In-vitro diagnostic apparatus and in-vitro diagnostic method performed by in-vitro diagnostic apparatus
Inventors
SHIN, Im-ho • JANG, Eun-jeong • Kim, Chung-ung
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9874498-B2
Publication Date
2018-01-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
An in-vitro diagnostic apparatus includes a loading unit which receives a test medium including a test object; a first clock including first time information that is set as a standard clock time and used to determine whether an expiration date of the test medium has passed; a second clock including second time information that can be set as an arbitrary time; a sensor which acquires the expiration date of the test medium; a controller which determines whether the expiration date of the test medium has passed, based on the first time information; and an analyzer which analyzes the test object based on the second time information when it is determined that the expiration date of the test medium has not yet passed.
Core Innovation
The disclosure relates to an in-vitro diagnostic apparatus and an in-vitro diagnostic method that receive a test medium including a test object, acquire an expiration date of the test medium, and determine whether the expiration date has passed. The determination is performed based on first time information that is set as a standard clock time, and the test object is analyzed only when the expiration date of the test medium has not passed according to the first time information.
To avoid permitting an expired determination to be bypassed, the apparatus further includes second time information that is set as an arbitrary time. The analyzer is configured to analyze the test object based on the second time information in response to determining that the expiration date of the test medium has not passed according to the first time information.
The disclosure additionally specifies embodiments in which the first time information is tied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), obtained from an external server or an external device, and reset based on power cut-off time and a time difference acquired using time values from the second clock. Embodiments also include informing output when the expiration date has passed.
Claims Coverage
The document contains three independent claims that share a common inventive structure: acquiring a test medium expiration date via a sensor, determining whether the expiration date has passed using first time information set as a standard clock time, and analyzing the test object only when the expiration date has not passed while using second time information set as an arbitrary time for analysis.
Standard-clock expiration determination with arbitrary-time analysis
An in-vitro diagnostic apparatus comprising a loading unit configured to receive a test medium including a test object, a first clock including first time information that is set as a standard clock time and used to determine whether an expiration date of the test medium has passed, a second clock including second time information that is set as an arbitrary time, a sensor configured to acquire the expiration date of the test medium, a controller configured to determine whether the expiration date of the test medium has passed based on the first time information, and an analyzer configured to analyze the test object based on the second time information in response to determining that the expiration date of the test medium has not passed according to the first time information.
Standard-clock-based expiration check with conditional analysis
An in-vitro diagnostic method comprising receiving a test medium including a test object, acquiring an expiration date of the test medium, determining whether the expiration date of the test medium has passed based on first time information that is set as a standard clock time and used for determining whether the expiration date of the test medium has passed, and analyzing the test object based on second time information that is set as an arbitrary time in response to determining that the expiration date of the test medium has not passed according to the first time information.
External-device-sourced standard time for expiration determination
An in-vitro diagnostic apparatus comprising a loading unit configured to receive a test medium including a test object, a communicator configured to acquire, from an external device, first time information that is set as a standard clock time and used to determine whether an expiration date of the test medium has passed, a clock including second time information that is set as an arbitrary time, a sensor configured to acquire the expiration date of the test medium, a controller configured to determine whether the expiration date of the test medium has passed based on the first time information, and an analyzer configured to analyze the test object based on the second time information in response to determining that the expiration date of the test medium has not passed.
Across the independent claims, the shared coverage centers on separating a standard clock time used for determining whether the expiration date has passed from an arbitrary time used for analysis, and on performing analysis only when the expiration determination indicates that the expiration date has not passed. One independent claim further specifies obtaining the standard clock time from an external device via a communicator.
Stated Advantages
Ensures that analysis is performed only when the expiration date of the test medium has not passed based on first time information.
Prevents use of expired test media by using expiration determination based on standard clock time rather than being governed by arbitrary time settings.
Documented Applications
In-vitro diagnostic apparatus and in-vitro diagnostic method for blood test apparatus including blood test discs and cartridges, where the test medium expiration date is acquired and expiration-based suppression of analysis is performed.
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