Apparatus for accessing a sealed container
First Claim
1. Apparatus for accessing fluid in a container which container is sealed by a piercable seal comprising:
- a piercer;
a probe having a hollow tube into which said fluid is to be drawn;
a first mechanism for moving both the piercer and the probe in the Z direction perpendicular to said seal, at least one of said piercer and probe not normally being attached to move with the first mechanism, but being selectively attachable to move therewith;
a second mechanism which moves the first mechanism, including the piercer and the probe in X and Y directions substantially perpendicular to the Z direction; and
controls for operating said first and second mechanisms to have said piercer pierce the seal of a container while the probe is maintained a selected distance above the seal to withdraw the piercer from the seal, leaving a cut, and to then have the probe pass through said cut in the seal to enter said fluid while the piercer is maintained at a selected distance above the seal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for accessing a sealed container, and in particular a sealed container which is at a pressure other than atmospheric and which generally contains blood or other bodily fluid. A piercer and a probe are provided which are mounted to an XYZ positioning mechanism and are controlled such that the piercer passes through a stopper of the container, forming a cut therein through which the probe may subsequently enter the container. A foot mechanism is provided which is held against the stopper or seal for the container during piercer or probe removal for stripping purposes and through which the probe and piercer pass, the size and shape of the foot being such that, for both piercing and probing operations, it is over only a single container. The piercer and probe are operated such that the one not being used is in each instance in a raised position relative to the one being used. A novel lubrication station is provided in which the piercer is dipped prior to use to facilitate the piercing operation, to coat the cut and to minimize stopper debris. A wash station is also provided.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. Apparatus for accessing fluid in a container which container is sealed by a piercable seal comprising:
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a piercer; a probe having a hollow tube into which said fluid is to be drawn; a first mechanism for moving both the piercer and the probe in the Z direction perpendicular to said seal, at least one of said piercer and probe not normally being attached to move with the first mechanism, but being selectively attachable to move therewith; a second mechanism which moves the first mechanism, including the piercer and the probe in X and Y directions substantially perpendicular to the Z direction; and controls for operating said first and second mechanisms to have said piercer pierce the seal of a container while the probe is maintained a selected distance above the seal to withdraw the piercer from the seal, leaving a cut, and to then have the probe pass through said cut in the seal to enter said fluid while the piercer is maintained at a selected distance above the seal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for accessing fluid in a container sealed by a piercable seal comprising:
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a piercer; a probe having a hollow tube into which said fluid is to be drawn; a first mechanism for moving both the piercer and the probe in the Z direction perpendicular to said seal; a second mechanism which moves the first mechanism, including the piercer and probe in X and Y directions substantially perpendicular to the Z direction; a foot through which said piercer and probe independently pass, said foot being at the bottom of a foot mechanism which is mounted to normally move with said first mechanism in the Z direction and with said second mechanism in the X and Y directions; and controls for operating said first and second mechanisms to lower said foot into contact with the seal, only said piercer passing through the foot to pierce the seal of a container, to withdraw the piercer from the seal, leaving a cut in the seal, and to have said foot again brought into contact with said seal, only the probe passing through said cut in the seal to enter said fluid, said controls locking said foot mechanism against Z direction movement each time the foot is lowered into contact with the seal of a container and releasing the foot mechanism to again move with the first mechanism each time the first mechanism has risen to a predetermined position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for accessing fluid in a container sealed by a piercable seal comprising:
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a piercer; a probe having a hollow tube into which said fluid is to be drawn; a first mechanism for moving both the piercer and the probe in the Z direction perpendicular to said seal; a second mechanism which moves the first mechanism, including the piercer and probe in X and Y directions substantially perpendicular to the Z direction; a lubrication station; and controls for operating said first and second mechanisms to have said piercer pierce the seal of a container, to withdraw the piercer from the seal, leaving a cut in the seal, and to then have the probe pass through said cut in the seal to enter said fluid, the controls operating said first and second mechanism to position the piercer over and to dip the piercer into the lubrication station before moving the piercer to pierce said seal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. Apparatus for accessing fluid in a container sealed by a piercable seal comprising:
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a piercer having a plurality of vent holes circumferentially positioned above its tip and a channel leading from the vent holes out of the piercer; a suction source connected to said channel; a probe having a hollow tube into which said fluid is to be drawn; a first mechanism for moving both the piercer and the probe in the Z direction perpendicular to said seal; a second mechanism which moves the first mechanism, including the piercer and probe in X and Y directions substantially perpendicular to the Z direction; and controls for operating said first and second mechanisms to have said piercer pierce the seal of a container, to withdraw the piercer from the seal, leaving a cut in the seal, and to then have the probe pass through said cut in the seal to enter said fluid, the controls operating said suction source to apply suction to the vent holes from a time before the piercer pierces the seal to a time after the piercer is removed from the seal. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. Apparatus for accessing fluid in a container which container is sealed by a piercable seal comprising:
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a tipped component for piercing said seal; a first mechanism for moving the component in a Z direction substantially perpendicular to said seal, said component not normally being attached to move with the first mechanism, but being selectively attachable to move therewith; a foot through which said component passes, said foot being at the bottom of a foot mechanism which is mounted to normally move with said first mechanism in the Z direction; a second mechanism which moves the first mechanism, including the component and the foot, in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to the Z direction; and controls for operating said second mechanism to position said component over the seal of a container, for operating the first mechanism to then lower the component to pass through the seal, and for subsequently operating the first mechanism to raise the component through the seal to remove it from the container, said controls locking said foot mechanism to prevent further Z direction movement with the first mechanism when the foot is lowered into contact with the seal of a container, and releasing the foot mechanism to again move with the first mechanism when the first mechanism has risen to a predetermined position sufficient to fully remove the component from the container, including the seal, the locked foot mechanism facilitating striping of the component from the seal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification