US3880111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic blood smear device
Assignee: Geometric Data Corp
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Filing: 1973-11-05
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1993-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A blood smear device which automatically prepares a slide for a blood cell analysis is shown. The device includes holding means for supporting a slide, spreading means provided in contact with the slide and translation means for causing relative movement between the slide and the spreading means. A drop of blood is placed on the top surface of the slide at one end thereof and the spreading means is located adjacent the other end of the slide prior to preparation of the slide. Control means are provided for causing the translation means to cause relative movement of the spreading means towards the drop of blood until the spreader means contacts the drop. The control means includes delay means for preventing further movement of the spreader means relative to the drop for a predetermined period of time. The control means causes the spreading means to be moved relatively away from the drop after the predetermined period of time. The control means continues the movement until the spreading means is disposed in its original position with respect to the slide.
Inventors
- 👤 Marshall S Levine
- 👤 Albert A Faulkner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/2813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A smearing device for slides, said device enabling a drop of fluid to be placed on the top surface of said slide and located towards one end thereof, said device including holding means for supporting a slide, spreading means provided in contact with said slide, translation means for causing relative movement between said slide and said spreading means, said spreading means being located adjacent the other end of said slide prior to smearing said slide, control means for causing said translation means to cause relative movement of said spreading means towards said one end until said spreading means reaches the position for said fluid, said control means including delay means for maintaining said spreading means for a predetermined period of time at said position for said fluid, said control means initiating said translation means after said period of time to cause said spreading means to be moved relatively away from said position, said control means causing said movement until said spreading means is disposed in its original position with respect to said slide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A smearing device for slides, said device enabling a drop of fluid to be placed on the top surface of said slide and located towards one end thereof, said device including holding means for supporting a slide, spreading means provided in contact with said slide, translation means for causing relative movement between said slide and said spreading means, said spreading means being located adjacent the other end of said slide prior to smearing said slide, control means for causing said translation means to cause relative movement of said spreading means towards said one end until said spreading means reaches the position for said fluid, said control means including delay means for maintaining said spreading means for a predetermined period of time at said position for said fluid, said control means initiating said translation means after said period of time to cause said spreading means to be moved relatively away from said position, said control means causing said movement until said spreading means is disposed in its original position with respect to said slide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The smearing device of claim 1 wherein said spreading means comprises a basically rectangular spreader and said surface for contacting said fluid is the outermost edge of said spreader.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The smearing device of claim 1 wherein said spreading means comprises a glass spreader, said spreader including a chamfered lowermost edge, said chamfered edge being in contact with said top surface of said slide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The smearing device of claim 1 and further including spreader holding means, said spreader holding means including self aligning means for causing uniform pressure along the edge of said slide in contact with said spreading means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The smearing device of claim 4 wherein said selF aligning means comprises an opening in said spreader holding means, a shaft extending to said holding means, said opening being journalled about said shaft and being larger in diameter than said shaft to enable said holding means to rock with respect to said shaft to enable the lowermost edge of said spreading means to be aligned with the top surface of said slide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The smearing device of claim 1 wherein said spreading means includes spreader holding means and a spreader with said spreader holding means including a slot for receiving said spreader and resilient means for abutting said spreader to maintain said spreader in said slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The smearing device of claim 6 wherein said spreader holding means includes means for urging said resilient means away from said spreader to enable replacement of said spreading means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The smearing device of claim 7 wherein said spreader holding means includes a holding member, said holding member having an outwardly extending member, said means for urging said resilient member including a second outwardly extending member, said resilient member being urged away from said spreader holding means when said outwardly extending members are squeezed together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The smearing device of claim 8 wherein said holding member includes an opening which extends through said holding member, said means for urging said resilient member including a lever member which is pivotably secured to said holding member and a pin, said resilient member comprising a leaf spring which is secured to said holding member, said pin extending between said lever member and said leaf spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The smearing device of claim 6 wherein said spreader holding means is pivotably mounted to a supporting device, said pivotable connection enabling the weight of said spreader and said spreader holding means to maintain said spreader against said slide for smearing said fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The smearing device of claim 6 wherein said spreader holding means pivots upwardly to facilitate replacement of said spreader.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The smearing device of claim 1 wherein said slide supporting means includes a recess for receiving said slide and means for limiting movement of said slide in said recess.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The smearing device of claim 12 wherein said means for limiting movement comprises a spring member for securing said slide between said spring member and one edge of said recess.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The smearing device of claim 12 wherein said recess includes a base surface which is inclined at a slight angle from rear to front, said recess including supporting means at the front of said recess which engages the front edge of said slide to limit movement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The smearing device of claim 14 wherein said means at the front includes at least one wedge of resilient material, said slide being engaged by said wedge to limit movement of said slide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The smearing device of claim 14 wherein said supporting means includes a stepped platform, said slide resting on one of the steps of said platform whereby movement of said slide in said recess is limited.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The smearing device of claim 1 wherein said translation means moves said means for supporting said slide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The smearing device of claim 17 wherein said means for supporting a slide supports a pair of slides and a pair of said spreading means are provided so that a pair of slides are prepared simultaneously.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The smearing device of claim 1 wherein said fluid is blood and said smearing device prepares said slide for blood cell analysis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The blood smear device of claim 1 wherein said translation means includes a motor, a shaft rotated by said motor, an arm rotated by said shaft and a linking member for connecting said arm to said slide supporting member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The smearing device of claim 20 wherein said control means includes means for controlling the speed of translation of said slide supporting member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The smearing device of claim 21 wherein said linking member includes lost motion means comprised of a slot in said liNking member to enable said arm to be rotated for a portion of the translation cycle without moving said slide with respect to said spreader.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The smearing device of claim 22 wherein said slide supporting means is guided by track means to move linearly in response to actuation by said rotating arm and said linking arm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The smearing device of claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for controlling said predetermined time that said spreading device is maintained at said position for said fluid, said time being predetermined in accordance with the width of the smear desired.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The smearing device of claim 24 wherein said predetermined time is controlled by means for controlling the speed of said translation means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The smearing device of claim 2 wherein said surface for contacting said fluid is narrower than said slide so that said smear is limited in width to the width of said surface for contacting said fluid.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The smearing device of claim 26 wherein said spreader includes a pair of notches in the outermost edge thereof, said notches being provided one at each end of said surface for contacting said fluid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
173 words
A blood smear device for preparing a slide for a blood cell analysis, said slide having a drop of blood on the top surface and located toward one end thereof, said device including holding means for supporting a slide, spreading means provided in contact with said slide, translation means for causing relative movement between said slide and said spreading means, said spreading means being located adjacent the other end of said slide prior to preparation of said slide, control means for causing said translation means to cause relative movement of said spreading means towards said drop of blood until said spreading means contacts said drop, said control means including delay means for maintaining said spreading means in contact with said drop for a predetermined period of time, said control means initiating said translation means after said period of time to cause said spreading means to be moved relatively away from said drop, said control means causing said movement until said spreading means is disposed in its original position with respect to said slide.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
173 words
A blood smear device for preparing a slide for a blood cell analysis, said slide having a drop of blood on the top surface and located toward one end thereof, said device including holding means for supporting a slide, spreading means provided in contact with said slide, translation means for causing relative movement between said slide and said spreading means, said spreading means being located adjacent the other end of said slide prior to preparation of said slide, control means for causing said translation means to cause relative movement of said spreading means towards said drop of blood until said spreading means contacts said drop, said control means including delay means for maintaining said spreading means in contact with said drop for a predetermined period of time, said control means initiating said translation means after said period of time to cause said spreading means to be moved relatively away from said drop, said control means causing said movement until said spreading means is disposed in its original position with respect to said slide.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The blood smearing device of claim 28 wherein said translation means causes movement of said slide holding means for causing relative movement between said slide and said spreading means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The blood smearing device of claim 29 wherein said control means includes means responsive to the location of said slide holding means for varying the speed of movement of said slide holding means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The blood smearing device of claim 30 wherein said means responsive includes a first switching device which is abutted by said slide holding means for terminating movement of said slide holding means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
64 words
The blood smearing device of claim 31 wherein said control means includes a second switching device which is abutted by said translation means when said wiping means contacts said drop, said contacting of said second switching device causing said translation means to be moved at a second speed during said predetermined period of time, said second speed determining the length of said predetermined period.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The blood smearing device of claim 32 wherein said control means includes means for varying said second speed so that said predetermined period can be varied for controlling the width of said blood smear.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The blood smearing device of claim 32 wherein said translation means includes lost motion means which enables said translation means to be moved without movement of said slide holding means during said predetermined period.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
The blood smearing device of claim 34 wherein said device further includes a member for moving said first switching device away from said slide holding means to enable said control means to initiate said translation means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The blood smearing device of claim 28 and further including indicating means for indicating the locatioN that a drop of blood should be placed on the top surface of said slide.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
44 words
The blood smearing device of claim 36 wherein said indicating means comprises a spot located in said slide holding means underneath said slide, the size of said spot determining the size of said drop of blood placed on said slide for said blood smear.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
The blood smearing device of claim 28 wherein said slide holding means includes means for maintaining said slide in a fixed securement with respect to said slide holding means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The blood smearing device of claim 28 wherein said slide holding means holds a pair of slides and said spreading means contacts both of said slides to enable simultaneous smearing of both of said slides.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
51 words
The blood smearing device of claim 28 wherein said spreading means comprises a generally rectangular spreader and a holder for said spreader, said holder being pivotably supported by said blood smearing device and being upwardly pivotable to replace said spreader and downwardly pivotable to cause said spreader to contact said slide.
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) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |