EP0438136A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Automated dispensing and diluting system

Assignee: Mochida Pharmaceutical Co Ltd

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Filing: 1991-01-16

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Granted: —

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Expires: 2011-01-16

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Abstract

Abstract A system (10) capable of automatically dispensing and diluting an accurate volume of a sample (11) is provided. The system comprises a removable nozzle tip (12) for collecting a predetermined volume of the sample (11), the nozzle tip (12) being inserted into the sample (11) to collect the sample by suction; a nozzle (14) comprising an inner tube and an outer tube onto which said nozzle tip is removably mounted, said nozzle having a liquid passage (14a) through which a reagent flows and a gas passage (14b) through which a liquid surface-detecting gas flows defined within the nozzle; a sample pump (16) for sucking and discharging the sample and the reagent into and out of the nozzle tip; a first three-way valve (18) being switched to the side of the reagent bottle (34) to communicate said reagent bottle with said sample pump (16) or to the side of the nozzle (14) to communicate said sample pump (16) with said nozzle (14); a plunger pump (20) for sucking and discharging a liquid surface-detecting gas (15) supplied from a gas source; a second three-way valve (22) being switched to the side of said gas source to communicate said gas source with said plunger pump (20) or to the side of said nozzle to communicate said plunger pump (20) with the nozzle (14); a pressure sensor (24) provided between said second three-way valve and said gas passage in said nozzle; and a two-way valve (26) provided between said pressure sensor (24) and said gas passage (14b) of said nozzle (14), and in the vicinity of said nozzle (14). The system may further comprise a controller (32) for controlling the motion of the valves, the pumps, and the nozzle. Also, the system may further comprise an X-Y table (46) on which sample containers (36) containing the samples, the nozzle tips, and the test tubes into which the sample is dispensed are aligned in rows; and a means (48) for traveling the nozzle.

Inventors

👤 Hiroshi C/O Mochida Pharm. Co. Ltd. Obi
👤 Kohei C/O Mochida Pharm. Co. Ltd. Ishida
👤 Ei C/O Mochida Pharm. Co. Ltd. Mochida

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction EP

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 17:26

CPC Classifications

G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N35/1081; G01N35/109; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/38; G01N2001/382; G01N35/1009; G01N2035/1025

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5

Claim 1

Independent Claim 319 words

An automated system for dispensing and diluting a sample comprising a removable nozzle tip for collecting a predetermined volume of the sample, the nozzle tip being inserted into the sample to collect the sample by suction; a nozzle comprising an inner tube and an outer tube onto which said nozzle tip is removably mounted, said nozzle having a liquid passage through which a reagent flows and a gas passage through which a liquid surface-detecting gas flows defined within the inner tube and between the inner and outer tubes, and said liquid passage and said gas passage is in communication with the interior of said nozzle tip; a sample pump for sucking and discharging the sample and the reagent into and out of the nozzle tip; a first three-way valve located in an array of tubings connecting said sample pump, said nozzle and a reagent bottle, said first three-way valve being switched to the side of the reagent bottle to communicate said reagent bottle with said sample pump or to the side of the nozzle to communicate said sample pump with said nozzle; a plunger pump for sucking and discharging a liquid surface-detecting gas supplied from a gas source; a second three-way valve located in an array of tubings connecting said plunger pump, said nozzle and said gas source, said second three-way valve being switched to the side of said gas source to communicate said gas source with said plunger pump or to the side of said nozzle to communicate said plunger pump with the nozzle; a pressure sensor provided between said second three-way valve and said gas passage in said nozzle to detect a change in the pressure of said liquid surface-detecting gas upon contact of said nozzle tip with the surface of the sample liquid; and a two-way valve provided between said pressure sensor and said gas passage of said nozzle, and in the vicinity of said nozzle.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle tip is a disposable tip.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system according to claim 1 wherein said liquid surface-detecting gas is air.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system according to claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling said first three-way valve, said second three-way valve and said two-way valve in response to signals from said pressure sensor; and a controller for controlling said sample pump and said plunger pump in response to signals from said pressure sensor.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 109 words

The system according to any of the foregoing claims further comprising an X-Y table comprising a sample section wherein one or more containers accommodating said sample are aligned in rows, a nozzle tip section wherein one or more said nozzle tips are aligned in rows, and a test tube section wherein one or more test tubes into which said sample is dispensed are aligned in rows; a means for traveling said nozzle in vertical direction; a means for traveling said vertically traveling means in transverse X-Y directions over said X-Y table, said X-Y traveling means supporting said vertically traveling means; and a means for supporting said X-Y traveling means.

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