# US 2019/0376993 A1 · Apparatus for removing liquid contents of a container

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- Number: US 2019/0376993 A1
- Document ID: US20190376993A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/551,163
- Filed: 2019-08-26
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-01
- Assignees: Abbott Laboratories
- Applicants: Abbott Laboratories
- Inventors: Roger W. Accurso
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376993A1

## CPC

- G01N 35/1002: {Reagent dispensers}
- B01L 3/523: {with means for closing or opening}
- B01L 3/527: {for a plurality of reagents}
- B01L 13/02: {for receptacle or instruments}
- G01N 1/28: Preparing specimens for investigation {including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q}(mounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 {; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00})
- G01N 35/1079: {with means for piercing stoppers or septums}
- B01L 2200/025: Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
- B01L 2200/04: Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs
- B01L 2300/042: Caps; Plugs
- B01L 2300/049: Valves integrated in closure
- B01L 2300/0672: Integrated piercing tool
- G01N 2035/1025: {Fluid level sensing}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

## Abstract

Cradles for draining liquid from containers are described herein. An example apparatus includes a housing having a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top. The housing is to receive a container having liquid. The example apparatus includes a probe extending upward from the bottom wall toward the open top and is to drain the liquid from the container when the probe is inserted into the container. The example apparatus also includes a sliding lock slidably disposed within the housing that receives a cap or top of the container when the container is inserted into the housing. The sliding lock includes a key slot. The sliding lock is movable when a cap or top of the container has a matching key that engages the key slot, which enables the sliding lock to move downward to expose the probe and drain the liquid from the container.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A diagnostic analyzer comprising:
a first cradle fluidly coupled to a tank, the first cradle to receive a first container, the first cradle having a first sliding lock with a first key slot, the first key slot shaped to receive a first key on the first container or a first cap of the first container, such that, when the first container with the first key is inserted into the first cradle, the first cradle drains liquid from the first container to the tank; and
a second cradle to receive a second container, the second cradle having a second sliding lock with a second key slot different than the first key slot, the second key slot shaped to receive a second key on the second container or a second cap of the second container, such that, when the second container with the second key is inserted into the second cradle, the second cradle drains liquid from the second container.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 1, further including:
a chassis; and
a drawer movable into and out of the chassis, the first cradle and the second cradle disposed in the drawer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 1, wherein the first key slot is a first ring-shaped slot having a first diameter and the second key slot is a second ring-shaped slot having a second diameter different than the first diameter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 1, wherein the first cradle includes a first liquid level sensor to detect an amount of liquid in the first container when the first container is inserted in the first cradle, and the second cradle includes a second liquid level sensor to detect an amount of liquid in the second container when the second container is inserted in the second cradle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 4, wherein the first cradle includes a first light to illuminate when the first container is empty or the liquid in the first container is below a first threshold, and the second cradle includes a second light to illuminate when the second container is empty or the liquid in the second container is below a second threshold.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 5, wherein the first cradle includes a first release button, the first light disposed within the first release button, and wherein the second cradle includes a second release button, the second light disposed within the second release button.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 6, wherein the first cradle includes a first latch to releasably secure the first container in the first cradle when the first container is inserted into the first cradle, and the second cradle includes a second latch to releasably secure the second container in the second cradle when the second container is inserted into the second cradle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 7, wherein the first cradle includes a third light to illuminate when the first container is fully inserted into first cradle and the first latch is in a locked position, and the second cradle includes a fourth light to illuminate when the second container is fully inserted into the second cradle and the second latch is in a locked position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 8, wherein the third light is disposed in the first release button of the first cradle and the fourth light is disposed in the second release button of the second cradle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 1, wherein the first cradle includes:
a housing having a bottom wall, a side wall, and an open top to receive the first container; and
a probe extending from the bottom wall toward the open top,
wherein the first sliding lock slidably is disposed within the housing, the first sliding lock operable between a locked state in which movement of the first sliding lock is prevented and an unlocked state in which the first sliding lock is movable toward the bottom wall of the housing to enable the probe to be inserted into the first container, the first sliding lock operable in the unlocked state when the first key is inserted into the first key slot.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 10, wherein the first sliding lock includes an opening to receive the probe therethrough when the first sliding lock is moved toward the bottom wall of the housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 10, wherein the first cradle includes a lockout that is movable between a locked position in which the lockout prevents the first sliding lock from moving in the locked state and an unlocked position in which the first sliding lock enables the first sliding lock to move in the unlocked state.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 12, wherein the lockout is disposed between an engagement surface of the first sliding lock and the bottom wall of the housing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 12, wherein the first cradle includes a trigger disposed in the housing below the first sliding lock, the trigger to be engaged by the first key to move the trigger toward the bottom wall of the housing to move the lockout to the unlocked position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 14, wherein the first cradle includes a first spring to bias the trigger away from the bottom wall of the housing and a second spring to bias the first sliding lock away from the bottom wall of the housing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 12, wherein the lockout is movable in an opening formed in the side wall of the housing.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 16, wherein the lockout is a first lockout, further including a second lockout coupled to the side wall of the housing opposite the first lockout.

### Claim 18

A diagnostic analyzer comprising:
a first onboard tank to store a first type of bulk liquid;
a second onboard tank to store a second type of bulk liquid;
a first cradle to receive a first container of liquid of the first type of bulk liquid, the first cradle having a first sliding lock with a first key slot, the first key slot shaped to receive a first key on the first container or a first cap of the first container, such that, when the first container with the first key is inserted into the first cradle, the first cradle fluidly couples the first container and the first onboard tank; and
a second cradle to receive a second container of liquid of the second type of bulk liquid, the second cradle having a second sliding lock with a second key slot different than the first key slot, the second key slot shaped to receive a second key on a second container or a second cap of the second container, such that, when the second container with the second key is inserted into the second cradle, the second cradle fluidly couples the second container and the second onboard tank.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 18, wherein the first cradle includes a first probe and a first barb fluidly coupled to the first probe, the first probe fluidly coupled to the first onboard tank via a first hose between the first barb and the first onboard tank.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The diagnostic analyzer of claim 19, wherein the second cradle includes a second probe and a second barb fluidly coupled to the second probe, the second probe fluidly coupled to the second onboard tank via a second hose between the second barb and the second onboard tank.