EP0035320A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sample feeding system
Assignee: Coulter Electronics Ltd
•
Filing: 1981-01-22
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2001-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A sample and stat feeding system (10) for sequentially supplying a renewable supply of cuvettes (20) with aliquots of sample liquids in a continuous processing mode. The sample liquids are contained in an annular sample tray (50) having a plurality of sample vessels molded into the tray. The sample containers form two or more annular rows (56, 58) on the outer edge of the tray in which routine samples are maintained in an ordered sequence. Emergency samples (stats) and controls (standards) are maintained in separate auxiliary locations or arrays of locations (54) which may be molded or separate cups placed in tray cavities. A sample pick up mechanism has a pick up probe (36) which is rotated to define an arc across at least substantial portion of the tray (50) and at least one stat location. The tray (50) is rotated to align the sample, stat and control cavities with the arc of the probe. Sample aliquots are picked up and dispensed into the cuvettes (20) in a programed operation sequence, with each sample fluid being related to a particular patient and programed for one or more analytical tests such as measuring the chemical reaction resulting from the addition of one or more reagents from a reagent supply. The program sequencing includes inserting a control aliquot in some of the cuvettes (20) at a predetermined frequency to monitor the accuracy of the machine. When a stat test occurs, the stat is inserted in the tray (50) and the programed sequence is interrupted to load the stat into the reaction vessel. The order of sample locations is not disturbed since the stats and controls are maintained in separate locations. The sample tray (50) preferably wilt be molded of inexpensive material so it may be thrown away after all sample aliquots have been loaded into respective cuvettes for testina.
Inventors
- 👤 Guenter Ginsberg
- 👤 Bruce Hodgins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N35/1009; G01N35/00584; G01N35/0092; G01N35/0095; G01N2035/00346; G01N2035/00435; G01N2035/00455; G01N35/02; G01N35/04; G01N2035/0439; G01N2035/0453; G01N2035/0455; G01N2035/1025; G01N35/1081; G01N35/1083; G01N2035/1086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A feeding system for multiple discrete samples characterized by: A. at least one reaction vessel (20); B. a first tray assembly (50) including a plurality of sequenced sample locations arranged in a first array (52), for containing liquid samples; C. at least one auxiliary sample location (54) for containing auxiliary sample liquid, said auxiliary location positioned separate from said first array of sample locations; D. means (88, 86, 72) for moving at least one of said sequenced and said auxiliary sample locations to a sample pick up station; E. means (36) for picking up and dispensing an aliquot of liquid positioned at said sample pick up station; F. positioning means (22) for moving said pick up and dispensing means to said sample pick up station and for then moving said aliquot to said reaction vessel to dispense said aliquot therein; G. a plurality of reagent locations (26) arranged in a second tray assembly (24); H. means (126, 142) for moving one of said reagent locations to a reagent pick up station; I. means (38) for picking up and dispensing a reagent aliquot positioned at said reagent pick up station and J. reagent (32) positioning means for moving said reagent pick up means to said reagent pick up station to pick up said reagent aliquot and then moving said reagent pick up means to said reaction vessel (20) to dispense said aliquot therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
A feeding system for multiple discrete samples characterized by: A. at least one reaction vessel (20); B. a first tray assembly (50) including a plurality of sequenced sample locations arranged in a first array (52), for containing liquid samples; C. at least one auxiliary sample location (54) for containing auxiliary sample liquid, said auxiliary location positioned separate from said first array of sample locations; D. means (88, 86, 72) for moving at least one of said sequenced and said auxiliary sample locations to a sample pick up station; E. means (36) for picking up and dispensing an aliquot of liquid positioned at said sample pick up station; F. positioning means (22) for moving said pick up and dispensing means to said sample pick up station and for then moving said aliquot to said reaction vessel to dispense said aliquot therein; G. a plurality of reagent locations (26) arranged in a second tray assembly (24); H. means (126, 142) for moving one of said reagent locations to a reagent pick up station; I. means (38) for picking up and dispensing a reagent aliquot positioned at said reagent pick up station and J. reagent (32) positioning means for moving said reagent pick up means to said reagent pick up station to pick up said reagent aliquot and then moving said reagent pick up means to said reaction vessel (20) to dispense said aliquot therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said sequenced sample locations include cavities (52) formed within tray; and , said auxiliary sample location including means for receiving a separate container (71) for auxiliary sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that said cavities (52) are molded in said first tray (50), each said cavity having an opening with a width less than the depth of said cavity.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
34 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that said first array of sample locations is arranged in at least two annular rings (56, 58) of locations located one within the other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as claimed in claim 4 characterized in that said auxiliary sample location (71) has a center located substantially on an arc having a center point located outside said first tray, said arc passing through substantially the center of one sample location on each of said rings.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that said auxiliary sample location (54) is substantially surrounded by said first array (52) of sample locations.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
38 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that a plurality of said auxiliary sample locations are formed in an annular array (54) within said first tray (50) substantially surrounded by said first sample array (52).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that orientation means (62) are provided for fixing the location of said sequenced and auxiliary sample locations.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
35 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that said first tray (50) includes identification means (74) adapted to be modified in use to separately identify said tray from other substantially identical trays.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that said first tray (50) includes means for making said tray electrically conductive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 10 characterized in that said conductive means include said tray (50) being molded from electrically conductive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as claimed in claim 11 characterized in that said electrically conductive material is graphite-filled plastics material.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that said auxiliary sample location (54) and said first sample array (52) are formed in said first tray assembly (50) being rotatable to said pick up stations.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
71 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that: a plurality of auxiliary sample locations are arranged in a second array (54); means (88, 86, 72) are provided for moving a predetermined one of said second array locations to an auxiliary sample pick up location; and said positioning means (22) is arranged to move to said auxiliary sample pick up station to pick up an aliquot of auxiliary sample.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
35 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized by a plurality of reaction vessels (24), and driving means (18) for moving each of said vessels sequentially into said dispensing position to receive said aliquots.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
42 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that said second tray assembly (24, 28) includes at least first (24) and second (28) annular structures carrying said reagent locations, and wherein said first and second annular structures are independently rotatable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as claimed in claim 16 characterized in that said annular structures (24, 28) are concentric.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 16 or 17 charac terized in that at least one (24) of said annular structures includes a code wheel means (158) rotabably coupled to said annular structure for identification of said reagent locations.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
65 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim characterized by: second means (40) for picking up and dispensing a reagent aliquot from said second tray assembly, and second reagent positioning means (34) for moving said second reagent pick up means from said second tray assembly (24) to a reaction vessel (20) spaced from said second tray assembly, to dispense said aliquot into said reaction vessel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
A system as claimed in claim 19 characterized in that said first reagent positioning means (22) and said second reagent positioning means (34) are capable of moving said first pick up and dispensing means (36) and said second pick up and dispensing means (40), respectively, to dispense said aliquots into the same reaction vessel (20) while said reaction vessel is held stationary at a position spaced from both said first and second tray assemblies.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.