Electrochemical measuring
First Claim
1. In a method for analyzing fluid samples using an electrochemical measuring apparatus having an analyzing device with an inlet port and an outlet port, said outlet port connecting to an outlet tube, said inlet port connecting to an inlet tube having a sample receiving end, and said inlet tube connecting at a junction along its length to one end of a fluid supply tube having two ends, said one end and an opposite end, said fluid supply tube being connected at its opposite end to at least one fluid source, the improvement comprising a method for introducing a fluid into the inlet tube to wash said inlet tube of contaminants at the junction comprising,advancing the fluid from the fluid source to the junction, andexerting a force to move the fluid in the inlet tube at a rate that is slower than the rate the fluid advances into the junction such that a first portion of the fluid passes proximally in the inlet tube and a second portion of the fluid passes distally in the inlet tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid arrangement for analyzing a fluid sample using an electrochemical measuring apparatus having an analyzing device with an inlet port and an outlet port, the outlet port connecting to an outlet tube, the inlet port connecting to an inlet tube having a sample fluid receiving end, and the inlet tube connecting at a junction along its length to one end of a fluid supply tube, which fluid supply tube is connected at its opposite end to at least one fluid source containing a fluid. In a first mode, the fluid from the supply source flows through the fluid supply tube to the junction and the fluid then flows simultaneously in a proximal direction and a distal direction within the inlet tube from the junction, and in a second mode, a fluid sample is drawn through the inlet tube past the junction and into the analyzing module.
13 Citations
23 Claims
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1. In a method for analyzing fluid samples using an electrochemical measuring apparatus having an analyzing device with an inlet port and an outlet port, said outlet port connecting to an outlet tube, said inlet port connecting to an inlet tube having a sample receiving end, and said inlet tube connecting at a junction along its length to one end of a fluid supply tube having two ends, said one end and an opposite end, said fluid supply tube being connected at its opposite end to at least one fluid source, the improvement comprising a method for introducing a fluid into the inlet tube to wash said inlet tube of contaminants at the junction comprising,
advancing the fluid from the fluid source to the junction, and exerting a force to move the fluid in the inlet tube at a rate that is slower than the rate the fluid advances into the junction such that a first portion of the fluid passes proximally in the inlet tube and a second portion of the fluid passes distally in the inlet tube.
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10. In a method for analyzing fluid samples using an electrochemical measuring apparatus having an analyzing device with an inlet port and an outlet port, said outlet port connecting with an outlet tube, said inlet port connecting to an inlet tube having a sample-receiving end, and said inlet tube connecting at a junction along its length to one end of a fluid supply tube having two ends, said one end and an opposite end, which fluid supply tube is connected at its opposite end to at least one fluid source and which fluid supply tube initially is filled with fluid calibrant, the improvement comprising, a method for isolating the fluid calibrant in the fluid supply tube from fluid drawn proximally through the inlet tube past the junction and to the analyzing device by creating and maintaining an air bubble in the fluid supply tube at the junction by drawing a segment of air from said inlet tube into said fluid supply tube to isolate the fluid calibrant in the fluid supply tube from the junction,
putting the sample-receiving end of the inlet tube in contact with a fluid sample, and exerting a force to draw the fluid sample proximally through the inlet tube.
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14. In an electrochemical measuring apparatus having an analyzing device with an inlet port and an outlet port, said outlet port connecting to an outlet tube, said inlet port connecting to an inlet tube having a sample fluid receiving end, and said inlet tube connecting at a junction along its length to one end of a fluid supply tube having two ends, said one end and an opposite end, which fluid supply tube is connected at its opposite end to at least one fluid source containing a fluid, a method comprising,
causing said fluid from said supply source to flow through said fluid supply tube to said junction and causing said fluid to flow simultaneously in a proximal direction and a distal direction within the inlet tube from the junction, and causing a fluid sample to flow through the inlet tube past the junction and into the analyzing module.
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22. In a method for analyzing fluid samples using an electrochemical measuring apparatus having an analyzing device with an inlet port and an outlet port, said outlet port connecting with an outlet tube, said inlet port connecting to an inlet tube having a sample-receiving end, and said inlet tube connecting at a valveless junction along its length to one end of a fluid supply tube having two ends, said one end and an opposite end, which fluid supply tube is connected at its opposite end to at least one fluid source, and said device having a first peristaltic pump disposed at a point along the length of the fluid supply tube and a second peristaltic pump disposed at a point along the length of the outlet tube, the improvement comprising, a method for introducing intermittently spaced air bubbles into the fluid at the valveless junction as the fluid passes from the fluid supply tube through the valveless junction and proximally through the inlet tube, said last mentioned method comprising,
operating said second peristaltic pump to create a continuous proximal drawing force in said inlet tube, and operating said first peristaltic pump intermittently to introduce into said inlet tube segments of fluid, said segments being spaced apart by air in the inlet tube.
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23. In a method for analyzing fluid samples using an electrochemical measuring apparatus having an analyzing device with an inlet port and an outlet port, said outlet port connecting with an outlet tube, said inlet port connecting to an inlet tube having a sample-receiving end, and said inlet tube connecting at a valveless junction along its length to one end of a fluid supply tube having two ends, said one end and an opposite end, which fluid supply tube is connected at its opposite end to at least one fluid source, and said device having a first peristaltic pump disposed at a point along the length of the fluid supply tube and a second peristaltic pump disposed at a point along the length of the outlet tube, the steps comprising,
a first step comprising operating said first peristaltic pump to advance the fluid from the fluid source to the junction and operating said second peristaltic pump to exert a force to move the fluid in the inlet tube at a rate that is slower than the rate the fluid advances into the junction such that a first portion of the fluid passes proximally in the inlet tube and a second portion of the fluid passes distally in the inlet tube, a second step comprising operating said second peristaltic pump while said first peristaltic pump is off to draw said fluid in said inlet tube proximally past the valveless junction and through the analyzing module to replace said fluid in said inlet tube with air and then operating said first peristaltic pump while said second peristaltic pump is off in a manner to draw a segment of air from said inlet tube into said fluid supply tube, a third step comprising putting the sample-receiving end of the inlet tube in contact with a fluid sample and operating said second peristaltic pump while said first peristaltic pump is off to draw the fluid sample proximally through the inlet tube past the junction and into the analyzing device, a fourth step comprising operating said first peristaltic pump while said second peristaltic pump is off to advance fluid from the fluid supply source through the fluid supply tube to the junction and then distally through the inlet tube to wash the inlet tube, and a fifth step comprising operating said second peristaltic pump to create a continuous proximal drawing force in said inlet tube and operating said first peristaltic pump intermittently to introduce into said inlet tube segments of fluid, said segments being spaced apart by air in the inlet tube for washing the analyzing device.
Specification