Particulate tester with mixer for analytical application
First Claim
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1. A stirring mechanism for noninvasive mixing of liquid and particulate matter held in a container, comprising:
- a support configured to receive the container;
a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the support to impart to the container a non-circular path of motion that induces substantially uniform mixing of the liquid and the particulate matter held in the container;
the support including a coupling feature and the drive mechanism including a drive feature that cooperates with the coupling feature of the support to produce directional components of the non-circular path of motion, the directional components activating in the liquid a vortex that is capable of generating sufficient lift of the particulate matter and linear motion of an amount sufficient to introduce into the vortex a degree of chaos that thoroughly mixes the particulate matter in the liquid;
a particulate matter-detecting sensor; and
a sample conduit that is capable of transmitting to the particulate matter-detecting sensor the liquid thoroughly mixed with particulate matter.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mixer for analytical application mixes a container of fluid without a magnetic stir bar. A device for testing a liquid for particles can use the mixer. The mixing can occur in a sealed container, and liquid can be transmitted to the device from the sealed container.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A stirring mechanism for noninvasive mixing of liquid and particulate matter held in a container, comprising:
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a support configured to receive the container; a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the support to impart to the container a non-circular path of motion that induces substantially uniform mixing of the liquid and the particulate matter held in the container; the support including a coupling feature and the drive mechanism including a drive feature that cooperates with the coupling feature of the support to produce directional components of the non-circular path of motion, the directional components activating in the liquid a vortex that is capable of generating sufficient lift of the particulate matter and linear motion of an amount sufficient to introduce into the vortex a degree of chaos that thoroughly mixes the particulate matter in the liquid; a particulate matter-detecting sensor; and a sample conduit that is capable of transmitting to the particulate matter-detecting sensor the liquid thoroughly mixed with particulate matter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification