Automated plunger-based sample/buffer mixing assembly

A method of buffering a sample, comprising:

• dispensing said sample into a mixing chamber via a sample port by moving a sample dispense plunger in fluid communication with said mixing chamber;
• dispensing buffer into said mixing chamber via a buffer port by moving a buffer dispense plunger in fluid communication with said mixing chamber;
• and
• mixing said sample with said buffer into said mixing chamber to form a buffered sample solution.

A sample/buffer mixing assembly, comprising:

• a sample collection chamber containing sample;
• a buffer chamber containing buffer;
• a mixing chamber comprising a buffer port in fluid communication with said buffer chamber, a sample port in fluid communication with said sample collection chamber, a dispense port;
• a buffer dispense plunger disposed within said buffer chamber and being movable to dispense said buffer from said buffer chamber into said mixing chamber via said buffer port;
• a sample dispense plunger disposed within said mixing chamber and being movable to dispense said sample from said sample collection chamber into said mixing chamber via said sample port, wherein a buffered sample solution is formed;
• and
• buffered sample dispense plunger disposed within said mixing chamber between said buffer and sample dispense plungers and being movable to dispense said buffered sample solution from said mixing chamber via said dispense port.

A method of mixing a buffer and a sample using a buffer chamber, sample collection chamber, and mixing chambers, said buffer and sample collection chambers being in fluid communication with said mixing chamber via respective buffer and sample ports, said mixing chamber comprising a dispense port, the method comprising:

• storing said sample in said sample collection chamber;
• storing said buffer in said buffer chamber;
• moving a sample dispense plunger within said mixing chamber away from said sample port to dispense said sample from said sample collection chamber into said mixing chamber,
• moving a buffer dispense plunger within said buffer chamber towards said buffer port to dispense said buffer from said buffer chamber into said mixing chamber, wherein said buffer and sample form a buffered sample solution;
• and
• moving buffered sample dispense plunger within said mixing chamber towards said dispense port to dispense said buffered sample solution from said mixing chamber out through said dispense port.

A mixing assembly, comprising:

• a first chamber containing said first solution;
• a second chamber containing said second solution;
• a third chamber comprising a first port in fluid communication with said first chamber, a second port in fluid communication with said second chamber, a third port;
• a first plunger disposed within said first chamber and being movable to dispense said first solution from said first chamber into said third chamber via said first port;
• a second plunger disposed within said third chamber and being movable to dispense said second solution from said second chamber into said third chamber via said second port, wherein a fluid mixture is formed;
• and
• a third plunger disposed within said third chamber between said first and second plungers and being movable to dispense said fluid mixture from said third chamber via said third port.

A method of mixing first and second fluids using first, second, and third chambers, said first and second chambers being in fluid communication with said third chamber via respective first and second ports, said third chamber comprising a third port, the method comprising:

• storing said first fluid in said first chamber;
• storing said second fluid in said second chamber;
• moving a first plunger within said first chamber towards said first port to dispense said first solution from said first chamber into said third chamber;
• moving a second plunger within said third chamber away from said second port to dispense said second solution from said second chamber into said third chamber, wherein said first and second fluids form a fluid mixture;
• and
• moving a third plunger within said third chamber towards said third port to dispense said fluid mixture from said third chamber out through said third port.