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:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 11, 1999
Roger Hammer, Knightstown, IN (US);
William O. Reid, Jr., Noblesville, IN (US);
David Storvick, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Richard A. Riedel, Carmel, IN (US);
James S. Hutchison, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Daniel Kennedy, Indianapolis, IN (US);
John W. Stoughton, Indianapolis, IN (US);
James J. Ramey, Greenwood, IN (US);
Glen T. Mathews, San Diego, CA (US);
Careside, Inc., Culver City, CA (US);
Abstract
The instrument includes a cartridge carousel assembly which receives analytical cartridges. The cartridges are self-contained units which incorporate a sample metering/separation system which is operated by centrifugal force. The cartridge carousel is composed of a cartridge rotor plate which includes a center and a plurality of cartridge ports which are located in spaced relation radially outward from the center of the plate. The cartridge ports include a cartridge dock which is shaped to receive the cartridges and a balance weight dock which is located radially inward from the cartridge dock. The cartridge dock is shaped to receive a balance weight. A locking mechanism is provided which holds the cartridge in the cartridge dock during rotation of the cartridge rotor plate. A balancing mechanism is provided which includes a balance weight which is movable to the balance weight dock when a cartridge is inserted into the cartridge dock. An ejection mechanism is provided which ejects the test cartridge from the cartridge port after processing of the test cartridge is completed.