Clinical tester wash and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fluid tester comprising:
- a probe having an interior region and an exterior surface, wherein the sample probe is used to selectively aspirate a fluid into the interior region;
a first wash mechanism coupled to the probe to dispense a wash fluid through the interior region of the probe for a first predetermined period; and
a second wash mechanism located to dispense the wash fluid on the exterior surface of the probe for a second predetermined period, wherein the second predetermined period extends beyond the first predetermined period.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A clinical tester has been described that includes a probe to aspirate a fluid. The probe is washed between aspirations to reduce carryover. The wash operation includes both an internal and an external wash, where the internal wash operation is terminated prior to terminating the external wash. In one embodiment, the probe wash can be implemented on an integrated clinical chemistry/immunoassay tester.
27 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A fluid tester comprising:
-
a probe having an interior region and an exterior surface, wherein the sample probe is used to selectively aspirate a fluid into the interior region;
a first wash mechanism coupled to the probe to dispense a wash fluid through the interior region of the probe for a first predetermined period; and
a second wash mechanism located to dispense the wash fluid on the exterior surface of the probe for a second predetermined period, wherein the second predetermined period extends beyond the first predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A clinical analyzer comprising:
-
a sample probe arm comprising a probe having an interior region and an exterior surface, wherein the probe is used to selectively aspirate a test sample into the interior region;
a sample wash mechanism coupled to the sample probe arm to dispense a sample wash fluid through the interior region of the probe for a first predetermined period; and
a sample wash station to receive the probe and dispense the sample wash fluid on the exterior surface of the probe for a second predetermined period, wherein the second predetermined period extends beyond the first predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A probe cleaning system comprising:
-
a wash pump coupled to dispense a wash fluid through an interior region of the probe for a first predetermined time period; and
a second wash pump located to dispense the wash fluid on an exterior surface of the probe for a second predetermined period, wherein the second predetermined period extends beyond the first predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. A method of cleaning a fluid probe comprising:
-
flushing an interior region of the fluid probe with a wash fluid for X seconds; and
simultaneously flushing an exterior surface of the fluid probe with the wash fluid for Y seconds, wherein Y is greater than X. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of reducing sample carryover in an integrated chemistry and immunoassay analyzer comprising:
-
aspirating a first test sample from a first sample container using a probe;
depositing the first test sample into a reaction vessel;
performing a clinical analysis of the test sample;
washing the probe by pumping a wash fluid through an interior region of the probe and pumping the wash fluid on an exterior of the probe, wherein the pumping of the wash fluid is terminated from the interior region prior to terminating the pumping of the exterior; and
aspirating a second test sample from a second sample container using the probe. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of cleaning a probe comprising:
-
activating a first pump to pump a wash fluid through an interior region of the probe;
activating a second pump to pump the wash fluid onto an exterior region of the probe;
deactivating the first pump after a first predetermined time period; and
deactivating the second pump after a second predetermined time period, wherein the second predetermined time period is longer than the first predetermined time period.
-
-
22. A method of washing a probe comprising:
-
determining an amount of fluid to be aspirated inside the probe; and
selecting an external wash profile in response to the amount of fluid aspirated inside the probe. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
-
-
25. A method of reducing carryover in a clinical tester as a result of external probe contamination comprising:
-
inserting the probe into a fluid;
determining an amount of fluid to be aspirated inside the probe;
dispensing the aspirated fluid;
washing the inside of the probe; and
selecting an external wash profile in response to the amount of fluid aspirated inside the fluid probe, wherein an extended external wash is provided if the amount of fluid aspirated exceeds a pre-determined amount.
-
Specification