| |
 |
Small size, rapid testing and low-cost
achieved: The Spotchem EZ |
Development started with questionnaires
"Let's build an automatic
dry-chemistry device that is smaller, faster and cheaper!"
The development of the Spotchem EZ started to achieve this.
In order to put it into practice, we set about distributing
questionnaires to each and every domestic customer. We found
that a majority of customers were performing measurements
one sample at a time and that they were using a combination
of a multiple test strip and a few single test strips.
|
|
Automated analyzer for clinical
chemistry
SPOTCHEM EZ SP-4430
|
So we decided to drastically change the specifications
of the existing devices. In order to achieve these first
objectives, we managed to achieve the goals of single sample
aspiration for continuous application on the strips, use
of an LED light source and an AC power adaptor.
Out of all of these achievements, the integrated micro centrifuge
is especially worthy of mention. |
The road to completion of the micro centrifuge
During development of the micro centrifuge we tested many
different types of centrifuge method. After a series of
experiments we found that the centrifuge with swing bucket
would be the most appropriate for the Spotchem EZ. That
was the easy part.
With the swing-out centrifuge, there were problems of the
center of gravity shifting during the period of centrifugation.
Also when centrifuging a single sample, it is standard practice
for the customer to position a counterbalance of the same
weight as the test sample, opposite it (as a balancing device).
However, in this device, to place the balancer would make
the operation complicated, there was a risk of losing or
damaging the balancer and it was simply not practical. Also,
the permanent setting of a balancer to the centrifuge rotor
led to durability problems.
So one team member proposed a design of the centrifuge rotor
with an irregular shape and an incorporated mass equivalent
to the counterbalance weight into the centrifuge rotor itself.
Then a centrifuge would need to accept different sample
volumes to be placed in the centrifuge, which was not satisfied
by standard design. The development team therefore began
to design a totally new centrifuge to enable smooth rotation
of centrifuge rotor in the entire range of acceptable sample
volume. |
To do this, it was necessary to have a design
to test multiple measurement items simultaneously. The calculations
for obtaining results of multiple items were difficult to
make and was not without complications.
Luckily, the company ethos was such that the latest design
technology could be introduced and the latest three dimensional
CAD had been brought in and its calculation tools were used
for the more difficult calculations. This is how the built-in
micro centrifuge on the market at the moment, was completed.
|
|
Built-in centrifuge saves time
and cost for pretreatment of samples |
Synergy using software
We thought about the fact that "if the balance is off,
we cannot raise the number of revolutions" from the
other end: "the number of revolutions is not increased
because the balance is off so this is either because of
the insufficient sample volume or the absence of centrifuge
container. From the number of rotations in the initial rotation
period, we established a number of rotations to be reached.
We designed software to detect insufficient sample volume
error (or a no centrifuge error) when the set number of
rotation was not reached, allowing a user to quickly find
a problem. These great inventions could not have occurred
without the twin blessings of our excellent team members
and such a good environment for development. |
First New Device Advancement Award
(Prize of "President of Japan Society for the Promotion
of Machine Industry")
Ever since its launch in the summer of 2000, the Spotchem
EZ has received very high praise from customers.
In 2004, it received the New Device Advancement Award (Prize
of "President of Japan Society for the Promotion of
Machine Industry") under the auspices of the Japan
Society for the Promotion of Machine Industry Technical
Research Institute.
|
|
|
The basis for this award was that it was an automatic
desktop analyzer that can be used easily even in small clinics
and it has a small centrifuge built-in thus automating a
lot of previously troublesome preparation.
As a result, compared with traditional devices, its focus
on small size, light weight and low energy consumption received
a lot of praise. |
|
