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US 6,318,191 B1Granted
Fluid sample testing system
AssigneeChen & Chen, LLC
InventorShuqi Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sample testing system has a chamber sealing, apparatus adapted to receive a chamber containing a fluid sample material and to seal portions of a chamber into segments. A reagent injector cartridge actuator is adapted to receive a reagent injector cartridge having at least one needle in fluid communication with a reagent reservoir, and to move a reagent injector cartridge to inject a quantity of reagent into a segment of a chamber. In certain preferred embodiments, a flow control device induces a flow of sample in a segment. A sensor generates a signal corresponding to a condition of the mixture.
Claims33
A sample testing system comprising, in combination:
- a chamber sealing apparatus to form a plurality of seals defining a plurality of fluid-tight segments of the chamber;
- a reagent injector cartridge actuator adapted to receive a reagent injector cartridge having at least one needle in fluid communication with a reagent reservoir, and to move a reagent injector cartridge to inject a quantity of reagent into a segment of a chamber;
- a flow control device comprising at least one contact member movable into contact with a segment of a chamber to effect mechanically induced fluid flow within a flow passageway in a segment of a chamber;
- and
- a sensor to generate an output signal corresponding to a condition of a fluid sample material within a segment of a chamber.
2 more elements
A sample testing system comprising, in combination:
- tube sealing apparatus having a tube compression and sealing member to laterally seal a flexible plastic tube containing a fluid sample material, whereby a fluid-tight tubule containing a portion of the fluid sample material can be formed between axially spaced lateral seals;
- the tube sealing apparatus comprising a first sealing head comprising the tube compression and sealing member;
- and a second sealing head, at least one of the first and second sealing heads being movable toward the other of the sealing heads to compress a section of flexible plastic tube positioned between the first and second sealing heads to create a sample-free zone in the tube, wherein the tube compression and sealing member is operatively connected to a power source to heat a sealing zone of tube located in the sample-free zone to form a fluid-tight lateral seal in the tube;
- a reagent injector cartridge actuator adapted to receive a reagent injector cartridge having at least one needle in fluid communication with a reagent reservoir, and to move a reagent injector cartridge to inject a quantity of reagent into a fluid-tight tubule;
- and
- a sensor to generate an output signal corresponding to a condition of a fluid sample material within a fluid-tight tubule.
3 more elements
A sample testing system comprising, in combination:
- a chamber sealing apparatus to form a plurality of seals defining a plurality of fluid-tight segments of the chamber;
- a reagent injector cartridge actuator adapted to receive a reagent injector cartridge having at least one needle in fluid communication with a reagent reservoir, and to move a reagent injector cartridge to inject a quantity of reagent into a segment of a chamber;
- a sensor to generate an output signal corresponding to a condition of a fluid sample material within a segment of a chamber;
- a pair of electrodes adapted to have a predetermined voltage difference, and
- an electrode actuator to insert the pair of electrodes into a segment of a chamber, wherein the sensor is responsive to electrophoretic light emitted from within a segment of a chamber.
2 more elements
A sample testing system comprising, in combination:
- a chamber sealing apparatus to form a plurality of seals defining a plurality of fluid-tight segments of the chamber;
- a segment of the chamber including a coating on an outside surface of the segment to increase the transmission of light through the segment;
- a reagent injector cartridge actuator adapted to receive a reagent injector cartridge having at least one needle in fluid communication with a reagent reservoir, and to move a reagent injector cartridge to inject a quantity of reagent into a segment of a chamber;
- and
- a sensor to generate an output signal corresponding to a condition of a fluid sample material within a segment of a chamber.
2 more elements
A sample testing system comprising, in combination:
- a chamber sealing apparatus to form a plurality of seals defining a plurality of fluid-tight segments of the chamber;
- a reagent injector cartridge actuator adapted to receive a reagent injector cartridge having at least one needle in fluid communication with a reagent reservoir, and to move a reagent injector cartridge to inject a quantity of reagent into a segment of a chamber;
- an incubation chamber to retain a segment of a chamber for a predetermined period of time;
- and
- a sensor to generate an output signal corresponding to a condition of a fluid sample material within a segment of a chamber.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.