US4815978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clinical analysis methods and systems
Assignee: Baxter Healthcare Corp
•
Filing: 1986-04-30
•
Granted: 1989-03-28
•
Expires: 2006-04-30
Abstract
Abstract An improved and unique mixing technique particularly useful as part of the process for the clinical analysis of liquid biological samples is described. The sample is placed in a cuvette along with a reagent and a diluent. The top (opening) of the cuvette is squeezed (reduced in size) and an air jet is directed against the liquid surface formed in the cuvette adjacent the junction of the liquid surface with the wall of the cuvette to create a vortex to produce thorough mixing of the contents of the cuvette and substantially prevent any splashing of the liquid contents.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Thompson
- 👤 John C. Mazza
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/00584; G01N35/0092; B; B01; B01F; B01F33/00; B01F33/40; B01F33/407; C; C12; C12M; C12M29/00; C12M29/06; G01N35/02; G01N2035/00346; G01N2035/00356; G01N2035/00386; G01N2035/00396; G01N2035/00465; G01N2035/00534; G01N2035/00544; G01N2035/00554; G01N35/00594; G01N35/00613; G01N35/00663; G01N2035/00673; G01N35/00722; G01N35/00732; G01N2035/00742; G01N2035/00752; G01N35/021; G01N2035/023; G01N35/04; G01N2035/0439; G01N2035/0441; G01N2035/0443
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
In a method of mixing materials, at least one of which is a liquid, in a cuvette wherein an air jet is used to agitate the materials sufficiently to cause the materials to mix, the improvement which comprises reducing the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a method of mixing materials, at least one of which is a liquid, in a cuvette wherein an air jet is used to agitate the materials sufficiently to cause the materials to mix, the improvement which comprises reducing the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the opening of the cuvette is reduced by squeezing the top of the cuvette opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said opening of said cuvette is reduced up to about 75 percent of the original opening size.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said air jet is directed at an acute angle against the liquid surface in said cuvette adjacent its junction with the wall of said cuvette.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 including directing said air jet against the meniscus formed at the junction of the liquid surface and the wall of said cuvette.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cuvette is maintained stationary during said mixing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 including directing said air jet from a nozzle arranged outside said cuvette.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of inserting a nozzle from which said air jet is directed into said cuvette to a position above the surface of said liquid and directing said air jet against the liquid surface from said nozzle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said materials comprise a liquid and particulate material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 9 including directing said air jet against the meniscus formed at the junction of the liquid surface and the wall of said cuvette from a fixed nozzle arranged outside said cuvette while maintaining said cuvette stationary.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said materials comprise a biological sample and a reagent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said materials comprise a biological sample, a reagent and a diluent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of analyzing the contents of said cuvette following said mixing step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a method of analyzing materials including a biological sample and a liquid wherein the sample and liquid are dispensed into a cuvette, an air jet is used to mix all materials, and the contents of the cuvette following the mixing are analyzed, the improvement which comprises reducing the size of the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a method of analyzing materials including a biological sample and a liquid wherein the sample and liquid are dispensed into a cuvette, an air jet is used to mix all materials, and the contents of the cuvette following the mixing are analyzed, the improvement which comprises reducing the size of the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said opening of said cuvette is reduced up to about 75 percent of the original opening size.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said materials include a diluent, reagent and liquid biological sample which are mixed in said cuvette.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 16 in which said reagent is a dry particulate reagent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 16 in which the contents following said mixing are analyzed a plurality of times at intervals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said air jet is directed at an acute angle against the liquid surface in said cuvette adjacent its junction with the wall of said cuvette.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the analysis is by photometry.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 including advancing said cuvette beneath a fixed nozzle from which said air jet is directed and maintaining said cuvette stationary while directing said air jet against said liquid surface from outside said cuvette.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 14 including advancing said cuvette into alignment beneath a nozzle from which said air jet is directed, lowering the nozzle into said cuvette above the liquid surface and maintaining said cuvette stationary while directing said air jet against said liquid surface from said nozzle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for mixing materials, at least one of which is a liquid, including means for dispensing said materials into a cuvette through its opening to form a liquid surface in the cuvette, a nozzle means for directing an air jet against the liquid surface so formed in the cuvette so as to agitate said materials sufficiently to cause mixing of said materials, means for reducing the size of the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process, and means for advancing said cuvette from said dispensing means to align it with said nozzle means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for mixing materials, at least one of which is a liquid, including means for dispensing said materials into a cuvette through its opening to form a liquid surface in the cuvette, a nozzle means for directing an air jet against the liquid surface so formed in the cuvette so as to agitate said materials sufficiently to cause mixing of said materials, means for reducing the size of the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process, and means for advancing said cuvette from said dispensing means to align it with said nozzle means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said reducing means squeezes the top of said cuvette opening.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said reducing means reduces said cuvette opening up to about 75 percent of the original opening size.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said nozzle means directs said air jet at an acute angle against said liquid surface adjacent its junction with the wall of said cuvette.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 26 in which said cuvette is partially filled by said dispensing means to a predetermined level and said cuvette is so aligned with said nozzle that said air jet is directed against the meniscus formed at the junction of the liquid surface and a wall of the cuvette.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said reducing means comprises two surfaces between which the portion of said cuvette with said opening passes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for mixing liquid and particulate materials in a cuvette, comprising: means for dispensing at least one liquid and at least one particulate material into the cuvette through its opening to form a liquid surface in the cuvette bound by the wall of the cuvette at a predetermined level in the cuvette; a fixed air jet nozzle for directing an air jet against the liquid surface to mix said materials; means for reducing the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process; and means for advancing the cuvette from the dispensing means into stationary position beneath said air jet nozzle in alignment with said nozzle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for mixing liquid and particulate materials in a cuvette, comprising: means for dispensing at least one liquid and at least one particulate material into the cuvette through its opening to form a liquid surface in the cuvette bound by the wall of the cuvette at a predetermined level in the cuvette; a fixed air jet nozzle for directing an air jet against the liquid surface to mix said materials; means for reducing the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process; and means for advancing the cuvette from the dispensing means into stationary position beneath said air jet nozzle in alignment with said nozzle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for mixing liquid and particulate materials in a cuvette comprising: means for dispensing at least one liquid and at least one particulate material into the cuvette through its opening to partially fill the cuvette and form a liquid surface in the cuvette bound by the wall of the cuvette; an air jet nozzle; means for advancing the cuvette from the dispensing means into stationary position beneath said air jet nozzle; means for lowering said air jet nozzle into the cuvette to position it a predetermined height above said liquid surface in the cuvette, said nozzle to direct an air jet against said liquid surface in the cuvette to mix said materials, and for raising said air jet nozzle out of said cuvette following said mixing; and means for reducing the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for mixing liquid and particulate materials in a cuvette comprising: means for dispensing at least one liquid and at least one particulate material into the cuvette through its opening to partially fill the cuvette and form a liquid surface in the cuvette bound by the wall of the cuvette; an air jet nozzle; means for advancing the cuvette from the dispensing means into stationary position beneath said air jet nozzle; means for lowering said air jet nozzle into the cuvette to position it a predetermined height above said liquid surface in the cuvette, said nozzle to direct an air jet against said liquid surface in the cuvette to mix said materials, and for raising said air jet nozzle out of said cuvette following said mixing; and means for reducing the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for analyzing liquid biological samples comprising the following means and means for advancing a cuvette between said means in order: (a) means for dispensing a reagent and a diluent into the cuvette through its opening and for mixing the reagent and the diluent to disperse the reagent in the diluent; (b) means for adding a liquid biological sample to the cuvette, the quantities of said reagent, diluent and sample dispensed being controlled so that together they partially fill the cuvette and define a liquid surface bound by the wall of the cuvette; (c) nozzle means for directing an air jet against the liquid surface so as to cause mixing of the contents of the cuvette to facilitate reactions of the sample; (d) means for reducing the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process; and (e) means for analyzing the reaction of the reagent with the sample following said mixing.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for analyzing liquid biological samples comprising the following means and means for advancing a cuvette between said means in order: (a) means for dispensing a reagent and a diluent into the cuvette through its opening and for mixing the reagent and the diluent to disperse the reagent in the diluent; (b) means for adding a liquid biological sample to the cuvette, the quantities of said reagent, diluent and sample dispensed being controlled so that together they partially fill the cuvette and define a liquid surface bound by the wall of the cuvette; (c) nozzle means for directing an air jet against the liquid surface so as to cause mixing of the contents of the cuvette to facilitate reactions of the sample; (d) means for reducing the opening of the cuvette during the air jet mixing process; and (e) means for analyzing the reaction of the reagent with the sample following said mixing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2990339A
Cited
US3405920A
Cited
US3398935A
Cited
US3607659A
Cited
US4286637A
Cited
US4338279A
Cited
US4325910A
Cited
US4528159A
Cited
WO1985000357A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-03-27 | 1992-09-26 | 1993-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-27 | 1996-09-26 | 1997-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-27 | 2000-09-26 | 2001-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |