Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Coulter International Corp.

Roberto Del Valle

Richard A Marquis

Pedro P Cabrera

Craig R Veiner

Frank M Tappen

Santos E Vargas

Santiago Galvez

Imran T Siddiqui

Mark A Wells

Jose M Cano

William Weigong Li

Lidice L Lopez

Carlos A Perez

Eileen Landrum

William J Casey

Carlos R Gonzalez

Joaquin Ibanez

A specimen-transport module adapted for use with each of a plurality of specimen-processing instruments of a multi-instrument clinical workcell. Such module is adapted to transport individual racks of specimen-containers relative to a specimen-aspiration probe of an associated instrument in a workcell, as well as to transfer selected racks of specimen-containers to an adjacent and identical specimen-transport module associated with another clinical instrument of the workcell. Since the same transport system is used to both present specimens for aspiration and to transfer specimens between instruments, there is no need for two independent conveyances as is characteristic of the prior art. Preferably, the specimen-transport module includes a magnetic X/Y transport system that operates beneath a rack-supporting surface to advance racks in mutually perpendicular directions across a supporting surface via magnetic forces.

Specimen-transport module for multi-instrument clinical workcell

Specimen-transport module

Specimen-transport module for a multi-instrument clinical workcell

Apparatus for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples in an analytical instrument, e.g., a hematology instrument, includes a liquid-sampling valve that, while operating to segment and position for dispensing one or more precise volumes of a liquid sample that has been aspirated into the valve by a pump, simultaneously enables the apparatus to be operated in an aspirate/dispense (suck-and-spit) mode in which a liquid sample can be selectively driven through the valve in opposite directions by a pump, e.g., a syringe pump.

Apparatus for aspirating and dispensing liquids in an automated analyzer

A method for discriminating and quantifying platelets within an analyzed blood sample involves initially diluting the blood sample with a ghosting reagent that causes a change in the index of refraction of the red blood cells. Owing to the change in the index of refraction, light scattered from the ghosted red blood cells will be substantially reduced relative to light scattered from platelets. This results in locations of platelets within a scatterplot of the analyzed blood sample to fall within a region distinguishable from those containing normal red blood cells, fragmented red blood cells, and microcytic red blood cells.

Method for discriminating platelets from red blood cells

A magnetically-attractive specimen-container rack for use with a magnetic transport system for transporting racks of specimen-containers to or within an automated clinical instrument for analysis and/or processing. The specimen-container rack comprises a pair of U-shaped magnetically-attractive members mounted in the base section of the rack housing so that the distal ends of such members extend towards the base of the rack and terminate in a plane slightly short of the plane in which the rack is supported for movement atop a rack-supporting surface. Such members are adapted to cooperate with similarly-shaped permanent magnets carried by an X/Y-movable truck that underlies a non-magnetic rack-supporting plate. Other features of the rack include a pair of side-pockets formed in one side of the rack in the vicinity of the end walls of the rack housing, such pockets serving to receive a movably-mounted member associated with a linear drive mechanism by which the rack can be physically advanced edgewise along a linear path; and notch structure by which the rack can be releasably engaged by a movably-mounted plate which serves to lift and invert the rack to effect mixing of contained specimens.

Specimen-container rack for automated clinical instrument

A method and apparatus for aspirating a liquid (e.g., blood) from a container uses an electrically biased thermistor element, mounted proximate the tip of a liquid-aspirating probe, to determine that the probe is safely submerged within a body of liquid to be aspirated at all times during the aspiration process. Also disclosed are different aspiration probe assemblies that are useful in the method and apparatus of the invention.

Method and apparatus for aspirating liquid from a container

A method and apparatus for aspirating and dispensing precise volumes of liquid, e.g. whole blood, comprises an aspiration probe or needle having an internal volume precisely equal to a desired volume to be dispensed, and a computer-controlled shear valve for trapping aspirated liquid inside the probe for subsequent dispensing. A liquid sensor positioned downstream of the shear valve cooperates with a liquid level sensor on the probe tip to assure that the probe lumen is filled with the aspirated liquid.

Method and apparatus for aspirating and dispensing liquids

Growing community of inventors

Coral Gables, FL, United States of America

Roberto Del Valle