Method and means for delivering liquid samples to a sample scanning device

• US 4,367,043 A
• Filed: 05/05/1980
• Issued: 01/04/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Inventors: Moore, Wayne A., Sweet, Richard G., Nozaki, Tom Jr., Stovel, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGraw, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US06/146,219
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 356/244, 356/315, 356/417, 356/440, 356/442, 356/338, 250/222 PC, 340/286 M, 340/365 VL, 340/524, 340/525, 340/712, 435/219, 435/808, 422/67, 324/71 CP
• US Class Current: 356/338
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1097 characterised by the valves valves in general F16K

Abstract

Method and apparatus for semi-automatic feeding of liquid samples from a plurality of sample sources to a scanning device are disclosed. The liquid samples are picked up from a preidentified sample source and delivered to the scanning device by use of a hand-held pick-up and delivery tube. The hand-held tube is releasably coupled to the scanning device for delivery of the liquid samples to the scanning device when coupled thereto. In the disconnected condition, particle free fluid flows in a reverse direction from the scanning device for automatic flushing of the scanning device and liquid sample supply line connected thereto. Visual display means for visually indicating to the operator which sample holder the next sample is to be obtained from is provided.

Claims

1. A multiple sample delivery system for use in sequentially feeding liquid samples from a plurality of sample sources to sample scanning, analyzing, and like means of the type which produces signals related to contents of the liquid samples, said system comprising

sample source identification signal means for identifying individual sample sources from which liquid samples for delivery to sample scanning means are obtained,

visual display means responsive to said sample source identification signal means for visually indicating to the operator the sample source from which the next liquid sample for delivery to the sample scanning means is to be obtained,

means under operator control for obtaining liquid samples from the visually-indicated sample source, and

means for feeding the liquid sample obtained from said visually identified sample source to said scanning means for producing signals related to contents or the liquid sample.

2. A multiple sample delivery system for use in sequentially feeding liquid samples from a plurality of sample sources to sample scanning, analyzing, and like means of the type which includes interconnected first and second fluid passages through which said liquid sample and particle-free liquid, respectively, are delivered for scanning of the sample, said system including

means for feeding liquid samples obtained from different sample sources to said scanning means, and

means for removably connecting said liquid sample feeding means to said first fluid passage means whereby, upon disconnection of said liquid sample feeding means from said first fluid passage means, said particle-free liquid delivered to said second fluid passage means of said sample scanning means flows in a reverse direction through the first fluid passage means for flushing said first fluid passage means when said sample feeding means is disconnected from said first fluid passage means.

3. A multiple sample delivery system as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and second fluid passage means of the sample scanning means comprise coaxial nozzles for producing a coaxial flow stream having an outer stream portion of particle-free liquid and an inner stream portion comprising said liquid sample.

4. A multiple sample delivery system as defined in claim 2 wherein said liquid sample feeding means includes a pick-up and delivery tube,

pumping means connected to said pick-up and delivery tube for delivery under pressure of liquid samples from the tube, and wherein said means for removably connecting said liquid sample feeding means to said first fluid passage means includes an injection cone connected to the first fluid passage means into which cone said pick-up and delivery tube is removably received in fluid-tight engagement therewith during delivery of liquid samples to the scanning means.

5. A multiple sample delivery system as defined in claim 4 including suction means attached to a wall of said injection cone for removal of reverse-flushed particle-free fluid therefrom.

6. A multiple sample delivery system as defined in claim 4 wherein said pumping means comprises a motor-operated syringe.

7. A multiple sample delivery system for use in sequentially feeding liquid samples from a plurality of sample sources to sample scanning, analyzing, and like means of the type which produces signals related to contents of the liquid samples, liquid samples for delivery to said scanning means being obtained from a multi-well tray formed of light-transmitting material, said system comprising

sample source identification signal means for identifying individual sample sources from which liquid samples for delivery to sample scanning means are obtained,

means for feeding liquid samples from said identified sample sources to said scanning means for producing signals related to contents of the liquid samples,

means for associating signals produced by said scanning means with said sample source identification signal means for identifying signals from said scanning means with the liquid sample source,

supporting means for a multi-well, light-transmitting, tray from which liquid samples are to be delivered to said scanning means,

dot matrix display means comprising an array of individual light source means at said supporting means arranged in a pattern corresponding to tray wells, and

means for energizing said light source means for visual display of operator instructions viewable through a tray resting on said supporting means.

8. A multiple sample delivery system as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for energizing said light source means includes said sample source identification signal means for energizing individual light sources for identifying a single tray well from which a liquid sample is to be picked-up for subsequent delivery to the scanning means.

9. A multiple sample delivery system for use in sequentially feeding liquid samples from a plurality of sample sources to sample scanning, analyzing and like means of the type which produces signals related to contents of the liquid samples, said system comprising

sample source identification signal means for identifying individual sample sources from which liquid samples for delivery to sample scanning means are to be obtained,

means for feeding liquid samples from said identified sample sources to said scanning means for producing signals related to contents of the liquid samples

a stored program digital computer for producing said sample source identification signal means and for control of said liquid sample feeding means, the delivery of liquid samples being carried out in accordance with a predetermined program requiring a sequence of steps, at least some of which require instruction to the operator,

means responsive to the stored program for stopping operation of the feeding means between selected steps of the sequence,

visual display means under control of the digital computer for display of the next step in the sequence of steps to be performed, and

means under operator control for resuming operation of the feeding means.

10. In a multiple sample delivery system as defined in claim 9 including means under control of said sample source identification signal means for visually indicating to the operator the sample source from which the liquid sample for delivery to the sample scanning means is to be obtained.

11. In a multiple sample delivery system as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for visually indicating to the operator the sample source from which the liquid sample is to be obtained includes said visual display means for display of the next step in the sequence of steps to be performed.

12. In a liquid sample scanning, analyzing, separating, or like apparatus of the type which includes a fluid flow assembly commprising interconnected first and second fluid passages for use in producing a flow stream comprising sample liquid supplied to said first fluid passage and particle-free liquid supplied to the second fluid passage, an improved liquid sample delivery system for feeding liquid samples from a plurality of difference sample sources to the first fluid passage of the fluid flow assembly comprising,

liquid sample pumping means, and

means for removably connecting said liquid sample pumping means to the first fluid passage of said fluid flow assembly for providing liquid sample in the connected condition, and providing for particle-free liquid flow in a reverse direction through the first fluid passage of said fluid flow assembly for flushing in the disconnected condition of the connecting means.

13. In a liquid sample scanning, analyzing, separating, or like apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said removable connecting means includes,

a hand-held pick-up and delivery tube connected through conduit to said pumping means, and

an injection cone connected through conduit to said first fluid passage, said pick-up and delivery tube being removably insertable into said cone in fluid-tight frictional engagement therewith during pumping of liquid samples to the scanning device.

14. In a liquid sample scanning, analyzing, separating, or like apparatus as defined in claim 13 including,

means for removing particle-free liquid from said injection cone which liquid is supplied thereto when the hand-held pick-up and delivery tube is removed therefrom.

15. In a liquid sample scanning, analyzing, separating, or like apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said pumping means comprises a motor-operated syringe.

16. In a liquid sample scanning, analyzing, separating, or like apparatus as defined in claim 12 including

visual display means for display of operator instructions involving operation of said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube.

17. In a liquid sample scanning, analyzing, separating, or like apparatus as defined in claim 16 including,

supporting means for support of a multi-well tray of light-transmitting material, which wells contain liquid samples to be delivered to the scanning apparatus,

said visual display means being located at said tray supporting means for viewing by the operator through a tray supported thereat.

18. In a liquid sample scanning, analyzing, separating, or like apparatus as defined in claim 17 including a stored program digital computer to which said liquid sample pumping means and visual display means are responsive for control of said pumping and visual display means, respectively.

19. In a liquid sample scanning, analyzing, separating, or like apparatus as defined in claim 18 of the type which includes sample sensing means and data acquisition means for storing data supplied thereto from said sensing means, including

circuit means including interface circuit means for supplying sample source identification signal means to said visual display means and to said data acquisition means for identifying tray wells from which liquid samples are to be obtained for delivery to said scanning apparatus and for providing an association between data stored by said data acquisition means and the tray well from which the sample was obtained, respectively.

20. A method of obtaining information on characteristics of liquid samples obtained from a plurality of liquid sample sources comprising,

producing a signal for identifying the liquid sample source from which a liquid sample is to be obtained,

supplying said liquid sample source identifying signal to visual display means for visually indicating to the operator from which liquid sample source the next liquid sample is to be obtained,

under operator control, obtaining liquid sample from the visually-indicated liquid sample source and feeding said liquid sample obtained from the identified source to sample sensing means for obtaining data related to at least one characteristic of the sample, and

associating the liquid sample source identifying signal with data obtained from said sample sensing means for identifying said data with the associated liquid sample source from which the sample was obtained.

21. A method as defined in claim 20 which includes,

obtaining liquid samples for feeding the said sample sensing means from wells of a multi-well light-transmitting tray.

22. A method as defined in claim 21 which includes,

positioning said tray over said visual display means for viewing thereof through said tray.

23. A method as defined in claim 20 which includes,

supplying said liquid sample source identifying signal and data obtained from said sample sensing means to data acquisition means in performance of said associating step.

24. A method of feeding liquid samples to a scanning device from a sample delivery system, said scanning device including

a nozzle assembly comprising coaxial inner and outer nozzles to which liquid samples and sheath fluid are supplied, respectively, for producing a coaxial flow stream, sample sensing means for obtaining data related to at least one characteristic of the sample included in the flow stream, and data acquisition means to which data from said sample sensing means are supplied, said sample delivery system including a pump connected through a conduit to a hand-held pick-up and delivery tube, and releasable coupling means for fluid-tight coupling said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube to the inner nozzle of said nozzle assembly in the connected condition and for disconnection of the hand-held pick-up and delivery tube from the inner nozzle in the disconnected condition of the releasable coupling means, said method comprising,

backflushing said inner nozzle by disconnecting said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube from the inner nozzle to allow reverse flow of sheath fluid therethrough,

connecting said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube to said inner nozzle, and

driving a liquid sample from said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube through said inner nozzle for flow through said scanning device.

25. A method of feeding as defined in claim 24 wherein wash liquid also is driven from said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube while driving the liquid sample through the scanning device, performing the following steps while said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube is disconnected from said inner nozzle,

replacing wash liquid driven from said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube,

drawing an air bubble into said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube for use in separating wash liquid from a liquid sample to be drawn into said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube, and

withdrawing a liquid sample into said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube from a liquid sample container.

26. A method of feeding as defined in claim 25 which includes,

expelling a small amount of liquid sample from said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube to clear the end thereof of air bubbles before connecting said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube to said inner nozzle.

27. A method of feeding as defined in claim 24 wherein said connecting step includes urging the end of the pick-up and delivery tube into fluid-tight engagement within an injection cone connected through a conduit to said inner nozzle.

28. In a liquid delivery system for feeding liquid samples, the combination comprising,

liquid sample pumping means, and

means for removably connecting said liquid sample pumping means to a fluid flow passage for providing liquid samples to a fluid flow passage in the connected condition, said removable coupling means including a pick-up and delivery tube connected through conduit to said pumping means, and an injection cone connected to the fluid flow passage, said pick-up and delivery tube being removably insertable into said cone in fluid-tight frictional engagement therewith during pumping of liquid samples to the fluid flow passage.

29. In a liquid delivery system as defined in claim 28 including,

means for removing liquid from said injection cone supplied thereto from the fluid flow passage when the pick-up and delivery tube is removed from the injection cone.

30. In a liquid delivery system as defined in claim 28 wherein said pumping means comprises a motor-operated syringe.

31. In a liquid delivery system as defined in claim 28 wherein said pick-up and delivery tube is hand-held, said system including,

visual display means for display of operator instructions involving operation of said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube.

32. In a liquid delivery system as defined in claim 31 including,

supporting means for support of a multi-well tray of light-transmitting material, which wells are adapted to contain liquid samples to be delivered,

said visual display means being located at said tray supporting means for viewing by the operator through a tray supported thereat.

33. In a liquid sample delivery system as defined in claim 32 including,

a stored program digital computer to which said liquid sample pumping means and visual display means are responsive for control of said pumping and visual display means, respectively.

34. In a liquid sample delivery system as defined in claim 33 including,

circuit means including interface circuit means for supplying sample source identification signal means to said visual display means and to a device to which the fluid flow passage is connected for identifying tray wells from which liquid samples are to be obtained for delivery to the device and for providing an association between data from said device and the tray well from which the sample was obtained, respectively.

35. In a liquid delivery system for feeding liquid samples, the combination comprising,

liquid sample pumping means,

a hand-held pick-up and delivery tube connected through conduit to said pumping means,

visual display means for display of operator instructions involving operation of said hand-held pick-up and delivery tube, and

supporting means for support of a multi-well tray of light-transmitting material, which wells are adapted to contain liquid samples to be delivered,

said visual display means being located at said tray supporting means for viewing by the operator through a tray supported thereat.

36. In a liquid delivery system as defined in claim 35 including,

a stored program digital computer to which said liquid sample pumping means and visual display means are responsive for control of said pumping and visual display means, respectively.

37. In a liquid delivery system as defined in claim 36 including,

circuit means including interface circuit means for supplying sample source identification signal means to said visual display means and to a device to which liquid samples are pumped for identifying tray wells from which liquid samples are to be obtained for delivery to the device and for providing an association between data from said device and the tray well from which the sample was obtained, respectively.

38. In a liquid delivery system as defined in claim 37 wherein said device to which said sample source identification signal means is supplied includes means for recording said sample source identification signal means and associated data from said device to provide a record of said association for future reference.