Telescoping closed-tube sampling assembly

• US 20060263250A1
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Instrumentation Lab Co (Instrumentation Lab)
• Original Assignee: Instrumentation Lab Co (Instrumentation Lab)
• Inventors: Murphy, Gregory, Weeks, Alan, Mackenzie, Diana, Kobrenski, Daniel, Blouin, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/021 Pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1006 Rinsing only the inside of the tip
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1004 Cleaning sample transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1011 Control of the position or alignment of the transfer device
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A clinical diagnostic sample analyzer for analyzing a sample of a patient is disclosed. The analyzer includes a telescoping closed-tube sampling assembly with a sample probe concentrically housed within a piercing probe and a venting mechanism. The closed-tube sampling assembly is used for aspirating a sample from a sample tube for analysis by a clinical diagnostic sample analyzer.

Claims

1. A clinical diagnostic analyzer comprising:

an apparatus for sampling fluid in a container, said apparatus comprising,

a first non-perforated tube reciprocally movable in a vertical axis comprising a lumen, a piercing end and another end in communication with a conduit,

a second non-perforated tube comprising a lumen and a free end, said second tube inseparable during sampling from said lumen of said first tube and at least partially housed within the lumen of said first tube, wherein said free end transitions from an enclosed position within the lumen of said first tube to a deployed position beyond said piercing end of said first tube, and

at least one of said first or said second tubes is axially moveable relative to the other,

wherein said second tube samples fluid in said container when said free end of said second tube is deployed relative to said piercing end of said first tube.

2. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein said piercing end of said first tube is beveled and cut at an angle to reveal an elliptical cross section.

3. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein said first tube and said second tube move simultaneously.

4. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein said second tube is stationary and said first tube moves relative to said second tube.

5. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 further comprising a spring wherein the spring is operatively joined to the first tube to effect movement of the first tube.

6. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein said first tube further comprises a plurality of detents.

7. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein a sensor system engaged by a member contacting the sample tube determines when a sample tube is in position for piercing and sampling.

8. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 7 wherein said member comprises a foot assembly comprising a through hole.

9. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is coupled to a first carriage assembly to permit movement of said apparatus in a first axis.

10. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 9 wherein said first carriage assembly is coupled to a second carriage assembly to permit movement of said apparatus in a second axis.

11. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 further comprising a washing station comprising a washing container, a radial rinser, a filter, and a gas jet.

12. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 further comprising a pressurized gas source in communication with the lumen of said first tube for purging residual fluid or debris in the lumen.

13. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 11 wherein said filter is disposed within said washing container.

14. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein the second tube is coupled to an assembly for passing fluid through the lumen of said second tube.

15. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein said first tube is coupled to an assembly for passing a fluid or a gas through the lumen of said first tube.

16. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 further comprising an air purge system comprising a tube with an orifice positioned adjacent the tip of said first tube, said air purge system operatively joined to a gas source.

17. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein the first tube is stationary and the second tube moves relative to the first tube.

18. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 16 further comprising a motor wherein the motor is operatively joined to the second tube.

19. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein said first tube is operatively joined to a sensor to detect contact of said first tube with a fluid or a solid.

20. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 where said second tube is operatively joined to a sensor to detect contact of said second tube with a fluid or a solid.

21. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 wherein said first tube and said second tube are joined by a circuit to prevent signal of false detection of the other tube.

22. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 further comprising a foot for stripping the container from the first tube.

23. The clinical diagnostic analyzer of claim 1 further comprising a rinser comprising a plurality of radially arranged rinser ports.

24. A sample collecting device for sampling a body fluid in a sample tube comprising:

(a) a piercing tube comprising a lumen;

(b) a sample aspirating probe;

(c) a positive pressure gas source for generating positive gas pressure; and

(d) a valve operatively connecting the piercing tube, the valve comprising an open position and a closed position,

wherein said positive gas pressure generated by said positive pressure gas source purges said piercing tube lumen when said valve is in said open position.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the piercing tube further comprises a free end.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein the free end is a cutting end.

27. The device of claim 25 wherein the free end is beveled.

28. The device of claim 25 wherein the free end is chamfered.

29. The device of claim 24 wherein said sample aspirating probe is disposed within said lumen.

30. The device of claim 24 wherein the sample aspirating probe and the piercing tube are selectively moveable relative to one another.

31. The device of claim 24 wherein the valve is a two-way valve.

32. The device of claim 31 further comprising a second two-way valve.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein the first valve and the second valve are connected in parallel.

34. The device of claim 32 wherein the first valve is operatively joined to said positive pressure gas source, the second valve is operatively joined to room air at atmospheric pressure, and the first and second valves are operatively joined to the piercer tube.

35. The device of claim 24 wherein the valve is a three-way valve.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the three way valve is operatively joined to said piercing tube, to said positive pressure gas source, and to room air at atmospheric pressure.

37. The device of claim 24 further comprising an accumulator.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein the accumulator is operatively joined to said valve and to said positive pressure gas source to increase volume of gas flow when the valve is in the open position.

39. The device of claim 37 wherein the accumulator is pressurized from 25 PSIA to 30 PSIA.

40. The device of claim 39 wherein the accumulator is pressurized from 27 PSIA to 28 PSIA.

41. The device of claim 24 further comprising a gas pressure sensor.

42. The device of claim 41 wherein the gas pressure sensor is operatively joined to the positive pressure gas source.

43. The device of claim 24 further comprising a washing station.

44. The device of claim 25 wherein the internal edges of the free end are rounded.

45. The device of claim 24 further comprising a three-axis translational movement rack.

46. The device of claim 43 wherein the washing station houses a replaceable filter for removal of debris from purging of the piercing tube.

47. The device of claim 43 further comprising a spray rinser with multiple holes arranged radially to spray the external surfaces of the piercing tube.

48. The device of claim 43 further comprising a spray rinser with multiple holes arranged radially to spray the external surfaces of the sample aspirating probe.

49. The device of claim 35 further comprising a second three-way valve.

50. The device of claim 35 wherein the first valve and second valve are connected in series.

51. A method for flushing a sample collecting assembly, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a piercing tube comprising a lumen, a valve operatively joined to the piercing tube, the valve comprising an open position and a closed position, a positive pressure gas source for generating positive gas pressure, operatively joined to the valve and a sample tube, wherein said sample tube is axially disposed in the lumen of said piercing tube;

(b) placing said valve in said closed position;

(c) operating said positive pressure gas source to generate a positive gas pressure;

(d) switching said valve from said closed position to said open position; and

(d) releasing said positive pressure gas into said lumen;

wherein said positive gas pressure flushes said tube lumen.