Specimen sampling apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for obtaining a sample from a specimen of blood or the like in a closed container at a first pressure and for delivering said sample to an analyzer for analysis, said analyzer having intake means for intake of said specimen sample into the analyzer, said apparatus comprising:
- means for penetrating said closed container, said means having a passage therein with an inlet for entry of a specimen sample into the passage and an outlet for exit of the sample from the passage, said penetrating means being movable from a retracted position to an extended position in which it penetrates said closed container with said inlet in position for entry of a specimen sample into said passage, and back to said retracted position;
first conduit means connecting the outlet of said passage with said intake means of the analyzer for delivery of a specimen sample to the latter;
means for reducing the pressure in said conduit means to a pressure less than said first pressure when said penetrating means is in said extended position thereby to aspirate a specimen sample from the container into said passage and said conduit means for delivery to the intake means of said analyzer; and
means responsive to said aspiration to initiate transfer of said sample from said conduit means into the analyzer, the pressure in said passage and conduit means being at least equal to said first pressure following said aspiration thereby enabling said specimen sample readily to be drawn through said intake means into said analyzer for analysis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method of and apparatus for obtaining a sample from a specimen of blood or the like in a closed container at a first pressure and for delivering the sample to an analyzer for analysis. The apparatus comprises a hollow needle for penetrating the closed container movable from a retracted position to an extended position in which it penetrates the container for drawing a specimen sample therefrom, and back to its retracted position. A conduit connects the needle and the analyzer for delivery of a specimen sample to the latter. An aspirator reduces the pressure in this conduit to a pressure less than the aforesaid first pressure when the needle is in its extended position, a specimen sample thereby being aspirated from the container into the conduit for delivery to the analyzer. The apparatus is responsive to this aspiration to initiate transfer of the specimen sample from the conduit into the analyzer. The pressure in the conduit is at least equal to the first pressure following aspiration, thereby enabling the specimen sample readily to be drawn into the analyzer.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. Apparatus for obtaining a sample from a specimen of blood or the like in a closed container at a first pressure and for delivering said sample to an analyzer for analysis, said analyzer having intake means for intake of said specimen sample into the analyzer, said apparatus comprising:
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means for penetrating said closed container, said means having a passage therein with an inlet for entry of a specimen sample into the passage and an outlet for exit of the sample from the passage, said penetrating means being movable from a retracted position to an extended position in which it penetrates said closed container with said inlet in position for entry of a specimen sample into said passage, and back to said retracted position; first conduit means connecting the outlet of said passage with said intake means of the analyzer for delivery of a specimen sample to the latter; means for reducing the pressure in said conduit means to a pressure less than said first pressure when said penetrating means is in said extended position thereby to aspirate a specimen sample from the container into said passage and said conduit means for delivery to the intake means of said analyzer; and means responsive to said aspiration to initiate transfer of said sample from said conduit means into the analyzer, the pressure in said passage and conduit means being at least equal to said first pressure following said aspiration thereby enabling said specimen sample readily to be drawn through said intake means into said analyzer for analysis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for obtaining a sample from a specimen of blood or the like contained in a closed container at a first pressure and for delivering said sample to an analyzer for analysis, said analyzer having intake means for intake of said specimen sample into the analyzer, said method comprising:
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penetrating said closed container with means connected via conduit means to said intake means, said penetrating means having a passage therein with an inlet for entry of a specimen sample into the passage and an outlet for exit of the sample from the passage into said conduit means; reducing the pressure in said passage and said conduit means to a pressure less than said first pressure thereby to aspirate a specimen sample from the container into said passage and conduit means for delivery to the intake means of the analyzer; withdrawing said penetrating means from said container following aspiration of the specimen sample from the container, the pressure in said conduit means then being at least equal to said first pressure; and initiating transfer of specimen sample from said conduit means into said analyzer. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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- 35. Apparatus for obtaining samples from specimens of blood or the like contained in closed containers, said apparatus comprising conveyor means, means for feeding a plurality of said containers one after another in a predetermined sequence to said conveyor means, the latter being adapted for moving said containers separately and in said predetermined sequence to a sampling station and for imparting motion to the closed containers while they are moved to the sampling station to obtain a substantially uniform distribution of particles contained therein, and means for penetrating the closed containers when they reach the sampling station to withdraw specimen samples from the containers.
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43. Apparatus for mixing and then analyzing samples of blood specimens or the like contained in a series of closed containers at a first pressure less than atmospheric, comprising:
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means for mixing said blood specimens in the closed containers without opening the containers and for delivering the closed containers to a sampling station; means for penetrating a closed container at the sampling station thereby to permit aspiration of a specimen sample from the container; means in communication with said penetrating means for analyzing said blood specimens, said analyzing means being capable of generating a second pressure less than atmospheric but not substantially less than said first pressure; and passage means associated with said penetrating means, said passage means being adapted for communication at one end with the interior of said closed container when said penetrating means has penetrated the container and at its other end with a source of pressure greater than said first and second pressures whereby a pressure increase is adapted to be effected in said closed container when said penetrating means has penetrated the container for aspiration of a blood specimen from the container to said analyzing means for analysis.
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Specification