Reagent handling system and reagent pack for use therein
First Claim
1. A reagent handling system comprising plural reagent packs, each reagent pack comprising:
- plural chambers formed by opposing and parallel end walls, opposing and parallel side walls substantially orthogonal to said end walls, a floor surface attached to said end and side walls proximate a lower edge thereof, and at least one intermediate wall substantially parallel to said end walls and disposed between said side walls, wherein said end, side and intermediate walls define a pack upper edge; and
mixing baffles disposed within at least one of said chambers operative to cause mixing of said fluids within said at least one chamber as fluid i s passed by said baffles, a first one of said baffles disposed opposing and proximate a second one of said baffles such that a throat region having a pair of converging then diverging walls is defined between said first one and said second one of said baffles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reagent pack for keeping fluids with or without suspensions mixed or suspended upon rocking. The reagent pack has at least one chamber divided into separate sub-chambers with a throat region between them defined by baffles for agitation of suspended reagent during rocking of the reagent pack. A continuous lid sealable to the pack has membrane sealed apertures in the lid for allowing access to the underlying chambers and sub-chambers by withdrawal needles. A tray is configured to hold multiple side-by-side reagent packs on respective slides that slide in and out for insertion and withdrawal of the packs. During operation, the tray and associated packs are rocked such as by being periodically inclined with respect to horizontal, providing reagent agitation. Optical annunciators proximate the tray indicate respective reagent pack activity under control of a computer which stores information on the contents of each pack at each tray location and correlates it to scheduled reagent use in a medical testing system. The tray is provided with a thermally conductive hinge. The tray with packs is located in an enclosure.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A reagent handling system comprising plural reagent packs, each reagent pack comprising:
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plural chambers formed by opposing and parallel end walls, opposing and parallel side walls substantially orthogonal to said end walls, a floor surface attached to said end and side walls proximate a lower edge thereof, and at least one intermediate wall substantially parallel to said end walls and disposed between said side walls, wherein said end, side and intermediate walls define a pack upper edge; and mixing baffles disposed within at least one of said chambers operative to cause mixing of said fluids within said at least one chamber as fluid i s passed by said baffles, a first one of said baffles disposed opposing and proximate a second one of said baffles such that a throat region having a pair of converging then diverging walls is defined between said first one and said second one of said baffles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A reagent handling system comprising plural reagent packs, each reagent pack comprising:
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first and second ends defined by substantially vertical first and second end walls, respectively, and substantially vertical first and second side walls disposed there between, said end walls and said side walls having an upper edge and a lower edge; a floor surface sealably attached to said first and second end walls and said first and second side walls, said floor surface disposed proximate said lower edge; at least one intermediate wall disposed transverse said reagent pack from said first side wall to said second side wall, said intermediate wall intermediate said end walls and extending from said floor surface to said upper edge; and first and second mixing baffles each disposed on a respective one of said side walls and extending toward another of said side walls, both of said baffles disposed on a like side of said at least one intermediate wall, wherein one of said baffles is more proximate said first end then another of said baffles and wherein said baffles are disposed proximate one another such that a throat region having a pair of converging then diverging walls is defined between said baffles. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A reagent pack for providing fluent material, comprising:
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an elongate enclosure having sides, ends and a bottom, said sides and ends having an upper edge and defining a chamber wit said bottom, said chamber for retaining said fluent material; and a plurality of baffles disposed within said chamber, said baffles operative to cause turbulence in said fluent material when said pack is rocked about a horizontal axis orthogonal to said sides, a first one of said baffles disposed opposing and proximate a second one of said baffles such that a throat region having a pair of converging then diverging side walls is defined between said first and second baffles. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification