Liquid level adjusting and filtering device
First Claim
1. In a liquid level adjusting device for use in each instance with one of a plurality of like, open-topped generally vertically oriented containers which respectively contain liquids therein at different levels to adjust those liquid levels to substantially the same predetermined liquid level location relative to each of the containers, the improvements comprising, said device including, liquid reservoir means supportable from the container and accessible from without the container to permit the removal of liquid from said liquid reservoir means, said liquid reservoir means comprising means for fixing the location of said reservoir means at substantially the same location relative to the container in each instance, liquid transport means operatively connected to said liquid reservoir means and insertable into said container for supplying liquid from said container to said reservoir means for substantially filling said reservoir means with liquid upon insertion of said liquid transport means into said container sufficient to enable the level of said liquid in said container to be adjusted in each instance to the location of said substantially liquid-filled reservoir means upon the insertion of said liquid transport means into the container.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
New and improved, liquid level adjusting and filtering device is provided, and is operable upon insertion into a container to automatically adjust the level of a liquid as contained in the container to a predetermined, precisely repeatable location, and to filter the thusly level-adjusted liquid. The device is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with test tube-like devices, in the nature of those marketed under the Trademark "Vacutainer" by the Becton-Dickinson Company of East Rutherford, NJ, containing whole blood samples which have been separated as by centrifugation into respective blood cell, buffy and blood serum layers; and is operable in that context to present blood serum samples to automated sample analysis systems at the same predetermined and precisely repeatable location relative to the aspirating probe means of such systems.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. In a liquid level adjusting device for use in each instance with one of a plurality of like, open-topped generally vertically oriented containers which respectively contain liquids therein at different levels to adjust those liquid levels to substantially the same predetermined liquid level location relative to each of the containers, the improvements comprising, said device including, liquid reservoir means supportable from the container and accessible from without the container to permit the removal of liquid from said liquid reservoir means, said liquid reservoir means comprising means for fixing the location of said reservoir means at substantially the same location relative to the container in each instance, liquid transport means operatively connected to said liquid reservoir means and insertable into said container for supplying liquid from said container to said reservoir means for substantially filling said reservoir means with liquid upon insertion of said liquid transport means into said container sufficient to enable the level of said liquid in said container to be adjusted in each instance to the location of said substantially liquid-filled reservoir means upon the insertion of said liquid transport means into the container.
- 12. In a sample analysis system which is operable to successively analyze in turn a series of sample liquids as supplied thereto in separate, like containers, said sample liquids intially being at different levels in said containers, said system including aspirating probe means for successively aspirating in turn like quantities of said liquids from said containers for analysis by said sample liquid analysis system, and means to present said containers in turn to said aspirating probe means at substantially the same container location, the improvements comprising, liquid level adjusting means operatively connected to each of said containers for adjusting the respective levels of the sample liquids contained therein to substantially the same sample liquid level location relative to each of the containers sufficient to enable said sample liquids to be presented in turn in said containers to said aspirating probe means at substantially the same liquid level location relative to said aspirating probe means.
Specification