Sampling apparatus
First Claim
1. A sampling apparatus comprising:
- a sampling valve including a sample inlet, through which an electrically conductive sample is input, a sample outlet through which the electrically conductive sample is output, and a sampling passage connected between the sample inlet and sample outlet;
a first electrode section located near the sample inlet;
a second electrode section located near the sample outlet; and
a measuring section for measuring an impedance between the first and second electrode sections and for comparing the measured impedance to a reference impedance to determine whether or not the sampling passage contains a predetermined amount of the sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sample apparatus includes a sampling valve having a sample inlet through which a sample such as urine is introduced from the outside of the sampling valve to the inside thereof; a sample outlet through which the sample is sent from the inside of the sampling valve to the outside thereof; and a sampling passage for setting apart a predetermined amount of the sample between the sample inlet and sample outlet. It further includes a first electrode section located close to the sample inlet so that the sample can come into contact with the first electrode section, a second electrode section located close to the sample outlet so that the sample can come into contact with the second electrode section, and a sensor circuit for measuring the impedance between the first and second electrode sections and for using the measured impedance to determine whether or not the sampling passage contains a predetermined amount of the sample. Preferably, the first and second electrode sections each include a pair of electrodes separated from each other, wherein one of each of the electrodes of the electrode sections is connected to the sensor circuit while the other electrodes are short-circuited to each other.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A sampling apparatus comprising:
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a sampling valve including a sample inlet, through which an electrically conductive sample is input, a sample outlet through which the electrically conductive sample is output, and a sampling passage connected between the sample inlet and sample outlet; a first electrode section located near the sample inlet; a second electrode section located near the sample outlet; and a measuring section for measuring an impedance between the first and second electrode sections and for comparing the measured impedance to a reference impedance to determine whether or not the sampling passage contains a predetermined amount of the sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18)
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8. A sampling apparatus comprising:
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a sampling valve including a sample inlet, through which an electrically conductive sample is input, a sample outlet through which the electrically conductive sample is output, and a sampling passage connected between the sample inlet and sample outlet; a first electrode section located near the sample inlet; a second electrode section located near the sample outlet; and a measuring section for detecting a variation in impedance between the first and second electrode sections, wherein the sampling valve further includes, at least two plate-like elements, each having at least one contact surface and a through hole, at least one opening of the through hole being formed on the contact surface; element moving means for relatively moving the plate-like elements to a communication position in which the through holes of the plate-like elements communicate with each other via the openings on the contact surfaces and to a discommunication position in which the through holes of the plate-like elements discommunicate with each other, retaining the plate-like elements in liquid-tight contact with each other via the contact surfaces thereof; and liquid flow means for introducing liquid from the sample inlet into the through holes with the plate-like elements in the communication position and for sending the liquid out of the sample outlet. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A sampling apparatus comprising:
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a sampling valve including a sample inlet through which an electrically conductive sample is input, a sample outlet through which the electrically conductive sample is output, and a sampling passage connected between the sample inlet and sample outlet; a first electrode section located near the sample inlet; a second electrode section located near the sample outlet; and a measuring section for detecting a variation in impedance between the first and second electrode sections, wherein the first and second electrode sections each include a pair of electrodes separated from each other, and wherein one of the electrodes of each of the first and second electrode sections is connected to the measuring section and the other electrode of each of the first and second electrode sections are short-circuited. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A sampling apparatus comprising:
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a sampling valve including a sample inlet through which an electrically conductive sample is input, a sample outlet through which the electrically conductive sample is output, and a sampling passage connected between the sample inlet and sample outlet; a first electrode section located near the sample inlet; a second electrode section located near the sample outlet; and a measuring section for detecting a variation in impedance between the first and second electrode sections, wherein the first and second electrode sections each include a pair of electrodes separated from each other in a direction to which the sample flows, the electrode of each of the first and second electrode sections which is located relatively farther from the sampling valve is connected to the measuring section and the other electrodes of the first and second electrode sections, which are relatively closer to the sampling valve, are short-circuited.
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17. A sampling apparatus comprising:
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a sampling valve including a sample inlet through which an electrically conductive sample is input, a sample outlet through which the electrically conductive sample is output, and a sampling passage connected between the sample inlet and sample outlet; a first electrode section located near the sample inlet; a second electrode section located near the sample outlet; and a measuring section for detecting a variation in impedance between the first and second electrode sections, wherein the first and second electrode sections each include a pair of electrodes separated from each other, one of the pair of electrodes of each of the first and second electrode sections being connected to the measuring section and the other electrodes being selectively short-circuited to or disconnected from each other.
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Specification