Patent US3916157A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3916157A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Specimen carrier
Assignee: MMBI Inc
•
Filing: 1972-08-16
•
Granted: 1975-10-28
•
Expires: 1992-08-16
Abstract
Abstract The specification describes a carrier for test tubes or other containers that will keep the specimen together with its identification from the time the specimen is taken until the final results are obtained. The carrier is adapted to be handled automatically in conjunction with an analytic instrument and to provide for readout of identification and results from the analytic instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Roulette
- 👤 Martin J Salwen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/00584; G01N35/00722; G01N35/00732; G01N35/02; G01N35/021; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/04; G06K7/00; G01N2035/00742; G01N2035/00762; G01N2035/00772; G01N35/04; G01N2035/0401; G01N2035/0406; G01N2035/0412; G01N2035/0413; G01N2035/0474; G01N2035/0482; G01N2035/0486
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A reusable carrier for use in coupling a medical sample to be analyzed with an identification code while conducting said analysis, comprising, a. a stable base member, b. support means extending upwardly from said base member to support a separate test tube container in an upright position, said test tube containing said sample to be analyzed, said support means providing structural support for said test tube while the sample in said test tube is being analyzed, c. means for receiving and displaying a separate coded identification marker at the time said test tube and said sample are placed in said carrier, d. transmission means mounted on said carrier to engage a corresponding transmission means in an automatic analyzer, said transmission means being adapted to transport the carrier and its container from station to station during analysis, said transmission means comprising a rack and guide means, said rack adapted to be engaged by transmission means in a control station to transport the carrier and its container from station to station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A reusable carrier for use in coupling a medical sample to be analyzed with an identification code while conducting said analysis, comprising, a. a stable base member, b. support means extending upwardly from said base member to support a separate test tube container in an upright position, said test tube containing said sample to be analyzed, said support means providing structural support for said test tube while the sample in said test tube is being analyzed, c. means for receiving and displaying a separate coded identification marker at the time said test tube and said sample are placed in said carrier, d. transmission means mounted on said carrier to engage a corresponding transmission means in an automatic analyzer, said transmission means being adapted to transport the carrier and its container from station to station during analysis, said transmission means comprising a rack and guide means, said rack adapted to be engaged by transmission means in a control station to transport the carrier and its container from station to station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A reusable carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carrier base member defines an elevator opening to enable an elevator operated by said automatic analyzer to raise the container to a predetermined height.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
A carrier train comprising: a. at least two carriers each of said carriers having a stable base member, support means extended upwardly from the base member to support a separate test tube container in an upright position, said test tube containing a sample to be analyzed, said support means providing structural support for said test tube while the sample of said test tube is being analyzed and means for receiving and displaying a separate coded identification marker at the time said test tube and said sample are placed in said carrier, b. coupling means for joining said carriers together, said coupling means comprising an upper spring clip which engages upper openings defined by said carriers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
A carrier train comprising: a. at least two carriers each of said carriers having a stable base member, support means extended upwardly from the base member to support a separate test tube container in an upright position, said test tube containing a sample to be analyzed, said support means providing structural support for said test tube while the sample of said test tube is being analyzed and means for receiving and displaying a separate coded identification marker at the time said test tube and said sample are placed in said carrier, b. coupling means for joining said carriers together, said coupling means comprising an upper spring clip which engages upper openings defined by said carriers.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
205 words
A method of coupling a medical sample to be analyzed with a coded identification means while conducting a plurality of analyses comprising a. drawing and placing a bulk sample to be analyzed in a container at a first location near a medical patient. b. preparing a coded means for identifying said bulk sample to be analyzed at a first location near a medical patient, c. inserting both the container and the coded means for identification into a carrier adapted to support said container, said identification means being mounted to identify both the sample and the carrier at the time said bulk sample is taken at a first location near a medical patient, d. transporting said bulk sample, container, carrier, and identification to a plurality of locations for conducting a plurality of analyses, said sample, container, carrier and identification remaining together from the first location through the completion of the last of said analyses at said second location, e. sipping discrete samples from said bulk sample for automatic analysis, said bulk sample remaining in its original container through the completion of the last of said analyses at said second location, f. Combining the results of said automatic analyses and the identification carried by said coded means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
205 words
A method of coupling a medical sample to be analyzed with a coded identification means while conducting a plurality of analyses comprising a. drawing and placing a bulk sample to be analyzed in a container at a first location near a medical patient. b. preparing a coded means for identifying said bulk sample to be analyzed at a first location near a medical patient, c. inserting both the container and the coded means for identification into a carrier adapted to support said container, said identification means being mounted to identify both the sample and the carrier at the time said bulk sample is taken at a first location near a medical patient, d. transporting said bulk sample, container, carrier, and identification to a plurality of locations for conducting a plurality of analyses, said sample, container, carrier and identification remaining together from the first location through the completion of the last of said analyses at said second location, e. sipping discrete samples from said bulk sample for automatic analysis, said bulk sample remaining in its original container through the completion of the last of said analyses at said second location, f. Combining the results of said automatic analyses and the identification carried by said coded means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises reading said coded identification by optical scanning, wherein said identification is coded on said marker.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises reading said coded identification by magnetic sensing, wherein said identification comprises at least one permeable character.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises reading said coded identification by punch card indicia wherein said identification is punch coded on said marker.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises transporting said carrier from station to station by a transmission means and guide means molded on said carrier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises elevating said container to a predetermined height to enable the automatic processing machinery to sip discrete samples from the bulk sample.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises recording the identification carried by said identification marker in a central memory bank for reference in separate analysis operations and separate printouts of test results, medical histories, and customer bills.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises centrifuging the bulk sample in the container, after said container has been placed in said carrier and identified but before said automatic analysis is begun.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of conducting an analysis as claimed in claim 4 which further comprises optically analyzing said bulk sample by projecting an optically deformable beam through an opening defined in said carrier, said beam passing through the container and said bulk sample.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
164 words
A reusable carrier for use in coupling a medical sample to be analyzed with an identification code while conducting said analysis, comprising a. a stable base member, b. support means extending upwardly from said base member to support a separate test tube container in an upright position, said test tube containing said sample to be analyzed, said support means providing structural support for said test tube while the sample in said test tube is being analyzed, c. said support means defining at least one opening in said carrier imMediately adjacent said test tube to enable an analyzing beam generated externally of said carrier to impinge upon said test tube, d. a planar identification marker for displaying said identification code, said marker identifying said sample from the time it is drawn from a patient to the completion of said analysis, e. guide means for slidably receiving and securing said planar identification marker, said means being defined by the walls of said upwardly extending support means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
164 words
A reusable carrier for use in coupling a medical sample to be analyzed with an identification code while conducting said analysis, comprising a. a stable base member, b. support means extending upwardly from said base member to support a separate test tube container in an upright position, said test tube containing said sample to be analyzed, said support means providing structural support for said test tube while the sample in said test tube is being analyzed, c. said support means defining at least one opening in said carrier imMediately adjacent said test tube to enable an analyzing beam generated externally of said carrier to impinge upon said test tube, d. a planar identification marker for displaying said identification code, said marker identifying said sample from the time it is drawn from a patient to the completion of said analysis, e. guide means for slidably receiving and securing said planar identification marker, said means being defined by the walls of said upwardly extending support means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
A reusable carrier as claimed in claim 13 which further comprises transmission means mounted on said carrier to engage a corresponding transmission means mounted on said carrier to engage a corresponding transmission means in an automatic analyzer, said transmission means being adapted to transport the carrier and its test tube from station to station during analysis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said support means further defines a first and second engaging abutments, said abutments adapted to engage a standard centrifuge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A carrier as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first and second engaging abutments comprise projecting lips extending outwardly from the center axis of said carrier in opposite directions, said lips being mounted on the uppermost portion of the support means to engage a centrifuge trunnion ring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said identification means further comprises at least one optically readable character.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said identification means further comprises at least one magnetically readable character.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said identification means further comprise a surface defining at least one punch coded opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3026764A
Cited
US3320618A
Cited
US3350946A
Cited
US3497320A
Cited
US3565582A
Cited
US3526125A
Cited
US3532470A
Cited
US3571596A
Cited
US3584199A
Cited
US3619568A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |