Unified fluid circuit assembly for a clinical hematology instrument
First Claim
1. A unified fluid circuit assembly for use in an analytical instrument comprising:
- a unified fluid circuit comprising a plurality of acrylic plates secured together into a unified circuit, each of the plurality of acrylic plates having a thickness and said plurality of plates having therein;
a plurality of reaction chambers, each chamber having a predetermined size, at least one inlet, and an outlet;
a first plurality of sample inlet passages corresponding to a first number of sample aliquots;
a second plurality of fluid inlet passages corresponding to a second number of fluids;
a third plurality of outlet passages;
a plurality of vent passages;
a network of diaphragm valves and pneumatic lines connecting said sample inlet passages, fluid inlet passages, reaction chamber inlets and outlets, vent passages, and outlet passages, each of said diaphragm valves having an open state and a closed state in response to an application of one of pressure and vacuum, wherein the network is operable to control the flow of selected ones of said sample aliquots and selected ones of said second number of fluids through said unified fluid circuit to form reaction mixtures in selected ones of said plurality of reaction chambers;
a shear valve mounted on said unified fluid circuit having a sample input and a plurality of sample aliquot outputs, said shear valve having a position operable to couple said sample aliquot outputs to the first plurality of sample inlet passages;
a fluid pump assembly comprisinga plurality of diaphragm pumps, each diaphragm pump having a pump chamber having a first transition state for filling the pump chamber with a precise amount of a fluid and a second transition state for expelling said precise amount from said pump chamber, said plurality of pump chambers having a respective plurality of outlet passages respectively connected to said second plurality of inlet passages, each diaphragm pump having a valve and a pneumatic line to control the transition state of the pump chamber by application of one of a pressure and a vacuum; and
a plurality of solenoid air valves coupled to the network and to the pneumatic lines of said fluid pump assembly, said solenoid air valves being selectively operable to provide pressure and vacuum to selected ones of said pneumatic lines thereby to control the flow of sample aliquots and fluids through said unified fluid circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unified fluid cell circuit assembly for an analytical instrument, such as a clinical hematology, immunoassy or chemistry or a flow cytometry instrument. The assembly includes a unified fluid circuit, a shear valve, a fluid pump assembly, and a plurality of solenoid valves. The unified fluid circuit is made of a plurality of acrylic plates which have formed in the various plate surfaces chamber cavities, pneumatic, hydraulic and vent line, and valve cavities. The plates, when secured together, form a plurality of reaction chambers, a plurality of control valves and various lines as a network for controlling the flow and mixing of aliquots of a sample and fluids (rinse, reagents, etc.) to perform the reactions for analyzing the sample. The fluid pump assembly is connected to the unified flow circuit and has a plurality of diaphragm pumps which pump precise volumes of fluids. The solenoid valves provide the pressure and vacuum to operate the pumps and to provide a sample into the shear valve to form sample aliquots, and to mix the various aliquots with the reagents and diluents to form the reaction mixtures.
94 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A unified fluid circuit assembly for use in an analytical instrument comprising:
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a unified fluid circuit comprising a plurality of acrylic plates secured together into a unified circuit, each of the plurality of acrylic plates having a thickness and said plurality of plates having therein; a plurality of reaction chambers, each chamber having a predetermined size, at least one inlet, and an outlet; a first plurality of sample inlet passages corresponding to a first number of sample aliquots; a second plurality of fluid inlet passages corresponding to a second number of fluids; a third plurality of outlet passages; a plurality of vent passages; a network of diaphragm valves and pneumatic lines connecting said sample inlet passages, fluid inlet passages, reaction chamber inlets and outlets, vent passages, and outlet passages, each of said diaphragm valves having an open state and a closed state in response to an application of one of pressure and vacuum, wherein the network is operable to control the flow of selected ones of said sample aliquots and selected ones of said second number of fluids through said unified fluid circuit to form reaction mixtures in selected ones of said plurality of reaction chambers; a shear valve mounted on said unified fluid circuit having a sample input and a plurality of sample aliquot outputs, said shear valve having a position operable to couple said sample aliquot outputs to the first plurality of sample inlet passages; a fluid pump assembly comprising a plurality of diaphragm pumps, each diaphragm pump having a pump chamber having a first transition state for filling the pump chamber with a precise amount of a fluid and a second transition state for expelling said precise amount from said pump chamber, said plurality of pump chambers having a respective plurality of outlet passages respectively connected to said second plurality of inlet passages, each diaphragm pump having a valve and a pneumatic line to control the transition state of the pump chamber by application of one of a pressure and a vacuum; and a plurality of solenoid air valves coupled to the network and to the pneumatic lines of said fluid pump assembly, said solenoid air valves being selectively operable to provide pressure and vacuum to selected ones of said pneumatic lines thereby to control the flow of sample aliquots and fluids through said unified fluid circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification