Dried chemical compositions
Granted: December 7, 1999
Patent Number:
5998031
The present invention provides dried chemical compositions comprising dried beads. Typically, the beads comprise reagents suitable for analysis of biological samples, in particular analysis of blood samples in centrifugal analyzers.
Dried chemical compositions
Granted: July 7, 1998
Patent Number:
5776563
The present invention provides dried chemical compositions comprising dried beads. Typically, the beads comprise reagents suitable for analysis of biological samples, in particular analysis of blood samples in centrifugal analyzers.
Methods of transporting fluids within an analytical rotor
Granted: December 2, 1997
Patent Number:
5693233
The present invention provides an analytical rotor which holds a fluid in a chamber, typically to allow mixing with a reagent, and transfers the fluid to a receiving chamber in the rotor. The rotor comprises a holding chamber having an single exit duct and a receiving chamber connected to the holding chamber through the exit duct. The exit duct prevents flow at a first rotational speed and allows flow at a second, higher rotational speed. The exit duct may include a capillary passage in…
Reagent compositions for analytical testing
Granted: April 29, 1997
Patent Number:
5624597
The present invention provides lyophilized reagent spheres comprising reagents suitable for analysis of biological samples, in particular analysis of blood samples in centrifugal analyzers. Also provided are diluents which are conveniently used in such analyzers.
Method and device for ultrasonic welding
Granted: February 4, 1997
Patent Number:
5599411
A method and a device for modifying the energy-applying surface of an ultrasonic welding horn to join two complex thermoplastic parts by applying a thin film to the surface of the horn is disclosed. The thin film is applied to insure that a proper weld occurs along a complex and intricate pattern of energy directors located between the parts.
Simplified inlet channels
Granted: January 7, 1997
Patent Number:
5591643
The present invention provides centrifugal rotors for delivering a liquid, typically a biological sample such as diluted plasma, to an unvented chamber in the rotor through an unmodified inlet channel. The unvented chamber is typically a cuvette comprising reagents necessary for analysis of a biological sample. The unmodified inlet channels are sized such that, as the rotor spins, gas escapes from the chamber through the inlet channel as the liquid enters the chamber through the inlet…
Error checking in blood analyzer
Granted: December 31, 1996
Patent Number:
5590052
The present invention provides various methods for detecting errors in a blood analysis system. The system includes a blood analyzer and a molded plastic rotor with a series of chambers and capillary channels through which blood is processed and distributed to cuvettes which contain lyophilized reagents. The rotor is placed in the analyzer which spins the rotor, and an optical system reads the cuvettes as light is flashed through the cuvettes. The invention provides checks for:…
Simultaneous cuvette filling with means to isolate cuvettes
Granted: May 21, 1996
Patent Number:
5518930
The present invention provides centrifugal rotors for delivering a liquid, typically a biological sample such as diluted plasma, to a plurality of cuvettes in the rotor. The cuvettes are positioned radially inward of an annulate manifold and are connected to the manifold through a plurality of inlet channels. The liquid is introduced in one end of the manifold and, as the rotor spins, the liquid fills the manifold from the radially outward edge inward. After, the manifold fills, the…
Methods for photometric analysis
Granted: December 26, 1995
Patent Number:
5478750
The present invention provides a compact, highly automated photometric analyzer for measuring the concentration of substances found in a fluid, typically a blood sample or other body fluid sample taken from a patient. The operator places a small quantity of the sample into a special rotor and then loads the rotor into the analyzer. The analyzer accepts the rotor, centrifuges and dilutes the sample, and distributes the sample into a plurality of cuvettes near the outer edge of the rotor.…
Analytical rotor with dye mixing chamber
Granted: December 5, 1995
Patent Number:
5472603
The present invention provides an analytical rotor which holds a fluid in a chamber, typically to allow mixing with a reagent, and transfers the fluid to a receiving chamber in the rotor. The rotor comprises a holding chamber having an single exit duct and a receiving chamber connected to the holding chamber through the exit duct. The exit duct prevents flow at a first rotational speed and allows flow at a second, higher rotational speed. The exit duct may include a capillary passage in…
Reagent container for analytical rotor
Granted: October 10, 1995
Patent Number:
5457053
An analytical rotor which comprises a receptacle for receiving a post on a centrifuge and means in the rotor body proximate to the receptacle for releasing a liquid in response to mounting the rotor in the centrifuge is disclosed. The means for releasing the liquid is preferably a sealed container shiftably positioned in a chamber proximate the receptacle.
Reagent compositions for analytical testing
Granted: May 9, 1995
Patent Number:
5413732
The present invention provides lyophilized reagent spheres comprising reagents suitable for analysis of biological samples, in particular analysis of blood samples in centrifugal analyzers. Also provided are diluents which are conveniently used in such analyzers.
Simultaneous cuvette filling with means to isolate cuvettes
Granted: April 25, 1995
Patent Number:
5409665
The present invention provides centrifugal rotors for delivering a liquid, typically a biological sample such as diluted plasma, to a plurality of cuvettes in the rotor. The cuvettes are positioned radially inward of an annulate manifold and are connected to the manifold through a plurality of inlet channels. The liquid is introduced in one end of the manifold and, as the rotor spins, the liquid fills the manifold from the radially outward edge inward. After, the manifold fills, the…
Method and device for ultrasonic welding
Granted: April 4, 1995
Patent Number:
5403415
A method and a device for modifying the energy-applying surface of an ultrasonic welding horn to join two complex thermoplastic parts by applying a thin film to the surface of the horn is disclosed. The thin film is applied to insure that a proper weld occurs along a complex and intricate pattern of energy directors located between the parts.
Reagent container for analytical rotor
Granted: April 19, 1994
Patent Number:
5304348
An analytical rotor which comprises a receptacle for receiving a post on a centrifuge and a sealed rigid container in the rotor body proximate to the receptacle is provided. The seal on the container is opened when the post is inserted in the receptacle, thereby releasing a liquid in the container. The seal is preferably opened through the displacement of the container caused by positioning of the rotor on the centrifuge post.
Cryogenic apparatus
Granted: January 4, 1994
Patent Number:
5275016
The present invention provides methods and devices for freezing drops of liquid reagent solution in a cryogenic liquid. In one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention comprises means for dispensing uniform, precisely measured drops of a liquid reagent and a rotatable carousel positioned below the dispensing means. The upper surface of the carousel has a plurality of trays each containing a cryogenic liquid, typically liquid nitrogen, for receiving the drops of liquid reagent.…
Sample metering port for analytical rotor having overflow chamber
Granted: September 7, 1993
Patent Number:
5242606
An analytical rotor for separating plasma whole blood comprises a rotor body having a sample application port in an upper surface thereof. Blood introduced to the sample application port is metered into a metering chamber by capillary flow while the rotor remains stationary. Excess blood passes into an overflow chamber by capillary flow, either simultaneously with the metered flow or after opening of a vent in the overflow chamber. Subsequent rotation of the rotor causes metered blood in…
Apparatus and method for continuous centrifugal blood cell separation
Granted: February 16, 1993
Patent Number:
5186844
An analytical rotor for separating cellular components from a biological fluid includes a separation chamber spaced radially outward from a sample chamber. The sample chamber may be an open receptacle disposed to receive sample or may be a mixing chamber which receives sample and diluent. A flow restrictive channel connects the sample chamber to the separation chamber so that fluid enters the separation chamber at a controlled rate. The cellular components collect within a retention…
Apparatus and method for optically analyzing biological fluids
Granted: June 16, 1992
Patent Number:
5122284
A centrifugal rotor comprising a plurality of peripheral cuvettes and a collection chamber spaced radially inward from the cuvettes is disclosed. The rotor includes a means for introducing fluid into the collection chamber and plurality of generally radial inlet channels connecting each cuvette to the chamber. Each inlet channel has a discrete flow path for fluid to enter the cuvette and another discrete flow path for gas to exit the cuvette as the cuvette is filled. Positioned radially…
Apparatus and method for separating cells from biological fluids
Granted: October 29, 1991
Patent Number:
5061381
A centrifugal rotor for separating plasma from whole blood includes a plurality of internal chambers and passages for combining the plasma with one or more reagents and distributing the plasma to a plurality of individual test wells. The chambers and passages necessary for separating the whole blood into plasma are located on a first, upper level within the rotor and include a measuring chamber, an overflow chamber, a separation chamber, and a reagent chamber. The measuring chamber and…
