Patent US3852599A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3852599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vial transfer mechanism
Assignee: Revvity Health Sciences Inc
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Filing: 1973-07-09
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A vial transfer mechanism is provided for transferring radioactive samples from a sample changer to a radioactivity counting or measurement chamber via a bottom access conduit. Vials are lowered, either individually or as a group, from the sample changer into a sample-receiving carriage, which then moves along a horizontal conduit to a position underneath the measurement chamber. An elevator then lifts the sample from the carriage into the chamber. Light tightness is provided by equipping the carriage with O rings so that the chamber is not exposed to atmospheric illumination. The device is particularly useful for the simultaneous counting of two or more samples, where the samples are located in proximity to each other while in the sample changer, but must be spaced away from each other during radioactive measurement.
Inventors
- 👤 R Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T7/00; G01T7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A device for transferring samples from a sample changer to a measurement chamber and for thereafter returning said samples to the sample changer after a measurement period, comprising: a sample changer accessible through the bottom thereof, a vertical sample transferring conduit extending to said chamber, a horizontal sample transferring conduit extending to said vertical sample transferring conduit, a sample-receiving carriage movable in said horizontal sample transferring conduit between a sample receiving position near said sample changer and a position beneath said vertical sample transferring conduit, and means for sequentially (a) transferring a sample from said sample changer to said samplereceiving carriage, (b) moving said carriage from its samplereceiving position to its position beneath said vertical sample transferring conduit, (c) elevating said sample from said carriage into said sample chamber, and means for moving said sample back to said sample changer in a reverse sequence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A device for transferring samples from a sample changer to a measurement chamber and for thereafter returning said samples to the sample changer after a measurement period, comprising: a sample changer accessible through the bottom thereof, a vertical sample transferring conduit extending to said chamber, a horizontal sample transferring conduit extending to said vertical sample transferring conduit, a sample-receiving carriage movable in said horizontal sample transferring conduit between a sample receiving position near said sample changer and a position beneath said vertical sample transferring conduit, and means for sequentially (a) transferring a sample from said sample changer to said samplereceiving carriage, (b) moving said carriage from its samplereceiving position to its position beneath said vertical sample transferring conduit, (c) elevating said sample from said carriage into said sample chamber, and means for moving said sample back to said sample changer in a reverse sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Device of claim 1 includes a plurality of sample measurement chambers and a plurality of sample transferring conduits, wherein said sample-receiving carriage includes means for horizontally displacing said sample transversally to the movement of said carriage, and wherein said sequential means includes means for effecting said horizontal displacement while said sample is in said carriage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
Device of claim 1 wherein said sequencing means includes pneumatic actuators.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Device of claim 1 wherein said measurement chamber is a light-scintillation responsive radioactivity measurement chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Device of claim 4 wherein said carriage includes means for preventing external light from entering said chamber at all positions of said carriage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
Device of claim 1 wherein said carriage is cylindrical, the axis of said carriage intersecting the axis of said vertical sample transferring conduit.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for transferring samples from a sample changer to a sample measurement chamber accessible through the bottom thereof, and for thereafter returning the samples to said changer after a measurement period, comprising: means for transferring samples vertically upward into said chamber, means for transferring samples horizontally from a position near said sample changer to a position aligned with said vertical sample transferring means, means for transferring samples from said sample changer to said horizontal sample transferring means, and means for sequentially effecting the transfer of samples from said changer to said horizontal sample transferring means, from said horizontal sample transferring means to said vertical sample transferring means, from said vertical sample transferring means to said sample measurement chamber, and means for moving said sample back to said sample changer in a reverse sequence.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for transferring samples from a sample changer to a sample measurement chamber accessible through the bottom thereof, and for thereafter returning the samples to said changer after a measurement period, comprising: means for transferring samples vertically upward into said chamber, means for transferring samples horizontally from a position near said sample changer to a position aligned with said vertical sample transferring means, means for transferring samples from said sample changer to said horizontal sample transferring means, and means for sequentially effecting the transfer of samples from said changer to said horizontal sample transferring means, from said horizontal sample transferring means to said vertical sample transferring means, from said vertical sample transferring means to said sample measurement chamber, and means for moving said sample back to said sample changer in a reverse sequence.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |