Apparatus and method 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 including a sample of blood, comprising:
- means for pumping each of a plurality of reagent-mixture components including the sample of blood in a respective stream at a respective predetermined flow rate;
means for combining at least one reagent-mixture component stream into a stream of at least one other reagent-mixture component stream for mixing the plurality of reagent-mixture components into a combined reagent-mixture stream;
means for forming each of a plurality of different selected reagent mixtures in the combined reagent-mixture stream by adjusting the flow rate of at least one of a plurality of reagent-mixture components in accordance with a flow-rate ratio of reagent-mixture components corresponding to each respective selected reagent mixture; and
means for at least one of (i) chemically analyzing and (ii) analyzing a particle distribution of the selected reagent mixture of the combined reagent-mixture stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an apparatus for fluid 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. As the reagent-mixture components are injected into the mixing chamber, the nubs agitate the fluid flow, 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.
76 Citations
21 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 including a sample of blood, comprising:
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means for pumping each of a plurality of reagent-mixture components including the sample of blood in a respective stream at a respective predetermined flow rate; means for combining at least one reagent-mixture component stream into a stream of at least one other reagent-mixture component stream for mixing the plurality of reagent-mixture components into a combined reagent-mixture stream; means for forming each of a plurality of different selected reagent mixtures in the combined reagent-mixture stream by adjusting the flow rate of at least one of a plurality of reagent-mixture components in accordance with a flow-rate ratio of reagent-mixture components corresponding to each respective selected reagent mixture; and means for at least one of (i) chemically analyzing and (ii) analyzing a particle distribution of the selected reagent mixture of the combined reagent-mixture stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for at least one of particle and chemical analysis of reagent mixtures having a plurality of reagent-mixture components including a sample of blood, comprising the steps of:
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pumping each of a plurality of reagent-mixture components including the sample of blood in a respective stream at a respective predetermined flow rate; combining at least one reagent-mixture component stream into at least one other reagent-mixture component stream to mix the plurality of reagent-mixture components and create a combined reagent-mixture stream; forming each of a plurality of different selected reagent mixtures in the combined reagent-mixture stream by adjusting the flow rate of at least one of a plurality of reagent-mixture components in accordance with a respective flow-rate ratio of reagent-mixture components forming each selected reagent mixture; and analyzing the components of each selected reagent mixture. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. 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, a downstream end, and an elongated axis extending between the upstream and downstream ends, a first inlet port located at the upstream end of the mixing chamber and coupled in fluid communication with the pumping means, and defining a first inlet axis for introducing a first reagent-mixture component stream into the mixing chamber along the first inlet axis, a second inlet port located downstream of the first inlet port and coupled in fluid communication with the pumping means, and defining a second inlet axis for introducing a second reagent-mixture component stream into the mixing chamber along the second inlet axis, wherein one of the first and second inlet axes is inclined at an acute angle relative to the other and the elongated axis for introducing the respective reagent-mixture component stream into the mixing chamber in a different flow direction than the other reagent-mixture component stream to thereby create turbulence in the combined reagent-mixture stream, and an outlet port located downstream of the inlet ports for receiving 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 (20, 21)
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Specification