Sample vials, rack mounts and sampling devices using them
AssigneePerkinElmer Health Sciences Canada, Inc.
InventorHamid Badiei
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Auto sampler rack mounts and fluid vials that can be used with them are described. In some configurations, the rack mount can be configured to spin each fluid vial rotationally to assist in mixing or stirring of fluid in the vial and/or to maintain fluid homogeneity. If desired, the fluid vial may include one or more internal features to assist in the mixing or stirring.
Claims22
An auto sampler rack mount configured to couple to an output shaft of a motor and configured to receive a single fluid vial at each of a plurality of fluid vial sites of the auto sampler rack mount, the auto sampler rack mount comprising a plurality of independent rotatable devices mechanically coupled to each other, wherein a respective rotatable device is coupled to each fluid vial site of the auto sampler rack mount that is configured to receive a single fluid vial, and wherein the rotatable devices together are configured to rotate each coupled fluid vial and are configured to rotate adjacent fluid vials in opposite circumferential directions.
11-15. (canceled)
A method of mixing fluid in a fluid vial prior to sampling of the fluid from the fluid vial, the method comprising rotationally spinning the fluid vial in a first rotational direction for a first rotational period to mix the fluid using an internal mixing feature in the fluid vial, and rotationally spinning the fluid vial in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction for a second rotational period to mix the fluid using the internal mixing feature in the fluid vial.
An auto sampler system comprising a rack mount and motor, wherein the rack mount is configured to receive a single fluid vial at each of a plurality of fluid vial sites, the rack mount comprising a plurality of independent rotatable devices mechanically coupled to each other, wherein at least one of the rotatable devices is coupled to a drive shaft of the motor, wherein a respective rotatable device is coupled to each fluid vial site of the rack mount that is configured to receive a single fluid vial, and wherein the rotatable devices together are configured to rotate each coupled fluid vial in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.
26-40. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.