Automated sampling method for medical diagnostic instrument

• US 5,391,499 A
• Filed: 11/24/1993
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: CIBA Vision Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Dussault, Richard A., Schulkind, Richard L., Karkantis, Peter N., Parker, Norman K., Degen, Beat R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Housel, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cano, Milton I.
• Application Number:
  US08/158,107
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/67, 422/68.1, 422/100, 436/48, 436/49, 436/54, 436/180, 604/122, 604/192, 604/206
• US Class Current: 436/180
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/185 specially adapted to seal the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00237 Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00277 Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/24 Automatic injection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1004 Cleaning sample transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/119163 with aspirator of claimed structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A novel fluid sampling device has been developed. This device provides for sample entry to be handled automatically by the instrument, thus allowing the operator to be involved in other activities while the sampling process is underway. It also assures reproduceable sample size, automatically cleans the sampling device between samples, and reduces the risk of user injury. Furthermore, the sampling system allows for the use of any forseeable collection mechanism.

Claims

1. A method for sampling material which is held within a container said method comprising:

inserting said container into the large end of an inwardly tapered bore on a holder,

detecting the presence and diameter of the container of said material, said container being one of a syringe and a capillary,

comparing the diameter to a stored data base to determine whether the container is a syringe or a capillary, and if a syringe what the volume is,

withdrawing a sample of said material, wherein said withdrawing is controlled in response to the presence and diameter of said container, said withdrawing comprising,

when the container is a syringe, inserting a sampling probe through the small end of said holder bore into said syringe to a depth determined by the volume of said syringe, followed by applying a vacuum to said probe to withdraw the sample therethrough,

when the container is a capillary, applying a vacuum to a sampling probe, said sampling probe having been inserted into the small end of the holder bore, and

cleaning said holder bore and probe exposed to said material between the withdrawal of subsequent samples, using a cleaning solution, said cleaning comprising,

generating reproducible air-liquid microsegments using a T junction connecting an air inlet with at least two pump tubes, a first one of which carries a wash solution and a second one which carries air for the liquid microsegments,

allowing the microsegments carried by the second tube to form an air-liquid reproducible mixture, and

allowing the air-liquid mixture to form a foam wash in said bore.

2. A method for sampling material which is held within a container said method comprising,

detecting the identity and diameter of a container of said material, said container being one or a syringe and capillary, said method for detecting comprising,

positioning the container into the larger end of an inwardly tapered bore of a holder,

rotating an arm around a pivot point adjacent said holder, and

determining an amount of rotation of said arm, said amount of rotation determining the identity and diameter of said container,

comparing said diameter to a stored data base to determine whether the container is a syringe of a capillary and if a syringe, what the volume is,

withdrawing a sample of said material by inserting a probe into said container and sucking said material from said container through said probe, wherein said inserting is controlled in response to the identity and diameter of said container, said probe being constructed and arranged to sense the presence of, and avoid obstructions in its path, said probe comprising, a flag mounted on a flexible cantilevered beam and a push rod in contact with the flexible beam attached to said probe, and an optical detector for detecting the flag whereby,

if a syringe is detected, said probe is inserted into said syringe through the small end of said holder bore to a depth determined by the volume of the syringe,

if a capillary is detected, said probe is inserted into the small end of said holder bore, and

cleaning said holder bore and probe exposed to said material between the withdrawal of subsequent sample, using a cleaning solution.

3. A device for sampling biological materials within a container held by frictional forces in the device comprising,

a holder bore having an inwardly tapered bore therethrough for receipt of a container through the large end of the bore,

a rotating arm for detecting the identity and diameter of a container of a material adjacent to the holder,

a means for detecting the rotation of said arm and comparing to a data base to determine the identity of the container,

a sampling probe adjacent the small end of said bore and means for inserting said probe into the bore for withdrawing a sample of the material, wherein said insertion means is controlled in response to the identity and diameter of said container, said probe being constructed and arranged to sense the presence of, and avoid obstructions in its path, said probe comprising a flag mounted on a flexible cantilevered beam, a push rod in contact with the flexible beam attached to said probe, and an optical detector for detecting the flag, and

a means for cleaning said holder bore and probe exposed to the material between the withdrawal of subsequent samples wherein a cleaning solution is contained within the cleaning means.