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US 4,475,411 AGranted
Sampling apparatus
AssigneeCoulter Electronics, Inc.
InventorHans Wellerfors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeCoulter Electronics, Inc.
InventorHans Wellerfors
Estimating the term…
Apparatus for taking a sample of liquid from each of a plurality of containers. Blood or similar settling liquids requiring continuous mixing are sampled for subsequent analysis from test tubes closed by rubber or plastic plugs. The test tubes are mounted along the periphery of a rotatable cassette, which is drivingly connected to a motor via gearing, a clutch and a brake, in such a manner, that the cassette rotates in order to maintain the liquids in the test tubes thoroughly mixed. The cassette is capable of stopping instantaneously when the clutch is disengaged. The cassette is locked in accurate position in front of a sampling needle by operation of the brake. The brake operates when a signal from an analysis instrument orders an electronic counter to determine the identity of the test tube to be selected and the cassette is stopped. Immediately, a pneumatic cylinder is operated to lower an arm fixing the selected test tube. A second pneumatic cylinder also is operated to lower the sampling needle to perforate the closure. The sampling needle is lowered to a definite level and, after having arrived at this position, effects a signal to the analysis instrument. Responsive to said signal, a definite liquid amount is drawn through the sampling needle, the needle withdrawn from the tube, the arm lifted, the brake disengaged, the clutch engaged and the cassette resumes its rotation.
Apparatus for taking a sample of liquid from each of a plurality of sealed containers each having pierceable closures, comprising a carrier, container receiving means in said carrier for receiving and holding a plurality of said sealed containers, means on the apparatus for supporting said carrier for rotation about the central axis thereof in a plane generally normal thereto and drive means for said carrier to cause the containers held thereby to follow a defined path to a sampling station disposed along the path and each container being inverted at least once during its movement along said path with movement of the carrier whereby to cause agitation of liquid in the containers, sampling means disposed at the sampling station, means for arresting a container at the sampling station with respect to said sampling means, and means for actuating said sampling means to effect withdrawal of a sample from the container, said sampling means including piercing needle means arranged at said sampling station for selective operation to pierce the closure of the sealed container when the container is stopped at the sampling station whereby to advance said needle means into the container and means for holding the container during withdrawal of sample therefrom.
Apparatus for mixing and sampling for subsequent analysis blood or similar settling liquids requiring continuous mixing in test tubes sealingly closed by pierceable resilient plugs comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.