Universal stripper plate

Claim 1

A universal stripper plate for a hematology analyzer, the analyzer including means for driving the stripper plate and a sample tube including a tube stopper together for piercing, aspirating, and then releasing the sample tube, said universal stripper plate comprising: an elongated stripper plate; a universal button mounted onto a first end of said stripper plate, said universal button including an aspiration passageway formed therethrough and forming an opening in said button at each end of said passageway and including at least two different sized robe stopper bases formed about a substantial peripheral portion of a first one of said aspiration passageway openings, each of said bases accommodating a different sized tube stopper thereon, said first stopper base having a first circumference and a circumferential inclined wall formed at the periphery thereof to provide a first tube guide and alignment structure, and said second stopper base formed with a second circumference smaller than said first circumference and including a second circumferential inclined wall formed substantially between said first stopper base and said second stopper base to provide a second smaller tube guide and alignment structure, said first and second tube guide alignment structures substantially surrounding said first passageway opening; and the analyzer including means for driving the stripper plate and a sample tube including a tube stopper together for piercing, aspirating, and then releasing the sample tube by seating said tube stopper in one of said tube stopper bases.