Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Gmbh

Dade Behring Inc.

Dade Microscan Inc.

William David Dunfee

John Charles Mazza

Edward Stephen Kaminski

Mark H Sprenkle

Colin Ingersoll

Stephen Krufka

Thomas E Weitkamp

Amanda H Schaffers

Richard Henry Carter, Jr

David R Thompson

Kerry Lynn Miller

Edward Francis Farina

Bruce McLean Gemmell

John Paul Mizzer

Tumkur R Vijay

David G Henderson

Daniel E Gillund

Lawrence D Huppman

Frank Krufka

Paul John Zuk

Jeffery Kenneth Parmer

Gregory D Ariff

Jeffrey Taylor

Nathan A Small

Jason Snyder

Patricia Nichols

Media Marie Lloyd

Robert E Myers

Emily Pierce

Robert Hopely, Jr

Robert Franklin Hazlewood, Jr

Yudis Moreta

Richard H Carter

Mark Henry Sprenkle

Jr Richard H Carter

Embodiments provide a fitting for tubing connection, a male fitting assembly, and a torque adaptor. The fitting for tubing connection includes a head including a plurality of first gripping portions, each first gripping portion extending from a top of the head; and a shaft attached to the head, wherein the shaft comprises a plurality of external threads.

Fitting, fitting assembly, and torque adaptor

Embodiments provide a fluid metering device, including: a first fluid supply port for receiving a first fluid; a first fluid dispense port for dispensing the first fluid; a second fluid supply port for receiving a second fluid; a second fluid dispense port for dispensing the second fluid; a waste discharge port for discharging a mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid; a valve assembly including a plurality of valves; a manifold connected to the metering pump, wherein the manifold includes a plurality of fluid channels, and the manifold is used for communicating between the valve assembly and each port; a first tube connected between the second valve and the third valve for accommodating the mixture or the first fluid; and a second tube connected between the third valve and the fourth valve for accommodating the second fluid.

Fluid metering device with reduced cross contamination

A method of detecting a level of a liquid in a well of a container. The method includes looking up an expected liquid level of the liquid in the well of a container; measuring and recording a measured liquid level of the liquid in the well; changing a level of the liquid in the well based upon an expected amount of the liquid to be added or removed; and calculating a next expected liquid level at least in part based on multi-point filtering. Apparatus for carrying out the method are provided, as are other aspects.

Multi-point filtering liquid level detection methods and apparatus

A wash station includes a wash nozzle for cleaning an exterior portion of a probe and a basin allowing for waste fluid to be collected. The wash nozzle includes a vertically-elongate cavity with side slits on opposing side portions. A fluid inlet port may be connected to a side portion of the cavity to provide fluid. Fluid may additionally or alternatively come from within the probe. The basin includes an elongate body with an opened end to receive and secure the wash nozzle. One or more access slots may be provided on opposing side portions of the basin. The probe passes through an access slot or over a portion of the basin and through a side slit of the nozzle to enter the cavity for cleaning. A geometry of the cavity allows the wash nozzle to fill to a predetermined level while waste fluid flows out through the side slits.

Probe wash station for analytical instrumentation

One embodiment provides a method for detecting aspiration in a clinical analyzer, including: acquiring, from a sensor, pressure measurement data; transforming the pressure measurement data into frequency domain data; generating a clean version of the frequency domain data by attenuating, using a filter, unwanted frequencies; comparing the cleaned version of the frequency domain data to one or more predetermined data points; and determining, based on the comparison, if an aspiration was properly performed. Other aspects are described and claimed herein.

Short aspiration detection in a clinical analyzer

Embodiments are directed to a transfer arm with a probe and a crash detection mechanism for use in a clinical analyzer in an in vitro diagnostics environment. The mechanism requires no user-intervention after a collision event, unless the automated inspection mechanism determines that damage to the probe requires probe replacement. Moreover, the mechanism is capable of protecting the probe, in some instances, from damage during a collision. The mechanism provides for automatic resetting after a collision, self-checking, and alignment correction. The mechanism includes a crash detection printed circuit assembly with a switch, and a spring-loaded contact sensor assembly configured to secure a probe within the transfer arm and allow for electrical connection between the switch and the probe during normal operation and electrical disconnection between the switch and the probe upon contact of the probe with an obstruction.

Clinical analyzer probe crash detection mechanism and process

One embodiment provides a quick-connect and rotation system for impeller coupling including: an impeller comprising: a mixer end; and a first attachment end; the first attachment end comprising a first member that is diametrically magnetized; and an motor comprising: a rotational shaft with a second attachment end comprising a second member that is diametrically magnetized; wherein the first attachment end and the second attachment end are complementary to each other; and wherein the motor imparts rotational torque, via a magnetic field between the first member and the second member, on the first attachment end when the first attachment end and the second attachment end are connected.

Quick-connect mixer impeller coupling

Embodiments are directed to a simple, tool-less, and automated connection between a transfer probe and a capacitive liquid level detection printed circuit assembly (PCA) for use in a clinical analyzer in an in vitro diagnostics (IVD) environment in a hospital or laboratory setting. Advantageously, a single user connection is required: a fitting that is used to attach fluid tubing of the transfer arm to a probe, resulting in a mechanical, fluid, and electrical connection between the probe and the transfer arm. A PCA comprises a plurality of spring-loaded pins and capacitive liquid level detection circuity. A probe comprises a primary tube nested within a secondary tube, wherein the primary tube and the secondary tube comprise respective heads at respective top portions thereof forming a set of electrically isolated surfaces. The fitting secures the probe within a transfer arm and establishes the connection between the PCA and the probe.

Quick connection for liquid level sense-enabled metering probe

Embodiments are directed to a single piece radial transfer arm for use in a clinical analyzer in an in vitro diagnostics (IVD) environment. The transfer arm is comprised of a chassis or elongated, rigid member that provides structural and aesthetic properties, acting as both a mounting base and a cover for transfer arm components. The elongated, rigid member is a single component, such as a single piece of injection-molded plastic. The elongated, rigid member has a top surface, a bottom surface, sidewalls, a pivot end, and a component end. One or more access holes and/or internal component mounting locations are provided for mounting one or more components on the bottom surface. A plurality of radial configuration mounting locations are provided on the bottom surface to allow for multiple radial distances between a pivoting axis of the transfer arm and an attached probe to accommodate arcs of different radii.

Single-piece transfer arm structure for analytical instrumentation

Compositions include an aqueous solution of an organic dye of molecular weight in the range of about 300 to about 1,000 and a density-enhancing material. An amount of the density-enhancing material in the aqueous solution is sufficient to achieve a density of about 1.0 to about 1.3 g/mL. The composition has a viscosity of about 3.5 to about 5.0 centipoise. The compositions are useful in assessing the adequacy of a liquid handling mixing device to mix a reaction mixture.

Compositions and methods for liquid mixing assessment

A method adapted to allow aspiration verification of a liquid such as a biological liquid or liquid reagent at low aspiration volumes (e.g., less than 25 &#x3bc;L). The method includes attempting to aspirate a volume of a liquid into a probe at an aspiration frequency, measuring an aspiration pressure associated with the attempted aspiration of the liquid and providing a measured pressure signal, and filtering the measured pressure signal with a filter. The filter has a passband frequency containing the aspiration frequency and excluding the frequencies of a disturbance causing noise in the measured pressure signal. Apparatus for carrying out the method are provided, as are other aspects.

Methods and apparatus for measuring aspiration pressure at low aspiration volumes

A method and apparatus for adjusting the height of a tip of a mixing element, such as a needle probe, compares the mixing efficiency observed at two heights separated by a predetermined distance. The heights can be incrementally adjusted to determine the location of the bottom of a mixing vessel and, by extension, the approximate location for placing the mixing element for efficient mixing of solutions in the mixing vessel.

Method for optimizing vertical probe alignment using diagnostic mixing routines

Disclosed are systems and apparatus adapted to control a temperature of a process fluid in an instrument. In one aspect, the systems and apparatus are adapted to control fluid temperature provided to a feed tank. The feed tank may feed a metering system and metering line of an instrument such as a clinical analyzer. The fluid temperature control system includes a process fluid inflow, a process fluid outflow, a first fluid path fluidly coupled to the process fluid inflow and outflow, and at least one heat exchanger thermally coupled to the first fluid path, wherein the heat exchanger is adapted to extract heat for at least one heat-generating component of the instrument. Controlling a temperature of the process fluid at the feed tank improves metering accuracy. Methods of operating the system are provided, as are other aspects.

Methods, systems, and apparatus providing temperature-controlled process fluid

Analyzing the pressure profile generated during a predetermined period of time prior to the end of an aspiration or dispensing process and comparing a pressure reading to predetermined values to determine if the aspiration or dispensing pipette was free of clogs.

Clog detection in a clinical sampling pipette

A magnetic sample rack adapted to support liquid containers is urged along a surface by means of a magnetic conveyor system located beneath the surface. The magnetic conveyor system comprises a plurality of magnetic housings driven by a belt, the magnetic housings including a magnet slideably contained in a closed upper cavity. Magnetic forces emanating from the magnet overcome frictional resistive forces between the sample racks and the operating surface and move the sample racks along input and output lanes defined in the operating surface. Abrupt movements of the sample racks are eliminated because the housing magnet slides smoothly towards the sample rack, secures the sample rack, and pulls the rack along the operating surface as the housings are moved at a steady rate by the belt.

Growing community of inventors

Newark, DE, United States of America

William David Dunfee