Particle study device and sample metering means used therein
AssigneeCoulter Electronics, Inc.
InventorWalter R. Hogg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A particle study device includes a sample metering device having an input for receiving a sample of particulate matter, a drain for expelling the sample of particulate matter, an ejection port, and means for trapping a volume of sample within the device. The sample metering device also includes an ejecting device operative to eject a predetermined amount of the trapped sample through the ejecting port. A coupling device coupled to the sample metering device, a source of diluent and the sensing zone in the particle study device, combines the ejected predetermined amount of particulate matter and diluent to form a liquid suspension and couples the liquid suspension to the sensing zone.
Claims34
In a particle study device wherein particulate matter in liquid suspension is passed through a sensing zone the improvement comprising a sample metering means having an input for receiving a sample of particulate matter, a drain for expelling a sample of particulate matter, an ejection port, and means for trapping a volume of sample therein, said sample metering means further including an ejecting means operative to eject a predetermined amount of said trapped volume of sample through said ejecting port, and coupling means coupled to said sample metering means to, a source of diluent and to said sensing zone for combining said ejected predetermined amount of said trapped sample and diluent to form said liquid suspension and for coupling said liquid suspension to said sensing zone.
A sample metering device for use in a particle study device wherein particulate matter is passed through a sensing zone including in combination, an input for receiving a sample of particulate matter, a drain for expelling the sample of particulate matter, an ejection port and means for trapping a volume of sample therein, said device further including an ejecting means operative to eject a predetermined amount of said trapped sample through said ejecting port.
In a particle study device wherein particulate matter in fluid suspension is passed through a sensing zone the improvement comprising, sample metering means including an accumulation chamber having an input port, an output port and an ejection port, shutoff means coupling said input port to a source of particulate matter and said output port to a drain, said shutoff means being operative in a first position to allow particulate matter to pass through said accumulation chamber from said source to said drain and operative in a second position to trap a volume of said particulate matter within said accumulation chamber, said accumulation chamber having an ejecting means positioned therein including a thermal-expansion device operative in response to a control signal to expand and eject a predetermined amount of said trapped particulate matter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.