Patent US2362813A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3948607A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3948607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Transfer system for use in analysis apparatus
Assignee: Applied Biosystems Inc
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Filing: 1974-08-22
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1994-08-22
Abstract
Abstract An automatic transfer system for transferring a reaction sample to a sample cell in analysis apparatus in which a transfer pump draws in slugs of sample separated by slugs of air, the slugs being obtained through a coordinated probe oscillation, bringing a sample slug into the sample cell and holding it there for measurement, the system further including a wash pump for the depositing wash liquid in the sample cup which is also drawn into the system to flush it out between samples.
Inventors
- 👤 John G. Atwood
- 👤 Lucien C. Ducret
- 👤 Hamilton W. Marshall, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N35/1095; G01N35/1097; F; F04; F04B; F04B7/00; F04B7/0042; F04B7/0053; F04B9/00; F04B9/02; F04B9/04; F04B9/042; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of transferring a reaction mixture sample to a photometer sample cell comprising: a. positioning a transfer probe above a reaction cup containing said mixture sample, said probe being flow-coupled in series with the sample of a photometer system; b. applying suction to said photometer cell to create a partial vacuum in said probe using positive displacement means; c. oscillating said probe up and down whereby said probe will alternately draw in slugs of air and slugs of said reaction mixture sample; d. continuing to apply suction to said photometer cell until one slug of said reaction mixture sample is located in and completely fills said photometer cell; e. immobilizing said one slug in said photometer cell while photometrically analyzing same; f. discharging a wash liquid into said cup after said reaction mixture sample has been withdrawn therefrom; g. after completion of step e, appling suction to said photometer cell while continuing oscillation of said probe to draw into said probe and through said photometer cell a plurality of slugs of wash liquid separated by slugs of air; and h. discharging the wash liquid to waste.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of transferring a reaction mixture sample to a photometer sample cell comprising: a. positioning a transfer probe above a reaction cup containing said mixture sample, said probe being flow-coupled in series with the sample of a photometer system; b. applying suction to said photometer cell to create a partial vacuum in said probe using positive displacement means; c. oscillating said probe up and down whereby said probe will alternately draw in slugs of air and slugs of said reaction mixture sample; d. continuing to apply suction to said photometer cell until one slug of said reaction mixture sample is located in and completely fills said photometer cell; e. immobilizing said one slug in said photometer cell while photometrically analyzing same; f. discharging a wash liquid into said cup after said reaction mixture sample has been withdrawn therefrom; g. after completion of step e, appling suction to said photometer cell while continuing oscillation of said probe to draw into said probe and through said photometer cell a plurality of slugs of wash liquid separated by slugs of air; and h. discharging the wash liquid to waste.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 further including the step of bringing said reaction mixture sample to a predetermined temperature during transfer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 further including the step of applying a pressure to said photometer cell momentarily prior to applying suction, to dislodge any material within the photometer cell or probe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus to transfer a reaction mixture sample from a reaction cup to a photometer sample cell comprising: a. a transfer probe; b. conduit means flow-coupling said probe to the sample cell; c. means defining a conduit from said sample cell to an outlet; d. controlled positive displacement means to apply suction to the outlet and thereby create a partial vacuum in said cell and said probe; e. means to oscillate said probe up and down, into and out of the cup to draw in through said probe and cell a plurality of slugs of reaction mixture sample separated by air slugs; f. means for temporarily immobilizing a slug of sample occupying and filling said cell; and g. means to discharge a wash liquid into said cup after said sample has been drawn in and while said probe oscillating means is operative.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus to transfer a reaction mixture sample from a reaction cup to a photometer sample cell comprising: a. a transfer probe; b. conduit means flow-coupling said probe to the sample cell; c. means defining a conduit from said sample cell to an outlet; d. controlled positive displacement means to apply suction to the outlet and thereby create a partial vacuum in said cell and said probe; e. means to oscillate said probe up and down, into and out of the cup to draw in through said probe and cell a plurality of slugs of reaction mixture sample separated by air slugs; f. means for temporarily immobilizing a slug of sample occupying and filling said cell; and g. means to discharge a wash liquid into said cup after said sample has been drawn in and while said probe oscillating means is operative.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said suction applying means comprises: a. a positive displacement transfer pump including a cylinder and a piston, said cylinder having an inlet-outlet port; b. a slide valve including a valve body having a first passage coupled to a waste outlet, a second passage coupled to said cylinder inlet-outlet port and a third passage coupled to said photometer cell, and a slideable valve member containing passage means therein for coupling said first and second passages when said valve member is in a first position and said second and third passages when said valve member is in a second position; and c. means for driving said piston and said valve member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said probe oscillating means comprise: a. a master piston and cylinder containing hydraulic fluid; b. a slave piston and cylinder flow-coupled to said master cylinder, said slave piston being mechanically coupled to said probe; and c. means to oscillate the piston in said master cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said piston-oscillating means comprise a cam driving the piston of said master cylinder, said apparatus further comprising a rotary shaft mounting said cam and two additional cams respectively constituting said means for driving said transfer pump valve member all of said cams being on a common shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising: a. a spindle valve having a body containing first, second, third and fourth valve ports and a shiftable spindle member for controlling intercommunication among said ports, said spindle member having a first position in which of all said valve ports are isolated from one another and a second position in which the first and third ports are interconnected and the second and fourth are interconnected; b. conduit means connecting the first and second valve ports to a source of hydraulic fluid, the third to the lower end of the master cylinder and the fourth to the upper end of the slave cylinder; c. additional conduit means connecting the upper end of said master cylinder to the lower end of said slave cylinder; d. means resiliently urging said slave piston toward the upper end of the slave cylinder; and e. means for moving said spindle member between said first and second positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means to discharge wash liquid into said cup comprises: a. a wash pump including a cylinder and a piston, said cylinder containing an inlet-outlet port; b. a valve including a valve body containing first, second and third passages and a shiftable valve member controlling the intercommunication of said passages, said member having a first position in which the first and second passages are interconnected and a second position in which the second and third passages are interconnected, said first and second passages being flow-coupled respectively to a source of wash liquid and to said inlet-outlet port of the wash pump cylinder; c. a flow-line leading from said third passage to the cup; and d. means to reciprocate said piston and shift said valve member between its first and second positions.
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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) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |