Fluid dispenser

• US 6,416,713 B1
• Filed: 01/14/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: McGraw, Brian, Mead, Stephen, Heilman, Bronwen, Druyor-Sanchez, Bobbi, Showalter, Wayne, Ford, Anthony, Richards, William, McDaniel, Darin
• Primary Examiner(s): FORTUNA, ANA M
• Application Number:
  US09/483,218
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/64, 422/100, 422/46, 422/180, 137/519.5, 222/321.7, 239/574, 239/333, 239/900, 436/46
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/317 spraying liquids onto surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1034 Transferring microquantities of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 Control of the volume dispensed or introduced
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7873 Ball valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A method of assembly of a fluid dispenser of an apparatus for an automated biological reaction system is provided. In the processing of a biological reaction system, there is a need for consistently placing an amount of fluid on a slide. In order to accomplish this, several methods are used including a consistency pulse and a volume adjust means. Moreover, in order to reliably operate an automated biological reaction system, the dispenser must be reliable, easy to assemble and accurate. Among other things, in order to accomplish this, the dispense chamber is substantially in line with the reservoir chamber, the reservoir chamber piston is removed, and the flow of fluid through the dispenser is simplified. Further, in order to operate the automated biological reaction system more reliably, the system is designed in modular pieces with higher functions performed by a host device and the execution of the staining operations performed by remote devices. Also, to reliably catalog data which is used by the automated biological reaction system, data is loaded to a memory device, which in turn is used by the operator to update the operator'"'"'s databases. The generation of the sequence of steps for the automated biological reaction device based on data loaded by the operator, including checks to determine the ability to complete the run, is provided.

Claims

1. A method of assembly of a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser comprising a barrel having a reservoir chamber, the barrel having an upper portion and a lower portion, a cap connected to the upper portion of the barrel, a check valve having a check valve ball and a check valve seat adjacent to the lower portion of the barrel, and a coupler having a dispense chamber, the coupler being coaxial with the barrel and wherein the lower portion moves in the dispenser chamber, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a valve and a valve insert into the lower portion of the barrel;

welding the cap to the upper portion of the barrel;

placing the ball in the check ball seat;

snapping the check valve ball seat into the coupler; and

snapping the coupler and barrel together.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrel includes protrusions,

wherein the coupler includes indentations and

wherein the step of snapping the coupler onto the barrel includes pushing the protrusions on the barrel past the indentations on the coupler, thereby maintaining the alignment of the barrel to the coupler during movement of the barrel.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, prior to snapping the coupler onto the barrel, further comprising the step of:

inserting a quad seal, stop and spring into the coupler.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of snapping the check valve ball seat into the coupler includes placing the check valve ball seat into grooves which are in the coupler.