Analysis apparatus
First Claim
1. A system for analyzing a biological fluid comprising:
- structure defining an analysis region having an inlet and an outlet, a measuring system connected in sensing relation to said analysis region,structure defining an accumulator chamber that has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said accumulator chamber being connected to the outlet of said analysis region,an inlet valve array connected to the inlet of said analysis region, an outlet valve array connected to the outlet of said accumulator chamber, structure defining a series flow path that extends between said inlet valve array and said outlet valve array and includes said analysis region and said accumulator chamber,said accumulator chamber having a volume at least as great as a volume defined by said series flow path, including said analysis region, between said inlet valve array and said accumulator chamber,structure defining a sample inlet port, means connecting said sample inlet port to said inlet valve array,a controlled source of reduced pressure, means connecting said controlled source of reduced pressure to said outlet valve array, said outlet valve array being arranged to selectively connect said controlled source of reduced pressure to said series flow path to apply reduced pressure to the outlet of said accumulator chamber,said inlet valve array being arranged to selectively connect said sample inlet port to said series flow path, andcontrol means for operating said inlet valve array and said outlet valve array to initially capture reduced pressure in said series flow path, and then to open said inlet valve array so that the captured reduced pressure in said series flow path provides the sole transfer force to gently and reliably transfer a minute quantity of fluid to be analyzed from said sample inlet port through said analysis region and to at least partially fill said accumulator chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for analyzing a biological fluid or the like includes a series flow loop that extends between an inlet valve array and an outlet valve array. The flow loop includes an analysis region to which a measuring system is connected in sensing relation and an accumulator chamber connected to the outlet of the analysis region. The inlet valve array is arranged to selectively and alternately connect a sample inlet port and an auxiliary fluid reservoir to the flow loop while the outlet valve array is arranged to selectively connect a controlled source of reduced pressure to the flow loop. The volume of the accumulator chamber is at least as great as the volume of the flow loop (including the analysis region) between the inlet valve array and the accumulator chamber and the system is arranged to capture reduced pressure in the flow loop, the captured reduced pressure then being used to provide the sole transfer force to gently and reliably transfer a minute quantity of fluid to be analyzed from the sample inlet port through the analysis region and at least partially fill the accumulator chamber.
64 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A system for analyzing a biological fluid comprising:
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structure defining an analysis region having an inlet and an outlet, a measuring system connected in sensing relation to said analysis region, structure defining an accumulator chamber that has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said accumulator chamber being connected to the outlet of said analysis region, an inlet valve array connected to the inlet of said analysis region, an outlet valve array connected to the outlet of said accumulator chamber, structure defining a series flow path that extends between said inlet valve array and said outlet valve array and includes said analysis region and said accumulator chamber, said accumulator chamber having a volume at least as great as a volume defined by said series flow path, including said analysis region, between said inlet valve array and said accumulator chamber, structure defining a sample inlet port, means connecting said sample inlet port to said inlet valve array, a controlled source of reduced pressure, means connecting said controlled source of reduced pressure to said outlet valve array, said outlet valve array being arranged to selectively connect said controlled source of reduced pressure to said series flow path to apply reduced pressure to the outlet of said accumulator chamber, said inlet valve array being arranged to selectively connect said sample inlet port to said series flow path, and control means for operating said inlet valve array and said outlet valve array to initially capture reduced pressure in said series flow path, and then to open said inlet valve array so that the captured reduced pressure in said series flow path provides the sole transfer force to gently and reliably transfer a minute quantity of fluid to be analyzed from said sample inlet port through said analysis region and to at least partially fill said accumulator chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification