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Telescoping closed-tube sampling assembly

  • US 8,758,702 B2
  • Filed: 05/04/2006
  • Issued: 06/24/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A clinical diagnostic analyzer comprising:

  • (i) a sample collecting device for sampling fluid in a container, said device comprising a sampling assembly comprising,(a) a first tube reciprocally movable in a vertical axis from a first position to a second position, comprising a lumen, a pointed tip, and a proximal end, said proximal end in communication with a tubing, and an upper detent and a lower detent proximal to said pointed tip and positioned on an exterior of said first tube;

    (b) a locking mechanism comprising a solenoid and a lock for reversibly engaging with at least one of said upper and lower detent for fixing the position of said first tube relative to a second tube between the first and the second position,(c) said second tube comprising a lumen and a free end, wherein said first tube is axially movable from the first position, wherein said second tube is enclosed within the lumen of said first tube while said upper detent of said first tube is engaged with said lock, to the second position whereby said free end of said second tube transitions from an enclosed position within the lumen of said first tube to a deployed position beyond said pointed tip of said first tube while said upper detent of said first tube is disengaged from said lock and said lower detent of said first tube is engaged with said lock;

    (d) a system for moving said first tube and said second tube in the vertical axis while positioning the second tube for sampling fluid in said container, said system comprising,a z-rack joined to said sampling assembly,one or more motion sensors for detecting motion parallel to the length of at least one of the first tube or the second tube, and a foot assembly for contacting said container, wherein said one or more sensors operably engaged by the foot assembly for contacting said container determines when said container is in position for piercing by said first tube and sampling by said second tube,a motor operatively connected to said z-rack for driving said z-rack vertically, thereby moving the sampling assembly vertically to position the first tube above said container,a computer configured to send and receive input from said one or more sensors, and an information processing unit, said information processing unit in communication with said solenoid operatively joined to said lock and configured to coordinate movement of said locking mechanism with said upper and lower detents positioned on said first tube, and configured to coordinate downward vertical movement of said sampling assembly via said motor connected to said z-rack to pierce a seal on said container with the pointed tip of said first tube while said upper detent of said first tube is engaged with said lock and said pointed tip of said second tube is within the lumen of said first tube, followed by an upward movement of said first tube while said lower detent of said first tube is engaged with said lock exposing the pointed tip of the second tube while said first tube remains stationary, and sampling fluid in said container by the pointed tip of said second tube;

    (ii) at least one pump, wherein the second tube is in fluid communication within said at least one pump; and

    (iii) an analysis station in communication with said second tube for analyzing said fluid sample sampled in said container by said second tube.

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