Cell suspension preparation apparatus and method

• US 5,589,394 A
• Filed: 12/15/1994
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Larue, Roderick W., Kim, Young R., Iles, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Application Number:
  US08/356,412
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/68.1, 422/73, 422/81, 422/100, 422/102, 422/104, 435/290, 435/315, 435/316, 435/809, 436/43, 436/49, 436/54, 436/174, 436/179, 436/180, 436/63, 366/208, 366/209, 366/145, 366/146, 366/210, 366/211, 366/213, 366/219, 366/237
• US Class Current: 436/63
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/3132 by using two or more injector devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31324 arranged concentrically
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/14 Suction devices, e.g. pumps; Ejector devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/14 Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1404 Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/014 Reticulocytes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/018 Platelets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1413 Hydrodynamic focussing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00524 Mixing by agitating sample carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1032 Dilution or aliquotting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• 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: G01N 35/109 with two horizontal degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/119163 with aspirator of claimed structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide apparatuses and methods for preparing fluid. In one method, a heater thermally associated with a housing for receiving fluid is operated to apply thermal energy to the housing. A second predetermined volume of a second fluid is introduced to the housing. The second predetermined volume of the second fluid is moved with the housing for a first predetermined time period. The first predetermined volume of the first fluid is introduced to the housing. The first predetermined volume of first fluid and the second predetermined volume of second fluid are moved with the housing for a second predetermined time period. The first predetermined volume of first fluid and the second predetermined volume of second fluid are removed from the housing. Another embodiment provides an apparatus comprising a first housing for containing fluid. A second housing is operatively connected with the first housing. A prime mover is fixedly-attached to the second housing and is operatively connected with the first housing such that the first housing moves responsive to the prime mover and such that the second housing remains substantially stationary with respect to the prime mover. A fluid inlet is fluidly connected with the first housing for supplying fluid to the first housing. A fluid outlet is fluidly connected with the first housing for removing fluid from the first housing.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a solution made from a first predetermined volume of a first fluid and a second predetermined volume of a second fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) operating a heater attached to a first housing and movable with the first housing for receiving the first fluid and the second fluid to apply thermal energy to the first housing, the first housing being operatively connected with and disposed substantially within a second housing;

(b) introducing the second predetermined volume of the second fluid to the first housing;

(c) vibrating the first housing with a prime mover to move the second predetermined volume of the second fluid in the first housing for a first predetermined time period while second housing remains substantially stationary with respect to the prime mover;

(d) introducing the first predetermined volume of the first fluid to the first housing;

(e) vibrating the first housing with the prime mover to move the first predetermined volume of first fluid and the second predetermined volume of second fluid in the first housing for a second predetermined time period to make the solution while the second housing remains substantially stationary with respect to the prime mover; and

(f) removing the solution made from the first predetermined volume of first fluid and the second predetermined volume of second fluid from the first housing.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the first predetermined volume is about 25 μ

l.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the first fluid is a whole blood sample.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the second predetermined volume is about 875 μ

l.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the second fluid is a blood diluent.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the first predetermined time period is about 5 seconds.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the second predetermined time period is about 11 seconds.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the first fluid is whole blood including red blood cells and white blood cells and the second fluid is a blood diluent and further comprising the steps of:

(g) lysing the red blood cells; and

(h) fixing the white blood cells.

9. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(g) storing the first predetermined volume of first fluid and the second predetermined volume of second fluid removed from the first housing.

10. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the thermal energy applied to the first housing is about 43 degrees Celsius.

11. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(g) applying thermal energy from the first housing to at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid.

12. A method of preparing a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing the fluid within a first housing, the first housing being operatively connected with and being disposed substantially within a second housing;

(b) applying thermal energy to the first housing and the fluid within the first housing with a heater attached to and movable with the first housing; and

(c) vibrating the first housing with a prime mover to move the fluid contained in the first housing while the second housing remains substantially stationary with respect to the prime mover.

13. A method as defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of:

(d) removing fluid from the first housing.

14. A method as defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of:

(d) applying thermal energy to the fluid before the fluid is placed within the first housing.

15. An apparatus for preparing a fluid comprising:

(a) a first housing for containing fluid;

(b) a second housing operatively connected with the first housing such that the first housing is disposed substantially within the second housing;

(c) a prime mover fixedly attached to the second housing and operatively connected with the first housing such that the first housing moves responsive to the prime mover and such that the second housing remains substantially stationary with respect to the prime mover;

(d) a heater thermally connected and movable with the first housing for applying thermal energy to the first housing;

(e) a fluid inlet fluidly connected with the first housing for supplying fluid to the first housing; and

(f) a fluid outlet fluidly connected with the first housing for removing fluid from the first housing.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 further comprising:

(g) a joining member operatively connecting an open end of the first housing and an open end of the second housing.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the joining member is made of an elastomer.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 further comprising

(g) a sensor thermally connected and movable with the first housing for detecting thermal energy associated with the first housing.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 further comprising

(g) a source of a blood diluent fluidly connected with the fluid inlet.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 further comprising

(f) a sensor operatively associated with the prime mover for detecting operation of the prime mover.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 further comprising

(g) a linkage assembly drivingly connecting the prime mover and the first housing;

the linkage assembly being constructed such that the first housing moves substantially eccentrically responsive to the prime mover.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 further comprising

(g) a fluid introducer operatively associated with the first housing for introducing a fluid into the first housing.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22 further comprising

(h) a source of whole blood fluidly connected with the fluid introducer such that whole blood is introduced into the first housing by the fluid introducer.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, the apparatus further comprising:

(g) a source of whole blood operatively connected with the first housing for supplying the first housing with whole blood; and

(h) a source of a blood diluent operatively connected with the first housing for supplying the first housing with blood diluent.