US 5,269,918 AGranted

Clinical cartridge apparatus

AssigneeCytyc Corporation

InventorsStanley N. Lapidus, Lewis T. Polk, Jr., Arlen M. O'Lari

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A cartridge-like holder or carrier for automatic operation with a specimen processor has a frame for removable and replaceable alignment in operative engagement with the specimen processor and has multiple supports, each of which removably and replaceably supports an implement such as a container of a biological specimen having cellular particles suspended in a liquid, a filter device for use in collecting cellular particles from the liquid in the sample container, a viewing screen onto which the collected cellular particles can be transferred from the filter device and, further, an output container for receiving the viewing screen with the cellular particles thereon. A transfer mechanism on the apparatus is operable for the automatic transfer of the viewing screen from a support on the frame, where it received the cellular particles, to an output container at a further support on the frame. The cartridge apparatus brings to the specimen processor the sample and all disposable devices, i.e., sample contacting implements, and receives the final prepared specimen and all waste materials and disposables, thereby leaving the processor clean of contact with the sample and operative with successive samples, by way of separate cartridges, without inter-sample cleaning and without risk of inter-sample contamination.

Claims17

Dependent claims

Specimen holding and receiving apparatus for automated operation with specimen processing apparatus, said holding and receiving apparatus comprising

A. frame means for removable and replaceable alignment and operative engagement with specimen processing apparatus and having reference surface means for removable and replaceable positional alignment with the specimen processing apparatus,
B. first support means on said frame means for removably and replaceably supporting a container of a biological specimen having cellular particles suspended in liquid, said first support means normally supporting the container of biological specimen at a selected three-coordinate location relative to said reference surface means,
C. second support means on said frame means for removably and replaceably supporting a specimen receiving implement adapted for receiving cellular particles from the container of the biological specimen, said second support means normally supporting said specimen receiving implement at a selected location relative to said reference surface means, and
D. said frame means and said first and second support means being adapted for removable and replaceable alignment and engagement with the specimen processing apparatus for the removal, by the processing apparatus, of cellular particles from liquid suspension in a container of biological specimen said first support means to a specimen receiving implement at said second support means.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/948,304Filed 21 Sep 1992 · continuation in part
Priority: 9 Jul 1990
Granted: 14 Dec 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G01N 35/0099
Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor:…
G01N 1/2813
Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q: producing thin…
G01N 15/0612
By collecting particles on a support: optical scan of the deposits
G01N 15/0618
By collecting particles on a support: of the filter type