Phase-modulated standing wave mixing apparatus and methods
AssigneeSiemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
InventorsStephen Krufka, Antoine Haddad, Jeffrey Taylor
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Abstract
Disclosed are mixing apparatus adapted to provide mixing of components in an automated analyzer. The mixing apparatus includes a reservoir configured to contain a coupling liquid, a transducer configured to be driven at a frequency and communicate with the coupling liquid, and a signal generation unit configured to provide a phase modulatable drive signal to the transducer. In some embodiments, improved patient sample and reagent mixing may be provided. Systems and methods are provided, as are other aspects.
Claims20
A sonic mixing apparatus, comprising:
- a reservoir configured to contain a coupling liquid;
- a transducer configured to be driven at a frequency and communicate with the coupling liquid;
- and
- a signal generation unit configured to provide a phase modulatable drive signal to the transducer.
A method of mixing components, comprising:
- providing a reaction vessel including the components to be mixed;
- providing a drive signal to a transducer to produce vibrations at a desired frequency resulting in standing waves in the reaction vessel;
- and
- phase modulating the drive signal to move the standing waves and promote mixing of the components.
An analyzer apparatus, comprising:
- an annular reservoir configured to contain a coupling liquid;
- a transducer configured to be driven at a frequency and communicate with the coupling liquid;
- a carrier member configured to suspend reaction vessels containing components to be mixed in the coupling liquid;
- and
- a signal generation unit configured to provide a phase modulatable drive signal to the transducer to produce moving standing waves in the components to be mixed in at least one of the suspend reaction vessels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.