Biological sample mixing apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. Sample preparation apparatus in which two or more reagents are dispensed into a mixing container retaining sample material, after which said mixing container is rotated so as to cause the reagents to react with the sample material to prepare it for subsequent use;
- said apparatus comprising;
supporting means for supporting said mixing container in a substantially vertical position;
reagent dispensing means for dispensing said reagents into the top of said mixing container;
securing means for securing the top of said mixing container relative to said reagent dispensing means; and
drive means operably associated with said supporting means for providing motion of said supporting means to cause the bottom of said mixing container to move relative to said dispensing means.
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Abstract
Automatic biological sample mixing apparatus for use in flow cytometry, wherein a sample container is secured loosely at its top by means of a multi-reagent dispensing head; and the container is mounted at its bottom on a resilient support disposed on an elliptically rotated member, to cause reagents introduced into the container to be thoroughly mixed with a sample in the container in a fast, efficient, gentle, and accurately repeatable manner.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. Sample preparation apparatus in which two or more reagents are dispensed into a mixing container retaining sample material, after which said mixing container is rotated so as to cause the reagents to react with the sample material to prepare it for subsequent use;
- said apparatus comprising;
supporting means for supporting said mixing container in a substantially vertical position; reagent dispensing means for dispensing said reagents into the top of said mixing container; securing means for securing the top of said mixing container relative to said reagent dispensing means; and drive means operably associated with said supporting means for providing motion of said supporting means to cause the bottom of said mixing container to move relative to said dispensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- said apparatus comprising;
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17. A method of sample preparation, in which one or more reagents are dispensed into a mixing container containing sample material, after which the mixing container is moved, to cause the reagents to react with the sample material to prepare the sample material for further use, said method comprising the steps of:
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supporting the bottom of said mixing container with supporting means; securing the top of said mixing container into contact with a reagent dispensing means; providing asymmetrical vortex mixing drive means operably associated with said supporting means; mixing said sample material by rotatively driving said supporting means; adding a lytic reagent into said mixing container via said reagent dispensing means and mixing said lytic reagent with said sample material; adding a stabilizing reagent to said mixing container and mixing that reagent with said sample material, which by then has been lysed by said lytic reagent, whereby said mixing causes said mixing container to move elliptically relative to said reagent dispensing means, thus assuring complete and gentle mixing of the contents of said mixing container. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification