US4871682A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diluent carryover control
Assignee: Baxter Healthcare Corp
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Filing: 1987-10-01
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Granted: 1989-10-03
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Expires: 2007-10-01
Abstract
Abstract An air knife is positioned to direct a stream or blast of air across the tip of a sample probe as it is withdrawn from a cuvette containing a reagent, diluent, and patient sample solution. After the probe is flushed with diluent, the air knife drives any droplets of diluent fluid off the probe tip into the cuvette and thereby prevents contamination or dilution of the sample material in the sample containers.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Mazza
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N35/1004; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/38; G01N35/00584; G01N35/00722; G01N35/00732; G01N2035/00742; G01N2035/00752; G01N35/1009; G01N35/1016; G01N2035/102; G01N2035/1025; G01N35/1081; G01N35/1083; G01N2035/1086; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/113332; Y10T436/114998; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25625
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of avoiding contamination and diluation of sample in the course of analyzing a biological sample where multiple aliquot are taken from the biological sample comprising the steps of: dispensing from the tip end of a tubular sample probe a sample material into a cuvette with a reagent material and diluent to partially fill the cuvette without permitting the sample probe to contact the reagent material; while the tip end of the sample probe remains positioned above the cuvette, flushing the interior of the sample probe after the sample material has been dispensed into the cuvette with an amount of diluent sufficient to adjust the contents of the cuvette to a predetermined volume; withdrawing the sample probe from the cuvette; and directing a stream of air at the sample probe during the withdrawing step such that the tip end of the sample probe passes through the air stream to eject therefrom and into the cuvette any diluent remaining on the tip end.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of avoiding contamination and diluation of sample in the course of analyzing a biological sample where multiple aliquot are taken from the biological sample comprising the steps of: dispensing from the tip end of a tubular sample probe a sample material into a cuvette with a reagent material and diluent to partially fill the cuvette without permitting the sample probe to contact the reagent material; while the tip end of the sample probe remains positioned above the cuvette, flushing the interior of the sample probe after the sample material has been dispensed into the cuvette with an amount of diluent sufficient to adjust the contents of the cuvette to a predetermined volume; withdrawing the sample probe from the cuvette; and directing a stream of air at the sample probe during the withdrawing step such that the tip end of the sample probe passes through the air stream to eject therefrom and into the cuvette any diluent remaining on the tip end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stream of air is directed downwardly and at an angle toward the open end of the cuvette.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the angle between the sample probe and the stream of air directed at the tip and end is approximately 40 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for analyzing liquid biological samples comprising: a container for containing sample material to be analyzed; a cuvette adapted to receive a reagent used for analyzing the sample material; a tubular sample probe having a tip end movable between a first position for withdrawing sample material from said sample container and a second position for dispensing sample material through said tip end into said cuvette; means for moving said sample probe between said first and second positions; means for flushing the interior of said sample probe into said cuvette after sample material has been dispensed therefrom with a diluent to adjust the contents of the cuvette to a predetermined volume; and means for directing a stream of air at the sample probe such that said tip end passes through the steam of air to eject therefrom into said cuvette any diluent remaining thereon before said sample probe returns to the first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for analyzing liquid biological samples comprising: a container for containing sample material to be analyzed; a cuvette adapted to receive a reagent used for analyzing the sample material; a tubular sample probe having a tip end movable between a first position for withdrawing sample material from said sample container and a second position for dispensing sample material through said tip end into said cuvette; means for moving said sample probe between said first and second positions; means for flushing the interior of said sample probe into said cuvette after sample material has been dispensed therefrom with a diluent to adjust the contents of the cuvette to a predetermined volume; and means for directing a stream of air at the sample probe such that said tip end passes through the steam of air to eject therefrom into said cuvette any diluent remaining thereon before said sample probe returns to the first position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said directing means is a nozzle having a longitudinal axis directed downwardly and at an angle toward the open end of said cuvette.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for analyzing liquid biological samples comprising: a cuvette adapted to receive a reagent used for analyzing the sample material; a tubular sample probe having a tip end movable between a first position for withdrawing sample material from a sample container and a second position for dispensing sample material through said tip end into said cuvette; means for moving said sample probe between said first and second positions means for flushing the interior of said sample probe after sample material has been dispensed therefrom and while said tip end remains positioned above the cuvette with a diluent to adjust the contents of the cuvette to a predetermined volume; and means for directing a stream of air at said sample probe such that said tip end of said sample probe passes through said steam of air to eject therefrom any diluent remaining thereon while said tip end remains positioned above the cuvette.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus for analyzing liquid biological samples comprising: a cuvette adapted to receive a reagent used for analyzing the sample material; a tubular sample probe having a tip end movable between a first position for withdrawing sample material from a sample container and a second position for dispensing sample material through said tip end into said cuvette; means for moving said sample probe between said first and second positions means for flushing the interior of said sample probe after sample material has been dispensed therefrom and while said tip end remains positioned above the cuvette with a diluent to adjust the contents of the cuvette to a predetermined volume; and means for directing a stream of air at said sample probe such that said tip end of said sample probe passes through said steam of air to eject therefrom any diluent remaining thereon while said tip end remains positioned above the cuvette.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said directing means is a nozzle having a longitudinal axis directed at the open end of the cuvette.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the longitudinal axis of said nozzle is directed downwardly and at an angle toward the open end of the cuvette.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said nozzle has means defining an opening of elliptical shape whose major axis is substantially horizontal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including transport means for moving said tip end of said sample probe between a first position for withdrawing sample material from a sample container and a second position for dispensing sample material into the cuvette.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4610170A
Cited
US4574850A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-02 | 1993-04-03 | 1993-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-02 | 1997-04-03 | 1997-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-02 | 2001-04-03 | 2001-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |