamination and improving processing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sensor arranged for fluid communication with one or both of the at least one container and the at least one retort for measuring a measured purity level of a reagent
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a tissue processor for processing tissue samples is provided. The tissue processor includes at least one retort for receiving tissue samples, at least one container for storing a reagent, and at least one sensor arranged for fluid communication with one or both of the at least one container and the at least one retort for measuring a measured purity level of a reagent. The method includes the steps of conducting reagent from the at least one container or the at least one retort to the at least one sensor, automatically measuring, by means of the at least one sensor, a measured purity level of the reagent, checking whether the measured purity level meets a predetermined purity level of the reagent associated with the at least one container, and automatically determining, based on a result of checking, whether the reagent is suitable for processing tissue samples in the tissue processor. A tissue processor for processing tissue samples is also provided. A container is also provided for storing tissue samples for processing in a tissue processor.