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:
Mar. 20, 2012
Filed:
Jan. 27, 2010
Ronald J. Shanafelter, Fremont, CA (US);
Ronald J. Shanafelter, Fremont, CA (US);
Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL (US);
Abstract
A module for staging sample tubes and mixing the samples contained in the sample tubes for an automated clinical analyzer. In one embodiment, this module comprises a mixing drum, which is capable of mixing the contents of a sample tube in an end-over-end manner. The mixing drum is capable of mixing samples in the sample tubes without separating the solid components of the sample, e.g., red blood cells from the liquid components of the sample, e.g., plasma. A device for elevating the sample tube in the sample tube carrier can be used to enable the cap of the sample tube to be punctured by a piercing element in a piercing assembly. After the cap of the sample tube is punctured, a probe for aspirating the sample from said sample tube can obtain the sample in the receptacle of the sample tube through a bore in the piercing element. The piercing assembly can include a resiliently biased element for ejecting the sample tube from the piercing assembly.