Assembly for removing waste from closed sample containers

• US 5,413,000 A
• Filed: 07/22/1992
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dade Behring, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Dade International, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Haddad, Antoine E., Rogers, Kenneth R., Stark, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US07/918,929
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 73/864.21-864.25, 73/864.86, 73/864.87, 73/864.23, 422/100, 422/63, 422/64
• US Class Current: 73/864.23
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/041 lifting items out of a rack for access
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0441 for samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1051 for transporting containers, e.g. retained by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1086 Cylindrical, e.g. variable angle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a waste removal assembly used in conjunction with a sampling system which provides access to a sealed container. The assembly includes a lifting mechanism which moves a sample container against a hollow cleaning needle. The needle penetrates the stopper of the container, and its penetrating end moves into the container proximate the inside surface of the stopper. The assembly also includes a pump and tube arrangement in communication with the needle for removing or displacing entrapped serum or other debris from the bottom surface of the stopper and placing it in a waste container. After removing the debris from the container, the cleaning assembly vents the cleaned container to atmospheric pressure, and the sampling system performs sampling operations through a puncture tube which defines a temporary opening in the stopper of the container.

Claims

1. An automated cleaning assembly for, prior to sampling, removing material from a top inner portion of an elongate sample container which has an open top and a closure means for normally closing the open top, said assembly comprising:

a movable holding means for holding the container and moving it generally horizontally to a predetermined location;

an elongate needle member disposed at said predetermined location, said member defining an elongate bore, at least one inlet opening proximate a first end and an outlet opening, said needle member being closed and sharpened at the distal portion of said first end;

driving means for providing relative, generally vertical displacement between the container and the needle member, said driving means providing the force for moving the sharpened end of the needle member through the closure means into the container and placing the distal end of the needle member proximate the closure means;

a waste enclosure;

tube means for connecting the needle member with the waste enclosure; and

pump means communicating with the needle member for varying the pressure in the bore of the needle member and displacing the material from the top inner portion of the container through the tube means and into the waste enclosure.

2. The automated assembly of claim 1, further comprising a stripping means for disengaging said needle member from said container.

3. The automated assembly of claim 1, wherein said needle member is stationary and said driving means includes a lift means for moving said container against said needle member.

4. The automated assembly of claim 1, wherein said openings in needle member defines a plurality of inlet openings, said inlet openings being arranged in rows around said needle member in staggered relation.

5. The automated assembly of claim 1, further comprising venting means connected to said needle member for venting said container.

6. An automated cleaning assembly for removing material from a top inner portion of an elongate sample container which has an open top and a closure means for normally closing the open top, said assembly comprising:

movable container transfer means for holding the container and moving it generally horizontally to a predetermined location;

an elongate needle member disposed at said predetermined location, said member defining an elongate bore, at least one inlet opening proximate a first end, and an outlet opening, said needle member being closed and sharpened at the distal portion of said first end;

driving means for providing relative, generally vertical, displacement between the container and the needle member after the movable container transfer means has moved the container to the predetermined location, said driving means providing the force for moving a penetrating end portion of the needle member into the container; and

venting means connected to the needle member for venting the container after the needle member has established communication with the top inner portion of the container;

said venting means including a waste enclosure and at least one tube for connecting the waste enclosure to the needle member.