The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 16, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 11, 2000
John B. Desjardins, Leominster, MA (US);
William W. Seifert, Wellesley Hills, MA (US);
Robert S. Wenstrup, Wayland, MA (US);
Vernon C. Westcott, Lincoln, MA (US);
Guilfoyle, Inc., Belmont, MA (US);
Abstract
A ferrographic apparatus and method incorporate a priming operation that moves a priming fluid, in a direction opposite to the flow direction subsequently followed by the sample fluid, through a fluid pathway including the flow chamber. The fluid pathway is configured to facilitate dissipation of any gas bubble introduced into it during the priming operation and to reduce adventitious deposition of specimen material at locations other than the substrate. Sample fluid to be analyzed is added to the reservoir so as to form a bubble-free interface with the priming fluid, and the direction of movement through the flow chamber is reversed. The resulting continuous fluid column is advanced through the fluid pathway so that the sample fluid enters the flow chamber through the inlet port and passes through the magnetic field gradient, exiting through an orifice at the opposite end of the flow chamber serving as the outlet port. The flow chamber of the ferrograph is preferably contained in a deposition cassette comprising the substrate, a gasket and a platen which incorporates an integral fluid reservoir in communication with the inlet port. A pump is preferably configured to move each liquid through the fluid pathway at a distinct flow rate and in a direction according to the function performed by the respective liquid.