Patent US3859012A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3859012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fluid ejecting mechanism
Assignee: Coulter Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-10
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1992-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A fluid ejecting mechanism for use in a study device wherein a non-diluted specific minute amount of fluid sample containing particles is ejected by the ejecting mechanism into a flow stream leading to a sensing zone in the particle counter. The ejecting mechanism includes a hollow body having a thermal expansion device mounted therein and a power supply circuit which supplies a predetermined amount of electrical energy to the thermal expansion device to raise the temperature of same a predetermined amount and cause the same to expand thereby to eject from the hollow body a specific amount of fluid sample having a volume displacement equal to the volume increase of the thermal expansion device. Preferably the hollow body is part of a syringe including a plunger. The syringe facilitates the picking up of fluid sample of which only a minute specific portion is ejected toward the sensing zone of the particle counter.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter R Hogg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:47
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/1031; G01N15/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
Means for ejecting in one stroke a specific minute amount of fluid sample, said ejecting means including means for receiving and temporarily storing a given amount of fluid sample, said receiving and storing means having a very small outlet orifice, a solid thermal expansion device which is mounted within said receiving and storing means and which includes an electric heating element, an expandable element which surrounds said heating element, which is made from a material having a given thermal coefficient of expansion and which has a given volume, and an insulating jacket surrounding said expandable element and said heating element, and means for supplying a predetermined amount of energy to said thermal expansion device to raise the temperature of said device to cause said device to expand thereby to eject in one stroke through said outlet orifice a specific minute amount of fluid sample from said receiving and storing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
Means for ejecting in one stroke a specific minute amount of fluid sample, said ejecting means including means for receiving and temporarily storing a given amount of fluid sample, said receiving and storing means having a very small outlet orifice, a solid thermal expansion device which is mounted within said receiving and storing means and which includes an electric heating element, an expandable element which surrounds said heating element, which is made from a material having a given thermal coefficient of expansion and which has a given volume, and an insulating jacket surrounding said expandable element and said heating element, and means for supplying a predetermined amount of energy to said thermal expansion device to raise the temperature of said device to cause said device to expand thereby to eject in one stroke through said outlet orifice a specific minute amount of fluid sample from said receiving and storing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and storing means is a syringe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and storing means includes a body having a fluid receiving cavity therein and said outlet orifice being in a wall of said body and communicating with said cavity, said solid thermal expansion device being situated within said cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said energy supply means includes a voltage source having good regulation to provide a substantially constant voltage independent of current drain.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said expandable element is made of silver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said expandable element is made of beryllium oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said expandable element is made of silver and beryllium oxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said thermal expansion device includes an electric heating element and said energy supply means includes a voltage source, an energy storing device for storing a predetermined amount of energy and switch means for connecting said storage means to said heating element to discharge said predetermined amount of energy from said storage device into said electric heating element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 including means for mounting said ejecting means in position for ejecting the specific minute amount of fluid sample toward a sensing zone in a particle sTudy device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said heating element is a wire conductor and said expandable element includes an elongated core on which said wire conductor is wound, said heating element and said core being embedded in a body which forms part of the expandable element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ejecting means according to claim 10 wherein said core and said body are made of the same material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said thermal expansion device includes an electric heating element and said energy supply means includes a voltage source, switch means for connecting said voltage source to said heating element and circuit means connected to said switch means and said heating element for monitoring the energy input to said heating element and for opening the connection between said voltage source and said heating element after a predetermined amount of energy has been supplied to said heating element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
The ejecting means according to claim 12 wherein said circuit means includes means for integrating the current flowing through said heating element, a second voltage source, a relay including an operating coil and contacts in the connection between said first voltage source and said heating element, and a comparator having inputs connected to said integrating means and said second voltage source and an output connected to said operating coil, said comparator being operable to compare a voltage developed in said integrating means with a constant voltage supplied from said second voltage source and to energize said coil for causing opening of said contacts when said developed voltage equals said constant voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
144 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and storing means includes an elongate hollow body, a projection which extends from said body, which is integral with said body, which has a cavity therein communicating with the hollow interior of said body, and which has a tip at the distal end thereof, said tip having said outlet orifice therein communicating with said cavity, and a plunger in said body, said plunger having a passageway therein, said passageway having a first end which opens into said hollow body opposite a closed end of said hollow body and a second end which opens onto a side of said plunger and which is adapted to register and communicate with said cavity during at least a portion of the movement of said plunger within said body, and said thermal expansion device being situated in said cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
The ejecting means according to claim 14 wherein said body is open at one end opposite said closed end and said plunger has a portion thereof which extends outwardly from said open end of said body, and wherein said receiving and storage means includes means for limiting outward movement of said plunger to a position where said second end of said passageway is completely out of registry with said cavity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ejecting means according to claim 14 including means for mounting said body in a particle study device with said tip in a predetermined position relative to a sensing zone in said particle study device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
126 words
The ejecting means according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and storing means includes an elongate hollow body and a projection which extends from said body, which is integral with said body, which has a cavity therein communicating with the hollow interior of said body, and which has a tip at the distal end thereof, said tip having said outlet orifice therein communicating with said cavity, and said body having a hole therein opposite said projection and wherein a plunger is received in said body through an open end thereof and has a lateral passageway therethrough which is adapted to be brought into registry with the inner end of said cavity for enabling filling of said cavity with fluid sample through said hole and said passageway.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ejecting means according to claim 17 wherein the end of said body, opposite said open end thereof is Closed, and said plunger has at least one channel therein communicating the space between said closed end of said body and the inner end of said plunger to atmosphere.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |