Sample tube entry port for a chemical analyzer
First Claim
1. A method for accessing the contents of a draw tube after it has been manually delivered to a sample access station of a chemistry instrument including a probe arm supporting a downwardly-extending open pipette, comprising the following steps:
- receiving a manually placed draw tube within an elevationally movable receptacle;
selectively lowering the receptacle and draw tube to a first predetermined elevation;
subsequently raising the receptacle and draw tube to an intermediate elevated position at which an upper surface of a closure in the draw tube is positioned at an second predetermined elevation;
positioning a hollow puncture tube above the closure;
locking a bifurcated stripper relative to the receptacle with the stripper immediately adjacent to the elevation of the upper surface of the closure to match the elevational position of the stripper to the overall height of the draw tube and closure;
raising the receptacle and draw tube to a third predetermined elevation at which the closure is punctured by the puncture tube; and
inserting a pipette through the puncture tube and into the interior of the draw tube to access its contents.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sample tube entry port for an automatic chemical analyzer supports individual draw tubes that are manually delivered to the analyzer at a sample access station. The entry port facilitates removal of samples by the pipette without exposing operating personnel to accidental contact with liquid materials in the draw tube. To accommodate draw tubes of differing heights, the apparatus includes a stripper that is selectively locked onto an elevationally movable ram carrying a receptacle for receiving a draw tube. A spring-biased tube clamp urges each draw tube against guides within the receptacle to center draw tubes of differing diameters. During operation of the apparatus, the receptacle is first lowered to a predetermined elevation, then raised to an intermediate elevation at which a draw tube closure is properly positioned for placement of the stripper immediately adjacent to its upper surface. The stripper is locked relative to the ram in this elevational relationship, which is maintained as the closure is impaled on the puncture tube and/or the pipette that accesses the contents of the draw tube.
53 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for accessing the contents of a draw tube after it has been manually delivered to a sample access station of a chemistry instrument including a probe arm supporting a downwardly-extending open pipette, comprising the following steps:
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receiving a manually placed draw tube within an elevationally movable receptacle; selectively lowering the receptacle and draw tube to a first predetermined elevation; subsequently raising the receptacle and draw tube to an intermediate elevated position at which an upper surface of a closure in the draw tube is positioned at an second predetermined elevation; positioning a hollow puncture tube above the closure; locking a bifurcated stripper relative to the receptacle with the stripper immediately adjacent to the elevation of the upper surface of the closure to match the elevational position of the stripper to the overall height of the draw tube and closure; raising the receptacle and draw tube to a third predetermined elevation at which the closure is punctured by the puncture tube; and inserting a pipette through the puncture tube and into the interior of the draw tube to access its contents. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A sample tube entry port for accessing the contents of a draw tube after it has been manually delivered to a sample access station of a chemistry instrument including a probe arm supporting a downwardly-extending open pipette movable about an arcuate path centered about a fixed reference axis, comprising:
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tubular puncturing means for temporarily forming an opening through a closure on a manually-delivered draw tube placed in the sample tube entry port means to make the interior of the draw tube accessible by subsequently inserting the pipette of the probe arm means coaxially through the puncturing means; ram means including an upwardly open receptacle positioned on the chemistry instrument at an elevation below that of the puncturing means for receiving and transversely centering a manually placed draw tube relative to the puncturing means and for elevationally moving the draw tube in directions parallel to the reference axis between a lowered position wherein the draw tube and receptacle are clear of the puncturing means and a raised position wherein the puncturing means forms a temporary opening through a closure at the top of a draw tube within the receptacle in preparation for subsequent coaxial insertion of the pipette; and a bifurcated stripper including an extension that can be releasably engaged with the ram means to selectively lock the extension to the ram means when the stripper is in its extended position, the extension being pivotally mounted on the chemistry instrument for movement of the stripper between a retracted position clear of the ram means and an extended position overlying the ram means and straddling the axial location of the puncturing means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification