Apparatus for mixing fluids for analysis
First Claim
1. An apparatus for at least one of particle and chemical analysis of reagent mixtures having a plurality of reagent-mixture components, comprising:
- means for pumping each of a plurality of reagent-mixture components in a respective stream at a respective flow rate;
means for introducing at least one reagent-mixture component into a stream of at least one other reagent-mixture component to mix the plurality of reagent-mixture components into a combined reagent-mixture stream, said means including an elongated mixing chamber defining an upstream end and a downstream end, at least one inlet port located at the upstream end of the mixing chamber and coupled in fluid communication with the pumping means for introducing a plurality of reagent-mixture component streams into the mixing chamber, an outlet port located downstream of the at least one inlet port for receiving the combined reagent-mixture stream, and a plurality of raised surface portions spaced relative to each other and projecting inwardly into the mixing chamber and transverse relative to its elongated direction for creating turbulence within the mixing chamber to facilitate mixing of the reagent-mixture components into the combined reagent-mixture stream; and
means coupled in fluid communication with the outlet port for at least one of (i) chemically analyzing and (ii) analyzing a particle distribution of the combined reagent-mixture stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an apparatus for fluid analysis, such as hematologic analysis, a plurality of reagent-mixture components are each injected by a respective pump through a valve matrix and into a flow-injection unit. The flow-injection unit defines a mixing chamber including a plurality of protuberances or nubs projecting inwardly toward the center of the chamber, and spaced relative to each other both axially and radially. As the reagent-mixture components are injected into the mixing chamber, the nubs agitate the fluid flow and create turbulence, thereby dispersing the reagent-mixture components and in turn mixing the components together to create a reagent mixture. The flow rates of the reagent-mixture components are adjusted in order to select the reagent-mixture ratio as the components are combined in the flow-injection unit to thereby create the selected reagent mixture. Upon passage through the flow-injection unit, the reagent mixture is injected into a sensing unit for analyzing a particle distribution of the mixture.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for at least one of particle and chemical analysis of reagent mixtures having a plurality of reagent-mixture components, comprising:
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means for pumping each of a plurality of reagent-mixture components in a respective stream at a respective flow rate; means for introducing at least one reagent-mixture component into a stream of at least one other reagent-mixture component to mix the plurality of reagent-mixture components into a combined reagent-mixture stream, said means including an elongated mixing chamber defining an upstream end and a downstream end, at least one inlet port located at the upstream end of the mixing chamber and coupled in fluid communication with the pumping means for introducing a plurality of reagent-mixture component streams into the mixing chamber, an outlet port located downstream of the at least one inlet port for receiving the combined reagent-mixture stream, and a plurality of raised surface portions spaced relative to each other and projecting inwardly into the mixing chamber and transverse relative to its elongated direction for creating turbulence within the mixing chamber to facilitate mixing of the reagent-mixture components into the combined reagent-mixture stream; and means coupled in fluid communication with the outlet port for at least one of (i) chemically analyzing and (ii) analyzing a particle distribution of the combined reagent-mixture stream. - 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, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification