American Monitor Corporation

David D Hyde

James R Stuart

Fluid-sampling system and method for automated, chemistry-analyzing apparatus for withdrawing precise quantities of serum samples from a specimen container and for dispensing the samples into reagent containers for analysis. The apparatus includes a sampler assembly coupled to pressure-generating means for the withdrawal and dispensing of the serum by the sampler assembly. The system is designed such that the quantity of a serum sample taken up and dispensed will be a function only of the fluid mechanics of the sampling system and the timed operation of a control valve rather than being a function of any pressure variations established in the flow control means as in prior systems. This permits infinitely variable, very small, yet very precise quantities of a serum or other fluid to be taken up and dispensed permitting more efficient and cost effective use of available serum. The apparatus further includes means for simultaneously withdrawing more than one sample of a particular serum from a serum specimen container for permitting more than one test to be initiated on a particular serum during a single cycle of the chemistry-analyzing apparatus. Serum-level detecting means are also provided to ensure that the sampler assembly is properly immersed in a serum specimen before the pressure-generating means is actuated to withdraw serum therefrom. A microprocessor controller is provided to control the overall operation of the fluid-sampling system.

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Camby, IN, United States of America

David D Hyde