Unattended liquid sample monitoring and liquid sample storage system
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsJerome A. Helffrich, William G. McBride, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An unattended, self-calibrating, microprocessor controlled, electromechanical liquid sample acquisition, analysis and storage system is contained in a sealed evacuated housing. Liquid is drawn by suction into the sealed evacuated housing where it passes through a microfluidic manifold assembly to be brought into contact with signal producing liquid condition sensors. A marker solution is used to demarcate samples of liquid stored in an evacuated capillary. The microprocessor stores the signals produced by the liquid condition sensors and allows for cross-referencing the stored signals with the stored liquid samples in the capillary.
Claims30
A liquid sample acquisition storage device comprising:
- an evacuated housing, said housing having an inlet in liquid connection with a microfluidic manifold assembly, said microfluidic manifold assembly containing at least one signal producing liquid analyzing sensor;
- a reservoir in liquid connection with said microfluidic manifold assembly;
- a microprocessor assembly having means for both storing the signals obtained from said signal producing liquid analyzing sensor and controlling the flow of a marker solution from a pressurized source of marker solution into the liquid sample;
- and
- at least one capillary for storing liquid samples.
A method for monitoring and storing liquid samples at a remote location comprising the steps of:
- drawing a flow of liquid into a sealed housing by vacuum within the housing;
- directing said flow of liquid through a microfluidic manifold assembly;
- contacting said liquid with at least one signal producing liquid condition sensor;
- storing the signals produced by said at least one signal producing liquid condition sensor in a microprocessor assembly;
- and
- directing said liquid samples and a marker liquid into a capillary.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.