Fluid nozzle and method of introducing a fluid

• US 5,601,234 A
• Filed: 12/15/1994
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Application Number:
  US08/356,432
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 239/428, 239/424, 239/422, 239/119, 239/113, 239/112, 239/106, 239/104, 239/1, 436/63, 356/39, 356/73, 356/246
• US Class Current: 239/1
• 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

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a nozzle for introducing a fluid comprises a first conduit having a first end and a second conduit having a second end. The second conduit is disposed substantially concentrically with the first conduit. The first end is offset from the second end. A third conduit having a third end is provided with the third conduit being disposed substantially concentrically with the first conduit and the second conduit and the third end being offset from the first end and the second end. Another embodiment provides a method wherein a first fluid conveying conduit, a second fluid conveying conduit and a third fluid conveying conduit are provided. The second fluid conveying conduit substantially surrounds the first fluid conveying conduit and the third fluid conveying conduit substantially surrounds both the first fluid conveying conduit and the second fluid conveying conduit. A first fluid flows through the first fluid conveying conduit. A second fluid flows through the second fluid conveying conduit. A third fluid flows through the third fluid conveying conduit. Both the second fluid conveying conduit and the first fluid conveying conduit are substantially simultaneously cleaned.

Claims

1. A method of introducing a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first fluid conveying conduit, a second fluid conveying conduit and a third fluid conveying conduit, the second fluid conveying conduit substantially surrounding the first fluid conveying conduit and the third fluid conveying conduit substantially surrounding both the first fluid conveying conduit and the second fluid conveying conduit;

(b) flowing a first fluid through the first fluid conveying conduit;

(c) flowing a second fluid through the second fluid conveying conduit;

(d) flowing a third fluid through the third fluid conveying conduit; and

(e) substantially simultaneously cleaning both the second fluid conveying conduit and the first fluid conveying conduit.

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

(f) back flushing at least one of the first fluid conveying conduit and the second fluid conveying conduit.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(f) flowing at least one of the first fluid through the first fluid conveying conduit and the second fluid through the second fluid conveying conduit at a first fluid flow rate;

(g) flowing the third fluid through the third fluid conveying conduit at a second fluid flow rate; and

(h) predetermining the first fluid flow rate and the second fluid flow rate such that a fluid flow rate differential exists.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 further comprising the step of:

(i) fluidly focusing flow of at least one of the first fluid from the first fluid conveying conduit and the second fluid from the second fluid conveying conduit with flow of the third fluid from the third fluid conveying conduit.

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

(f) simultaneously flowing first fluid through the first fluid conveying conduit and second fluid through the second fluid conveying conduit.

6. A method of introducing a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first fluid conveying conduit and a second fluid conveying conduit substantially surrounding the first fluid conveying conduit and a detector operatively associated with the first fluid conveying conduit and the second fluid conveying conduit;

(b) flowing a first fluid through the first fluid conveying conduit toward the detector;

(c) flowing a second fluid through the second fluid conveying conduit toward the detector;

(d) fluidly focusing the first fluid and the second fluid on the detector; and

(e) temporally separating flow of the first fluid and flow of the second fluid.

7. A method of introducing a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first fluid conveying conduit fluidly connected with a source of first fluid;

(b) providing a second fluid conveying conduit fluidly connected with a source of second fluid, the second fluid conveying conduit substantially surrounding the first fluid conveying conduit such that second fluid in the second fluid conveying conduit does not encounter the first fluid in the first fluid conveying conduit;

(c) flowing the first fluid through the first fluid conveying conduit;

(d) flowing the second fluid through the second fluid conveying conduit such that the second fluid does not encounter the first fluid.