Non-destructive measurement, dispense, and replication of density gradients
AssigneeBeckman Coulter, Inc.
InventorsLarry Wayne MCINTYRE, Matthew Aaron HALSMER, Steven Adam KIBLER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system performs a non-destructive measurement of a density gradient to automatically replicate and dispense the density gradient. The system obtains measurements at points along a length of the density gradient and generates a profile of the density gradient based on the measurements. The system uses the profile to replicate the density gradient of components in a second container. The system inserts a distal end of a probe into the second container, and pumps separate components into a manifold and mixing chamber connected to a proximal end of the probe to automatically dispense the density gradient in the second container.
Claims22
A system for automatically dispensing a density gradient of components for use in centrifugation, the system comprising:
- a processing circuitry having a memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to:
- insert a distal end of a probe into a container;
- pump separate components into a mixing chamber connected to a proximal end of the probe, the mixing chamber generating a mixture of the separate components;
- dispense a plurality of steps into the container, each step of the plurality of steps having a density based on relative concentrations of the separate components in the mixture generated by the mixing chamber, and each step of the plurality of steps pushing a previously dispensed step away from the distal end of the probe;
- dispense a first step of the plurality of steps at a maximum dispense speed;
- adjust a dispense speed for each step of the plurality of steps following the first step;
- and
- remove the probe from the container without disturbing the plurality of steps.
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A method for automatically dispensing a density gradient of components for use in centrifugation, the method comprising:
- inserting a distal end of a probe into a container;
- dispensing a first step of a plurality of steps into the container, the first step being dispensed at a maximum dispense speed;
- dispensing additional steps of the plurality of steps into the container, each additional step being dispensed starting at a minimum dispense speed, and then increasing from the minimum dispense speed to the maximum dispense speed, each additional step of the plurality of steps having a density higher than densities of previously dispensed steps of the plurality of steps causing the previously dispensed steps to move away from the distal end of the probe;
- and
- removing the probe from the container without disturbing the plurality of steps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.