US4073620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Binder-substrate analyzer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-01-03
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Granted: 1978-02-14
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Expires: 1997-01-03
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for performing binder-substrate processing of clinical substances is disclosed. An operating head is provided which includes an array of upwardly opening receptacles each having a closed bottom. A temperature control element is located in the operating head proximate the receptacles. The operating head also includes a manifold having an influx chamber, an efflux chamber and a plurality of hollow prongs emanating from the influx chamber and through the efflux chamber. The prongs extend downwardly into respective of the receptacles to provide fluid communication between the influx chamber and the interior of the receptacles through the prongs. The efflux chamber is in fluid communication with the open ends of the receptacles to drain fluid therefrom. A solid phase binder is located in the bottoms of the respective receptacles, and may be coated on solid phase elements located in the receptacles or on the receptacles themselves. The solid phase binder is immersed in the clinical substances for incubation by the temperature control element. After incubation of the clinical substances, the operating head is inverted. A washing fluid is injected into the influx chamber of the inverted operating head so that the washing fluid flows upwardly through the prongs to wash excess of the clinical substances from the solid phase binder retained in the receptacles. The washing fluid is drained from the operating head through the efflux chamber. A drying fluid is usually injected into the influx chamber of the inverted operating head so that the drying fluid flows upwardly through the prongs and into the receptacles to dry the solid phase binder and incubated clinical substances adhering thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Gray
- 👤 Raymond E. Stanton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N35/1095; G01N35/1097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
Apparatus for performing binder-substrate processing of clinical substances comprising: an operating head which includes an array of generally upwardly opening receptacles each having a closed bottom, temperature control means proximate the closed bottom of the receptacles, and a manifold having an influx chamber, an efflux chamber and a plurality of hollow prongs emanating from the influx chamber through the efflux chamber and downwardly into respective of the receptacles to provide fluid communication between the influx chamber and the interior of the receptacles through the prongs, said efflux chamber being in fluid communication with the open ends of the receptacles; a solid phase binder located at the bottoms of the respective receptacles, said solid phase binder being immersed in said clinical substances which are incubated in an environment controlled by the temperature control means; means for inverting the operating head after incubation of the clinical substances; and means for injecting a washing fluid into the influx chamber of the inverted operating head so that the washing fluid flows upwardly through the prongs and into the receptacles to wash excess of the clinical substances from the solid phase binder, said washing fluid containing said excess draining into the efflux chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
Apparatus for performing binder-substrate processing of clinical substances comprising: an operating head which includes an array of generally upwardly opening receptacles each having a closed bottom, temperature control means proximate the closed bottom of the receptacles, and a manifold having an influx chamber, an efflux chamber and a plurality of hollow prongs emanating from the influx chamber through the efflux chamber and downwardly into respective of the receptacles to provide fluid communication between the influx chamber and the interior of the receptacles through the prongs, said efflux chamber being in fluid communication with the open ends of the receptacles; a solid phase binder located at the bottoms of the respective receptacles, said solid phase binder being immersed in said clinical substances which are incubated in an environment controlled by the temperature control means; means for inverting the operating head after incubation of the clinical substances; and means for injecting a washing fluid into the influx chamber of the inverted operating head so that the washing fluid flows upwardly through the prongs and into the receptacles to wash excess of the clinical substances from the solid phase binder, said washing fluid containing said excess draining into the efflux chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising means for injecting a drying fluid into the influx chamber of the inverted operating head so that the drying fluid flows upwardly through the prongs and into the receptacles to dry the solid phase elements and incubated clinical substances adhering thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the operating head comprises a base, said temperature control means being located in said base, a rack supporting said upwardly opening receptacles and attachable to said base, and a cover attachable to the base to define said efflux chamber, the influx chamber being located in said cover and the prongs extending from said cover.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said upwardly opening receptacles comprise individual test tubes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the solid phase binder is coated in a bead located in each receptacle, the transverse dimensions of the beads being larger than the annular distance between the prongs and the interior of the receptacles so that the beads are confined in the bottoms of the respective receptacles by the prongs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the temperature control means generally surrounds the closed bottoms of the receptacles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the temperature control means comprises a heating block.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising means for rocking the inverted operating head to facilitate incubation of the clinical substances.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
227 words
Apparatus for performing binder-substrate processing of clinical substances comprising: an operating head which includes a base, a temperature control means located within said base, means in said base for supporting a plurality of upwardly opening receptacles, and a cover attachable to the base to define an efflux chamber in fluid communication with the receptacles, said cover including an influx chamber and a plurality of prongs extending from the influx chamber into the interior of the receptacles to provide fluid communication between the influx chamber and said receptacles; a solid phase binder located at the bottoms of the respective receptacles, said solid phase binder being immersed in said clinical substances which are incubated in an environment controlled by the temperature control means; means for inverting the operating head after incubation of the clinical substances; means for injecting a washing fluid into the influx chamber of the inverted operating head so that the washing fluid flows upwardly through the prongs and into the receptacles to wash excess of the clinical substances from the solid phase binder, said washing fluid containing said excess draining into the efflux chamber; and means for injecting a drying fluid into the influx chamber of the inverted operating head so that the drying fluid flows upwardly through the prongs and into the receptacles to dry the solid phase elements and incubated clinical substances adhering thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
227 words
Apparatus for performing binder-substrate processing of clinical substances comprising: an operating head which includes a base, a temperature control means located within said base, means in said base for supporting a plurality of upwardly opening receptacles, and a cover attachable to the base to define an efflux chamber in fluid communication with the receptacles, said cover including an influx chamber and a plurality of prongs extending from the influx chamber into the interior of the receptacles to provide fluid communication between the influx chamber and said receptacles; a solid phase binder located at the bottoms of the respective receptacles, said solid phase binder being immersed in said clinical substances which are incubated in an environment controlled by the temperature control means; means for inverting the operating head after incubation of the clinical substances; means for injecting a washing fluid into the influx chamber of the inverted operating head so that the washing fluid flows upwardly through the prongs and into the receptacles to wash excess of the clinical substances from the solid phase binder, said washing fluid containing said excess draining into the efflux chamber; and means for injecting a drying fluid into the influx chamber of the inverted operating head so that the drying fluid flows upwardly through the prongs and into the receptacles to dry the solid phase elements and incubated clinical substances adhering thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said upwardly opening receptacles comprise individual test tubes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the solid phase binder is coated in a bead located in each receptacle, the transverse dimensions of the beads being larger than the annular distance between the prongs and the interior of the receptacles so that the beads are confined in the bottoms of the respective receptacles by the prongs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the temperature control means generally surrounds the closed bottoms of the receptacles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 9 and additionally comprising means for rocking the inverted operating head to facilitate incubation of the clinical substances.
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) | 1981-02-13 | 1981-08-15 | 1982-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-13 | 1985-08-15 | 1986-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-13 | 1989-08-15 | 1990-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |