Back to results
US 12,420,277 B2Granted
Device and method for producing individually processed fluid samples
AssigneeEidgenössische Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz, Eawag
InventorsFrederik Hammes, Hans-Ulrich Weilenmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a continuous fluid sample processing device for producing individually processed fluid samples and a method for producing individually processed fluid samples. Moreover, the invention also relates to the use of the device in corresponding methods, in particular in a method for continuously mixing, incubating and analyzing a fluid sample by flow cytometry.
Claims13
A method for producing individually processed liquid samples, the method comprising the steps:
- (a) providing a liquid sample processing device (20) comprising,
- a syringe plunger pump (13) positioned vertically and including a plunger (21) at the top and an opening (22) at the bottom, forming a plunger displacement space between the plunger (21) and the opening (22), wherein the opening (22) is operably coupled to a multiport pump head (14) that connects the syringe plunger pump (13) to:
- at least one sample inlet (7, 8) connected to at least one liquid sample source (19);
- at least one sample processing inlet (9-12) connected to at least one sample processing liquid source (36);
- at least one gas inlet (5,6);
- and
- at least one outlet (1, 2, 3, 4) for transferring fluids in the syringe plunger pump (13), the at least one outlet (1, 2, 3, 4) including a valve (24, 25, 26, 27) having a closed position and an open position;
- (b) loading at least one liquid sample through the multiport pump head (14) from one or more of the at least one liquid sample source (19) into the syringe plunger pump (13) of the liquid sample processing device (20) from one or more of the at least one liquid sample source (19);
- (c) loading at least one sample processing liquid through the multiport pump head from one or more of the at least one processing liquid source (19) into the syringe plunger pump (13) of the liquid sample processing device (20) from one or more of the sample processing liquid sources (36);
- (d) loading at least one gas bubble through the multiport pump head (14) into the syringe plunger pump (13) of the liquid sample processing device (20) from one or more of the at least one gas inlet (5,6), which floats a bubble through the liquids to the top of the syringe plunger pump (13), thus mixing the liquids in the syringe plunger pump (13) and accumulating at the top;
- and
- (e) transferring, when the valve is in an open position, mixed liquids followed by the gas bubble in the syringe plunger pump (13) through one or more of the at least one outlet (5-12) of the multiport pump head (14).
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.