Automatic fluid injector

Claim 2

In apparatus for repetitively accurately measuring and injecting preselected quantities of fluid specimens into a media such as an inlet to an analytical instrument, the combination comprising a housing, which can be mounted adjacent an inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a tubular member located within the housing, said tubular member including a pair of communicated openings therethrough, a first opening of the pair extending through the tubular member and housing, a second axial opening adjacent to and communicated with the said first opening which can be aligned upon the inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a needle syringe mounted upon the forward end of a piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said syringe including a barrel, including forward and rearward tubular portions, formed by an enclosing wall defining an axial opening, a chamber of substantially cylindrical-shaped cross section located at the front end of the forward portion of the barrel, an enlarged chamber opening communicating with and located rearward of the said chamber, an outlet located within the forward portion of the barrel, rearward of the enlarged chamber opening, a hollow needle, provided with an opening in the dispensing end thereof, mounted at the forward end of the barrel, the opening through said needle communicating with the axial opening through the barrel, a reciprocable plunger mounted within the barrel, said plunger including a forward portion fitted snugly within the chamber of substantially cylindrical-shaped cross section located at the forward end of the barrel and a rearward portion provided with an enlarged head of cross-section corresponding substantially with the cross-section of the rearward portion of the barrel within and through which the head moves on reciprocation of the plunger, a seal located within and separating the forward and rearward portions of said barrel, the plunger being extended therethrough and reciprocable therein such that the head of the plunger traverses the rearward tubular portion of the barrel and the forward portion of the plunger traverses the forward portion of the barrel, a plunger adjustment assembly located within the rearward portion of the barrel, within the path of travel of said plunger, wherein is included an end plug which fits within and encloses the rearward portion of said barrel, and a pair of telescoping members located forward of the said enclosing end plug, and means whereby the pair of telescoping sections can be lengthened or shortened in an axial direction along the length of the rearward tubular portion of the barrel such that the distance travelled by the reciprocable plunger can be preset as desired, means provided within the rearward tubular portion of the barrel for reciprocation of the plunger, an injector feed unit including a hollow probe provided with communicating upper and lower side openings mounted on the forward end of a piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said probe being aligned upon the said first opening of the tubular member within and through which the probe can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, and extended through the said first opening, and means for transporting a fluid specimen containing a vial, with a septum cap, below the said first opening and into the path of the hollow probe for penetration of the septum for pick-up of the fluid specimen via the lower side opening of the probe and conveyance of same via the upper opening of the probe, through the communication connecting the first and second openings, and into the opening within the dispensing end of the needle and into the cylindrical-shaped chamber in the forward barrel portion of the syringe, which fluid specimen can flow therethrough to the enlarged chamber outlet located within the forward portion of the barrel, and a predetermined quantity of fluid specimen can be trapped and accurately measured within the forward barrel portion of the syringe by forward movement of the tip of the plunger past the outlet and enlarged chamber located within the forward portion of the barrel, the needle of the needle syringe then thrust through the said second opening of the tubular member and into the inlet to the analytical instrument, and the accurately measured quantity of fluid specimen injected into the inlet by continued forward movement of the plunger.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the forward and rearward portions of the syringe barrel are constituted of two separate tubular members, a small-diameter forward tubular member, within which is provided the cylindrrical shaped forward chamber, enlarged chamber outlet and side opening, and within the forward portion of which the hollow needle is sealed, and a rearward larger-diameter tubular member, the wall of which is provided with forward and rearward inlet-outlet ports for ingress and egress of pressurized fluid which impinges on the head of the plunger, which lies therein, for reciprocation of the plunger, the plunger being fitted through a seal located between the said forward and rearward tubular members such that the forward portion of the plunger traverses the forward tubular member while the head of the piston traverses the rearward tubular member.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plunger adjustment assembly, which is located within the rearward portion of the barrel, and includes an end plug which fits within and encloses the rearward portion of said barrel, is comprised of outer and inner telescoping members fitted through said end plug, a shaft extendeed from the outer telescoping member which is fitted through an opening within the said plug portion, an enlarged perforated head located on the forward end of said shaft against the forward face of which the head of the plunger can impinge, and the A tubular section, the forward end of which provides a stop surface against which the perforated head of the shaft can impinge on rearward contact by the plunger, and which, in combination with said enlarged head and shaft, provides telescoping members which can be lengthened or shortened in an axial direction along the length of the rearward tubular portion of the barrel, the said plunger adjustment assembly including a helical spring fitted concentrically about the said tubular section, enlarged head and shaft and seated between the rearward face of the enclosed end of the said tubular section and the forward face of the plug portion sealing the rearward portion of said barrel.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cylinder-piston unit of the injector feed unit is a double-acting cylinder-piston unit comprising a barrel within which pressurized fluid can be admitted or expelled via inlet-outlet ports located on opposite sides of the area of traverse of the enlarged head affixed upon an end of the piston of the cylinder-piston unit, the probe constitutes the piston of the cylinder-piston unit in that it is directly affixed via one of its terminal ends to an enlarged head and reciprocable therewith when acted upon by ingress and egress of pressurized fluid admitted or expelled via the said inlet-outlet ports. 5. In an apparatus for repetitively accurately measuring and injecting preselected quantities of fluid specimens into a media such as an inlet to an analytical instrument, the combination comprising a housing, which can be mounted adjacent an inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a tubular member located within the housing, said tubular member including a pair of communicated openings therethrough, a first opening of the pair extEnding through the tubular member and housing, a second opening adjacent to and communicated with the first opening which can be aligned upon the inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a needle syringe mounted upon the forward end of a piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said syringe including a barrel, including forward and rearward tubular portions, formed by an enclosing wall defining an axial opening, a hollow needle, provided with an opening in the dispensing end thereof, mounted at the forward end of the barrel, the opening through the said needle communicating with the axial opening through the barrel, a reciprocable plunger mounted within the barrel, said plunger including a forward portion fitted snugly within the axial opening within the forward portion of said barrel and a rearward portion provided with an enlarged head of cross-section corresponding substantially with the cross-section of the rearward portion of the barrel within which the head moves on reciprocation of the plunger, a seal located within and separating the forward and rearward portions of said barrel, the plunger being extended therethrough and reciprocable therein such that the head of the plunger traverses the rearward tubular portion of the barrel and the forward portion of the plunger traverses the forward portion of the barrel, a plunger adjustment assembly located within the rearward portion of the barrel, within the path of travel of said plunger, wherein is included a plug which fits within and encloses the rearward portion of said barrel, and a pair of telescoping sections located forward of the said enclosing plug, such that the pair of telescoping sections can be lengthened or shortened in an axial direction along the length of the rearward tubular portion of the barrel to preset the distance travelled by the plunger, inlet-outlet ports located at opposite ends of the rearward tubular portion of the barrel through which a pressurized fluid can be injected for reciprocation of the plunger, an injector feed unit including a pair of hollow probes, each of which are provided with upper an lower openings, mounted on the forward end of a piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, pressurized fluid inlet means associated with an upper opening of one of the pair of probes, said probes being aligned upon the said first opening through the tubular member within and through which the probes can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, and extended through the said first opening, and means for transporting a fluid specimen containing a vial, with a resilient puncturable septum cap, below the said first opening and within the path of the pair of hollow probes for penetration of the septum cap by the probes, whereby pressurized fluid injected into the vial by one of the pair of probes pressurizes the fluid contents of the vial so that the fluid contents of the vial can be forced into a lower opening of the opposite probe of the pair and conveyed through the axial opening, and through an upper opening into the needle and into the forward tubular barrel portion of the syringe.

Claim 6

In apparatus for repetitively accurately measuring and injecting preselected quantities of fluid specimens into a media such as an inlet to an analytical instrument, the combination comprising a housing, which can be mounted adjacent an inlet leading into the anaytical instrument, a tubular member located within the housing, said tubular member including a pair of communicated openings therethrough, a first opening of the pair extending through the tubular member and housing, a second opening adjacent to and communicated with the said first opening which can be aligned upon the inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a needle syringe mounted upon the forward end of a piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said syringe including a barrel, including forward and rearward tubular portions, Formed by an enclosing wall defining an axial opening, a hollow needle, provided with an opening in the dispensing end thereof, mounted at the forward end of the barrel, the opening through the said needle communicating with the axial opening through the barrel, a tubular flange closing the opposite end of the barrel, a hollow reciprocable plunger mounted within the barrel, said plunger including a forward portion fitted snugly within the axial opening through the end of the barrel, and a rearward portion which extends through the axial opening within the enclosing tubular flange, a pair of serially connected double-acting cylinder-piston units, a rearward double-acting cylinder-piston unit including a barrel, an enclosing rearward end wall and a tubular forward end wall, a reciprocable piston the shaft portion of which is fitted within and projected through the axial opening of the tubular forward end wall and the enlarged head of which is located within the said barrel, and inlet-outlet ports located at opposite ends of said barrel for admission of pressurized fluid for reciprocation of the piston, and a forward double-acting cylinder-piston unit including a barrel the rearward end of which is enclosed by the tubular forward end wall of said rearward double-acting cylinder-piston unit, a forward enclosing tubular end wall, a reciprocable hollow piston the shaft portion of which is fitted within and projected through the axial opening of the tubular forward enclosing end wall and the enlarged tubular head of which is fitted within the said barrel, the shaft of the piston unit being fitted and slidable within the axial opening through said reciprocable hollow piston, the said forward double-acting cylinder-piston unit also including inlet-outlet ports for admission of pressurized fluid for reciprocation of said hollow piston, a tubular member, provided with a lateral opening, movable between the tubular flange closing the end of the barrel of the syringe and the forward tubular end wall which encloses the forward double-acting cylinder-piston unit, separated one from the other by spacing support bars, the hollow plunger of the syringe barrel being affixed to said tubular member at one end and in axial communication therewith and with the said lateral opening, the hollow piston of the forward double-acting cylinder-piston unit being affixed the opposite end of said tubular member, and in axial communication with said axial opening through the movable tubular member such that the piston shaft of said rearward double-acting cylinder-piston unit can be reciprocated therethrough to open the lateral opening to communication with the dispensing end of the needle or close off such communication by closure of the lateral opening and rearward end of the hollow plunger, an injector feed assembly including a hollow probe provided with communicating upper and lower openings mounted on the forward end of the piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said probe being aligned upon the said first axial opening through the tubular member within and through which the probe can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, and extended through the said first axial opening, means for transporting a fluid specimen contained in a vial, with a resilient, puncturable closure, below the said first axial opening and into the path of the hollow probe for penetration of said closure by the probe, and means for pressurizing the fluid contents of the vial so that the fluid specimen contained within the vial can be transferred via the lower and upper side openings of the probe into the opening of the needle and into the chamber of the syringe.

Claim 7

In apparatus for repetitively accurately measuring and injecting preselected quantities of fluid specimens into a media such as an inlet to an analytical instrument, the combination comprising a housing, which can be mounted adjacent an inlet leading into the anaytical instrument, a tubular member located within the housing, said tubular member including a pair of communicated openings therethrough, a first opening of the pair extending through the tubular member and housing, a second opening adjacent to and communicated with the said first opening which can be aligned upon the inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a needle syringe mounted upon the forward end of a piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said syringe including a barrel, including forward and rearward tubular portions, Formed by an enclosing wall defining an axial opening, a hollow needle, provided with an opening in the dispensing end thereof, mounted at the forward end of the barrel, the opening through the said needle communicating with the axial opening through the barrel, a tubular flange closing the opposite end of the barrel, a hollow reciprocable plunger mounted within the barrel, said plunger including a forward portion fitted snugly within the axial opening through the end of the barrel, and a rearward portion which extends through the axial opening within the enclosing tubular flange, a pair of serially connected double-acting cylinder-piston units, a rearward double-acting cylinder-piston unit including a barrel, an enclosing rearward end wall and a tubular forward end wall, a reciprocable piston the shaft portion of which is fitted within and projected through the axial opening of the tubular forward end wall and the enlarged head of which is located within the said barrel, and inlet-outlet ports located at opposite ends of said barrel for admission of pressurized fluid for reciprocation of the piston, and a forward double-acting cylinder-piston unit including a barrel the rearward end of which is enclosed by the tubular forward end wall of said rearward double-acting cylinder-piston unit, a forward enclosing tubular end wall, a reciprocable hollow piston the shaft portion of which is fitted within and projected through the axial opening of the tubular forward enclosing end wall and the enlarged tubular head of which is fitted within the said barrel, the shaft of the piston unit being fitted and slidable within the axial opening through said reciprocable hollow piston, the said forward double-acting cylinder-piston unit also including inlet-outlet ports for admission of pressurized fluid for reciprocation of said hollow piston, a tubular member, provided with a lateral opening, movable between the tubular flange closing the end of the barrel of the syringe and the forward tubular end wall which encloses the forward double-acting cylinder-piston unit, separated one from the other by spacing support bars, the hollow plunger of the syringe barrel being affixed to said tubular member at one end and in axial communication therewith and with the said lateral opening, the hollow piston of the forward double-acting cylinder-piston unit being affixed the opposite end of said tubular member, and in axial communication with said axial opening through the movable tubular member such that the piston shaft of said rearward double-acting cylinder-piston unit can be reciprocated therethrough to open the lateral opening to communication with the dispensing end of the needle or close off such communication by closure of the lateral opening and rearward end of the hollow plunger, an injector feed assembly including a hollow probe provided with communicating upper and lower openings mounted on the forward end of the piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said probe being aligned upon the said first axial opening through the tubular member within and through which the probe can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, and extended through the said first axial opening, means for transporting a fluid specimen contained in a vial, with a resilient, puncturable closure, below the said first axial opening and into the path of the hollow probe for penetration of said closure by the probe, and means for pressurizing the fluid contents of the vial so that the fluid specimen contained within the vial can be transferred via the lower and upper side openings of the probe into the opening of the needle and into the chamber of the syringe.

Claim 8

In apparatus for repetitively accurately measuring and injecting preselected quantities of fluid specimens into a media such as an inlet to an analytical instrument, the combination comprising a housing, which can be mounted adjacent an inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a tubular member mounted within the housing, said tubular member including an inner hermetically sealed chamber and a gas inlet to said chamber and a pair of communicated openings, a first axial opening of the pair extending through the tubular member, said chamber and housing, and a second opening adjacent to and communicated with said first axial opening which can be aligned upon the inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a needle syringe mounted upon a piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, the needle of which is aligned upon said second opening through the tubular member within and through which the needle can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, said syringe including a barrel comprised of forward and rearward tubular portions separated one from the other by sealing means, the forward tubular portion of said syringe providing a chamber for containing a predetermined quantity of fluid for injection via an opening within the dispensing end of the needle which is mounted on the front end of the said forward tubular portion, the rearward tubular portion of said syringe containing a plunger, the front end of which can be reciprocated within the chamber in the forward portion of the syringe, the plunger providing in its retracted position a chamber which can be filled with fluid in predetermined quantity from the dispensing end of the needle which, on subsequent forward thrust of the plunger, the fluid specimen can be injected through the dispensing end of the needle, an injector feed assembly including a hollow probe provided with communicating upper and lower openings mounted on the forward end of the piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said probe being aligned upon the said first axial opening through the tubular member within and through which the probe can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, and extended through the said first axial opening, means for transporting a fluid specimen contained in a vial, with a resilient, puncturable closure, below the said first axial opening and into the path of the hollow probe for penetration of said closure by the probe, whereby pressurized gas can be injected via its inlet into said hermetically sealed chamber on alignment of the upper probe opening with said chamber and the fluid contents of the vial pressurized by delivery of the gas into the vial via passage through the probe, on discontinuance of the alignment of said upper probe opening with the pressurized hermetically sealed chamber which occurs by the downward movement of the probe the applied gas pressure is discontinued, and after entry of the lower probe opening into the fluid contents of the vial, a fluid specimen contained within the vial can be transferred via the probe into the opening of the needle and into the chamber of the syringe.

Claim 9

In apparatus for repetitively accurately measuring and injecting preselected quantities of fluid specimens into a media such as an inlet to an analytical instrument, the combination comprising a housing, which can be mounted adjacent an inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a tubular member mounted within the housing, said tubular member including an inner hermetically sealed chamber and a gas inlet to said chamber and a pair of communicated openings, a first axial opening of the pair extending through the tubular member, said chamber and housing, and a second opening adjacent to and communicated with said first axial opening which can be aligned upon the inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a needle syringe mounted upon a piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, the needle of which is aligned upon said second opening through the tubular member within and through which the needle can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, said syringe including a barrel comprised of forward and rearward tubular portions separated one from the other by sealing means, the forward tubular portion of said syringe providing a chamber for containing a predetermined quantity of fluid for injection via an opening within the dispensing end of the needle which is mounted on the front end of the said forward tubular portion, the rearward tubular portion of said syringe containing a plunger, the front end of which can be reciprocated within the chamber in the forward portion of the syringe, the plunger providing in its retracted position a chamber which can be filled with fluid in predetermined quantity from the dispensing end of the needle which, on subsequent forward thrust of the plunger, the fluid specimen can be injected through the dispensing end of the needle, an injector feed assembly including a hollow probe provided with communicating upper and lower openings mounted on the forward end of the piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said probe being aligned upon the said first axial opening through the tubular member within and through which the probe can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, and extended through the said first axial opening, means for transporting a fluid specimen contained in a vial, with a resilient, puncturable closure, below the said first axial opening and into the path of the hollow probe for penetration of said closure by the probe, whereby pressurized gas can be injected via its inlet into said hermetically sealed chamber on alignment of the upper probe opening with said chamber and the fluid contents of the vial pressurized by delivery of the gas into the vial via passage through the probe, on discontinuance of the alignment of said upper probe opening with the pressurized hermetically sealed chamber which occurs by the downward movement of the probe the applied gas pressure is discontinued, and after entry of the lower probe opening into the fluid contents of the vial, a fluid specimen contained within the vial can be transferred via the probe into the opening of the needle and into the chamber of the syringe.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the rearward tubular portion constituting the barrel of said needle syringe comprises a double-acting cylinder piston unit which includes forward and rearward inlet-outlet ports through which pressurized fluid can be admitted to reciprocate the piston, the piston is also the plunger of the forward portion of the syringe, and the rearward tubular portion of said syringe constituting the double-acting cylinder piston unit includes a plunger adjustment assembly comprising an end plug of relative large cross-section located within and enclosing the rearward wall of the cylinder piston unit, and a pair of telescoping members located forward of the enclosing end plug, and means whereby the pair of telescoping sections can be lengthened or shortened in an axial direction along the length of the rearward tubular portion of the syringe such that the distance within which the plunger of the double-acting cylinder piston unit is free to travel can be preset, as desired.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the forward portion of the barrel of the needle syringe mounted on the piston of a cylinder-piston unit is provided with a side opening such that Fluid transferred from the vial through the probe can be passed in a stream through the chamber to exit via the side opening therefrom, thereafter a predetermined amount of a fluid specimen can be trapped for subsequent delivery by limited forward movement of the plunger which blocks said side opening, and thereafter the needle of the needle syringe can be thrust through said second opening of the tubular member and into the inlet to the analytical instrument, and the accurately measured quantity of fluid specimen injected into the inlet by continued forward movement of the plunger.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the needle syringe mounted on the piston of the cylinder-piston unit is one which comprises a barrel, including forward and rearward tubular portions, formed by an enclosing wall defining an axial opening, a chamber of substantially cylindrical-shaped cross-section located at the front end of the forward portion of the barrel, an enlarged chamber opening communicating with and located rearward of the said chamber, an outlet located within the forward portion of the barrel, rearward of the enlarged chamber opening, a hollow needle, provided with an opening in the dispensing end thereof, mounted at the forward end of the barrel, the opening through said needle communicating with the axial opening through the barrel, a reciprocable plunger mounted within the barrel, said plunger including a forward portion fitted snugly within the chamber of substantially cylindrical-shaped cross-section located at the forward end of the barrel and a rearward portion provided with an enlarged head of cross-section corresponding substantially with the cross-section of the rearward portion of the barrel within and through which the head moves on reciprocation of the plunger, a seal located within and separating the forward and rearward portions of said barrel, the plunger being extended therethrough and reciprocable therein such that the head of the plunger traverses the rearward tubular portion of the barrel and the forward portion of the plunger traverses the forward portion of the barrel.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the syringe includes a plunger adjustment assembly located within the rearward portion of the barrel, within the path of travel of said plunger, wherein is included an end plug which fits within and encloses the rearward portion of said barrel, and a pair of telescoping members located forward of the said enclosing end plug, and means whereby the pair of telescoping sections can be lengthened or shortened in an a axial direction along the length of the rearward tubular portion of the barrel such that the distance travelled by the reciprocable plunger can be preset as desired.

Claim 14

In apparatus for repetitively accurately measuring and injecting preselected quantities of fluid specimens into a media such as an inlet to an analytical instrument, the combination comprising a housing, which can be mounted adjacent an inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a tubular member mounted within the housing, said tubular member including a pair of communicated openings therethrough, a first axial opening of the pair extending through the tubular member and housing, and a second opening adjacent to and communicated with said first axial opening which can be aligned upon the inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a needle syringe mounted upon the forward end of a piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, the needle of which is aligned upon said second opening through the tubular member within and through which the needle can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, said syringe including a barrel comprised of forward and rearward tubular portions separated one from the other by sealing means, the forward tubular portion of said syringe providing a chamber of substantially cylindrical-shaped cross section located at the front end of the forward portion of the barrel for cOntaining a predetermined quantity of fluid for injection via an opening within the dispensing end of the needle which is mounted on the front end of the said forward tubular portion, an enlarged chamber opening communicating with and located rearward of the said chamber, an outlet located within the forward portion of the barrel, rearward of the enlarged chamber opening, the rearward tubular portion of said syringe containing a plunger, the front end of which can be reciprocated within the chamber in the forward portion of the syringe, the plunger providing, in a retracted position a channel for flow of fluid from the dispensing end of the needle through the chamber, enlarged chamber opening, and outlet located within the forward portion of the barrel, and in a forward position wherein the forward end of the plunger is located in front of said enlarged chamber opening, a closed chamber wherein a fluid specimen can be contained in predetermined quantity, and on subsequent forward thrust of the needle of the syringe into the inlet of the analytical instrument the fluid specimen can be injected through the dispensing end of the needle, an injector feed assembly including a hollow probe provided with communicating upper and lower openings mounted on the forward end of the piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said probe being aligned upon the said first axial opening through the tubular member within and through which the probe can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, and extended through the said first axial opening, means for transporting a fluid specimen contained in a vial, with a resilient, puncturable closure, below the said first axial opening and into the path of the hollow probe for penetration of said closure by the probe, and means for pressurizing the fluid contents of the vial so that the fluid specimen contained within the vial can be transferred via the lower and upper side openings of the probe into the opening of the needle and into the chamber of the syringe.

Claim 15

In apparatus for repetitively accurately measuring and injecting preselected quantities of fluid specimens into a media such as an inlet to an analytical instrument, the combination comprising a housing, which can be mounted adjacent an inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a tubular member mounted within the housing, said tubular member including a pair of communicated openings therethrough, a first axial opening of the pair extending through the tubular member and housing, and a second opening adjacent to and communicated with said first axial opening which can be aligned upon the inlet leading into the analytical instrument, a needle syringe mounted upon the forward end of a piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, the needle of which is aligned upon said second opening through the tubular member within and through which the needle can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, said syringe including a barrel comprised of forward and rearward tubular portions separated one from the other by sealing means, the forward tubular portion of said syringe providing a chamber of substantially cylindrical-shaped cross section located at the front end of the forward portion of the barrel for cOntaining a predetermined quantity of fluid for injection via an opening within the dispensing end of the needle which is mounted on the front end of the said forward tubular portion, an enlarged chamber opening communicating with and located rearward of the said chamber, an outlet located within the forward portion of the barrel, rearward of the enlarged chamber opening, the rearward tubular portion of said syringe containing a plunger, the front end of which can be reciprocated within the chamber in the forward portion of the syringe, the plunger providing, in a retracted position a channel for flow of fluid from the dispensing end of the needle through the chamber, enlarged chamber opening, and outlet located within the forward portion of the barrel, and in a forward position wherein the forward end of the plunger is located in front of said enlarged chamber opening, a closed chamber wherein a fluid specimen can be contained in predetermined quantity, and on subsequent forward thrust of the needle of the syringe into the inlet of the analytical instrument the fluid specimen can be injected through the dispensing end of the needle, an injector feed assembly including a hollow probe provided with communicating upper and lower openings mounted on the forward end of the piston of a cylinder-piston unit affixed upon the housing, said probe being aligned upon the said first axial opening through the tubular member within and through which the probe can be reciprocated by movement of the piston, and extended through the said first axial opening, means for transporting a fluid specimen contained in a vial, with a resilient, puncturable closure, below the said first axial opening and into the path of the hollow probe for penetration of said closure by the probe, and means for pressurizing the fluid contents of the vial so that the fluid specimen contained within the vial can be transferred via the lower and upper side openings of the probe into the opening of the needle and into the chamber of the syringe.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the tubular member mounted within the housing and containing the pair of communicated openings is provided within an internal enlarged hermetically sealed chamber, said chamber being provided with fluid inlet means, such that an upper opening within the hollow probe, which is fitted and traversable within the said first axial opening of the tubular member, and a lower probe opening are in communication via the opening through the hollow probe, at such time the upper probe opening is located within said chamber a pressurized fluid can be transmitted through the hollow probe to a vial to pressurize the fluid specimen contained therein for transfer via the probe to the needle opening and into the chamber of the syringe.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cylinder-piston unit of the injector feed unit is a double-acting cylinder-piston unit comprising a barrel within which pressurized fluid can be admitted or expelled via inlet-outlet ports located on opposite sides of the area of traverse of the enlarged head affixed upon an end of the piston of the cylinder-piston unit, the probe constitutes the piston of the cylinder-piston unit in that it is directly affixed via one of its terminal ends to an enlarged head and reciprocable therewith when acted upon by ingress and egress of pressurized fluid admitted or expelled via the said inlet-outlet ports to the said first tubular member.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the hermetically sealed chamber is formed between an abutting pair of tubular sections of cylindrical shape, and a tubular shaped bushing is fitted concentrically therein to seal the interface between the abutting upper and lower tubular sections.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the pair of communicated openings of the said tubular member intersect, and are located within the same plane.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for pressurizing the fluid contents of a vial are comprised of An opposed pair of rollers, with projections, which compress the walls of a vial, a vial in this instance being constituted of a flexible material.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for pressurizing the fluid contents of a vial are comprised of the piston of a cylinder-piston unit which compresses the walls of a vial, a vial in this instance being provided with an enclosing wall of fluted cross-section and constituted of a flexible material.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the rearward tubular portion constituting the barrel of said needle syringe comprises a double-acting cylinder piston unit, the piston of which is also the plunger of the forward portion of the syringe.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the rearward tubular portion of said syringe constituting the double-acting cylinder piston unit includes forward and rearward inlet-outlet ports through which pressurized fluid can be admitted to reciprocate the piston.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the rearward tubular portion of said syringe constituting the double-acting cylinder piston unit includes a plunger adjustment assembly comprising an end plug of relative large cross section located within and enclosing the rearward wall of the cylinder-piston unit, and a pair of telescoping members located forward of the enclosing end plug, and means whereby the pair of telescoping sections can be lengthened or shortened in an axial direction along the length of the rearward tubular portion of the syringe such that the distance within which the plunger of the double-acting cylinder piston unit is free to travel can be preset, as desired.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the end plug is tubular and provided with an externally threaded projection, threadably engaged to internal threads located within the rearward wall of the cylinder piston unit, and the telescoping members include a rotatable member, of tubular design, mounted within the axial opening thereof and is internally threaded, and a shaft provided with the enlarged forward head is externally threaded and threadably engaged within the rotatable tubular member such that rotation of the rotatable member provides the telescoping action which lengthens or shortens the distance that the plunger is free to travel.