Automated sampling method for medical diagnostic instrument

Claim 1

A method for sampling material which is held within a container said method comprising: inserting said container into the large end of an inwardly tapered bore on a holder, detecting the presence and diameter of the container of said material, said container being one of a syringe and a capillary, comparing the diameter to a stored data base to determine whether the container is a syringe or a capillary, and if a syringe what the volume is, withdrawing a sample of said material, wherein said withdrawing is controlled in response to the presence and diameter of said container, said withdrawing comprising, when the container is a syringe, inserting a sampling probe through the small end of said holder bore into said syringe to a depth determined by the volume of said syringe, followed by applying a vacuum to said probe to withdraw the sample therethrough, when the container is a capillary, applying a vacuum to a sampling probe, said sampling probe having been inserted into the small end of the holder bore, and cleaning said holder bore and probe exposed to said material between the withdrawal of subsequent samples, using a cleaning solution, said cleaning comprising, generating reproducible air-liquid microsegments using a T junction connecting an air inlet with at least two pump tubes, a first one of which carries a wash solution and a second one which carries air for the liquid microsegments, allowing the microsegments carried by the second tube to form an air-liquid reproducible mixture, and allowing the air-liquid mixture to form a foam wash in said bore.

Claim 2

A method for sampling material which is held within a container said method comprising: inserting said container into the large end of an inwardly tapered bore on a holder, detecting the presence and diameter of the container of said material, said container being one of a syringe and a capillary, comparing the diameter to a stored data base to determine whether the container is a syringe or a capillary, and if a syringe what the volume is, withdrawing a sample of said material, wherein said withdrawing is controlled in response to the presence and diameter of said container, said withdrawing comprising, when the container is a syringe, inserting a sampling probe through the small end of said holder bore into said syringe to a depth determined by the volume of said syringe, followed by applying a vacuum to said probe to withdraw the sample therethrough, when the container is a capillary, applying a vacuum to a sampling probe, said sampling probe having been inserted into the small end of the holder bore, and cleaning said holder bore and probe exposed to said material between the withdrawal of subsequent samples, using a cleaning solution, said cleaning comprising, generating reproducible air-liquid microsegments using a T junction connecting an air inlet with at least two pump tubes, a first one of which carries a wash solution and a second one which carries air for the liquid microsegments, allowing the microsegments carried by the second tube to form an air-liquid reproducible mixture, and allowing the air-liquid mixture to form a foam wash in said bore.

Claim 3

A method for sampling material which is held within a container said method comprising, detecting the identity and diameter of a container of said material, said container being one or a syringe and capillary, said method for detecting comprising, positioning the container into the larger end of an inwardly tapered bore of a holder, rotating an arm around a pivot point adjacent said holder, and determining an amount of rotation of said arm, said amount of rotation determining the identity and diameter of said container, comparing said diameter to a stored data base to determine whether the container is a syringe of a capillary and if a syringe, what the volume is, withdrawing a sample of said material by inserting a probe into said container and sucking said material from said container through said probe, wherein said inserting is controlled in response to the identity and diameter of said container, said probe being constructed and arranged to sense the presence of, and avoid obstructions in its path, said probe comprising, a flag mounted on a flexible cantilevered beam and a push rod in contact with the flexible beam attached to said probe, and an optical detector for detecting the flag whereby, if a syringe is detected, said probe is inserted into said syringe through the small end of said holder bore to a depth determined by the volume of the syringe, if a capillary is detected, said probe is inserted into the small end of said holder bore, and cleaning said holder bore and probe exposed to said material between the withdrawal of subsequent sample, using a cleaning solution.

Claim 4

A method for sampling material which is held within a container said method comprising, detecting the identity and diameter of a container of said material, said container being one or a syringe and capillary, said method for detecting comprising, positioning the container into the larger end of an inwardly tapered bore of a holder, rotating an arm around a pivot point adjacent said holder, and determining an amount of rotation of said arm, said amount of rotation determining the identity and diameter of said container, comparing said diameter to a stored data base to determine whether the container is a syringe of a capillary and if a syringe, what the volume is, withdrawing a sample of said material by inserting a probe into said container and sucking said material from said container through said probe, wherein said inserting is controlled in response to the identity and diameter of said container, said probe being constructed and arranged to sense the presence of, and avoid obstructions in its path, said probe comprising, a flag mounted on a flexible cantilevered beam and a push rod in contact with the flexible beam attached to said probe, and an optical detector for detecting the flag whereby, if a syringe is detected, said probe is inserted into said syringe through the small end of said holder bore to a depth determined by the volume of the syringe, if a capillary is detected, said probe is inserted into the small end of said holder bore, and cleaning said holder bore and probe exposed to said material between the withdrawal of subsequent sample, using a cleaning solution.

Claim 5

A device for sampling biological materials within a container held by frictional forces in the device comprising, a holder bore having an inwardly tapered bore therethrough for receipt of a container through the large end of the bore, a rotating arm for detecting the identity and diameter of a container of a material adjacent to the holder, a means for detecting the rotation of said arm and comparing to a data base to determine the identity of the container, a sampling probe adjacent the small end of said bore and means for inserting said probe into the bore for withdrawing a sample of the material, wherein said insertion means is controlled in response to the identity and diameter of said container, said probe being constructed and arranged to sense the presence of, and avoid obstructions in its path, said probe comprising a flag mounted on a flexible cantilevered beam, a push rod in contact with the flexible beam attached to said probe, and an optical detector for detecting the flag, and a means for cleaning said holder bore and probe exposed to the material between the withdrawal of subsequent samples wherein a cleaning solution is contained within the cleaning means.

Claim 6

A device for sampling biological materials within a container held by frictional forces in the device comprising, a holder bore having an inwardly tapered bore therethrough for receipt of a container through the large end of the bore, a rotating arm for detecting the identity and diameter of a container of a material adjacent to the holder, a means for detecting the rotation of said arm and comparing to a data base to determine the identity of the container, a sampling probe adjacent the small end of said bore and means for inserting said probe into the bore for withdrawing a sample of the material, wherein said insertion means is controlled in response to the identity and diameter of said container, said probe being constructed and arranged to sense the presence of, and avoid obstructions in its path, said probe comprising a flag mounted on a flexible cantilevered beam, a push rod in contact with the flexible beam attached to said probe, and an optical detector for detecting the flag, and a means for cleaning said holder bore and probe exposed to the material between the withdrawal of subsequent samples wherein a cleaning solution is contained within the cleaning means.