公开(公告)号：IT1170658B

公开(公告)日：1987-06-03

申请号：IT4764781

申请日：1981-01-27

Applicant: COULTER ELECTRONICS

Inventor： DRBAL VLADIMIR F ,  GINSBERG GUENTE ,  HODGINS BRUCE ,  RICHARDSON JOHN ANDREW ,  BRITTON TED WALKER ,  GRIMM RICHARD M ,  BELLO ERNESTO ,  RAMIREZ RODRIGUEZ RODOLFO ,  SALTZ IVAN KENNETH ,  COULTER WALLACE H ,  MENA WALTER M

IPC: B01F11/00 ,  G01N35/10 ,  F04B

Abstract: A fluid transfer mechanism (10) for rapidly and accurately picking up or aspirating a fluid quantity or aliquot in one position, moving it to a second position and dispensing the aspirated aliquot. The mechanism can include an arm mounted at one of its ends on a high helix shaft (28) and driven up and down the shaft by a first motor (40) and rotated around the shaft by a second motor (38). The arm includes at its other end a fluid transfer probe (24) which is moved into and out of the fluids to aspirate and dispense the fluids in precise angular locations. The arm may be accelerated and deaccelerated as it is rotated to avoid vibrations and spilling of the fluid from the probe. The probe may include a level sensing structure for sensing when the probe has contacted a fluid surface. The probe can be coupled to an oscillator means (30) to oscillate the probe in a vessel into which the fluid has been dispensed to mix the fluids therein.

公开(公告)号：DE3172933D1

公开(公告)日：1986-01-02

申请号：DE3172933

申请日：1981-01-22

Applicant: COULTER ELECTRONICS

Inventor： GINSBERG GUENTER ,  HODGINS BRUCE

IPC: B65G47/80 ,  B65G47/90 ,  G01N35/00 ,  G01N35/02 ,  G01N35/04 ,  G01N35/10

Abstract: A sample and stat feeding system (10) for sequentially supplying a renewable supply of cuvettes (20) with aliquots of sample liquids in a continuous processing mode. The sample liquids are contained in an annular sample tray (50) having a plurality of sample vessels molded into the tray. The sample containers form two or more annular rows (56, 58) on the outer edge of the tray in which routine samples are maintained in an ordered sequence. Emergency samples (stats) and controls (standards) are maintained in separate auxiliary locations or arrays of locations (54) which may be molded or separate cups placed in tray cavities. A sample pick up mechanism has a pick up probe (36) which is rotated to define an arc across at least substantial portion of the tray (50) and at least one stat location. The tray (50) is rotated to align the sample, stat and control cavities with the arc of the probe. Sample aliquots are picked up and dispensed into the cuvettes (20) in a programed operation sequence, with each sample fluid being related to a particular patient and programed for one or more analytical tests such as measuring the chemical reaction resulting from the addition of one or more reagents from a reagent supply. The program sequencing includes inserting a control aliquot in some of the cuvettes (20) at a predetermined frequency to monitor the accuracy of the machine. When a stat test occurs, the stat is inserted in the tray (50) and the programed sequence is interrupted to load the stat into the reaction vessel. The order of sample locations is not disturbed since the stats and controls are maintained in separate locations. The sample tray (50) preferably wilt be molded of inexpensive material so it may be thrown away after all sample aliquots have been loaded into respective cuvettes for testina.