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Publication Number
US-11067110-B2
Publication Date
2021-07-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A diagnostic instrument is disclosed. The diagnostic instrument may have a highly efficient probe washer station and/or may be able to sense whether there is a tube septum on a specimen tube to be sampled. The instrument may also be able to determine where the bottom of the tube is located. The probe washer station may have a flow of saline that is used to wash both the internal cavity and the external circumference of the probe.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an integrated diagnostic/flow-cytometry instrument that combines specimen handling, probe washing, fluid-level measurement, and flow-cytometer operation. It includes a probe washer station that uses a saline/air nozzle to create vortex flow, together with a probe well/overflow arrangement and vacuum aspiration to wash a probe.
For automated specimen handling, the instrument uses tube septum detection and tube-bottom detection, based on resistance and/or IR detection, to support specimen processing with appropriate detection of tube features. The instrument further includes a fluid-level measurement container that measures fluid level using infrared refraction/absorption, with multiple light transmitter/receptor positions to provide the measurement.
Additional embodiments include a clog-preventing filtration system for a flow-cytometer, including multiple holes filter and a back flushing concept, to help prevent clogging. The disclosure also includes a probe geometry designed to reduce septum coring and cell debris, with the aim of improving mixing/counting reproducibility.
Claims Coverage
The partial claims provided identify three independent claims. Each independent claim centers on a motor-associated device coupling that secures a lead screw shaft to a female portion by inserting a tapered shaft end into a recess and pulling the shaft into place with a coaxially aligned screw acting on a threaded hole, thereby preventing relative rotation via friction.
Tapered shaft inserted into recess of motor female portion
A female portion associated with the motor has a recess; a lead screw shaft includes a tapered surface formed at one end that is insertable into the recess of the female portion.
Coaxially aligned screw pulls shaft into recess to join and prevent rotation
A screw is configured to pull the shaft into the recess and join the shaft to the female portion such that the shaft is prevented from rotating with respect to the female portion due to friction between the shaft and the female portion, with the screw coaxially aligned with a central axis of the shaft.
Threaded hole at shaft end receiving the screw
The shaft includes a threaded hole at the one end of the shaft.
Motor-device coupling where female portion attachable to motor
A motor and a device coupling including a female portion of the device coupling having a recess, where the female portion is attachable to the motor.
Using screw in threaded hole to pull tapered shaft end into recess
A method inserting the tapered surface at one end of the shaft into the female portion having the recess and including using a screw in the threaded hole to pull the shaft into the recess to join the shaft to the female portion so the shaft is prevented from rotating with respect to the female portion due to friction, with the screw coaxially aligned with a central axis of the shaft.
Across the independent claims, the inventive structure is a friction-based rotationally secured coupling formed by inserting a tapered lead-screw shaft end into a motor-associated female recess and then pulling the shaft into the recess with a coaxially aligned screw that engages a threaded hole.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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