EP0047130A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Flow analysis
Assignee: EIDP Inc
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Filing: 1981-08-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for analysis of liquid samples is described. The method involves simultaneously introducing a predetermined quantity of a given sample and a predetermined quantity of a selected reagent therefor directly into separate flow lines (1,2) by aspiration from separate containers (S,R); bringing the extracted sample and the extracted reagent together (10) into a common flow channel (11); and causing the sample/reagent mixture to travel along the flow channel as a discrete liquid slug interposed in the stream of a carrier liquid to the measurement cell (12) of an analytical instrument. Another aspect of the method is characterised in that a single pump (7) is used to draw sample(S) and reagent(R) into separate arms (1,2) of the flow channel which subsequently merge (10), and to drive the sample/reagent mixture along the flow channel (11); and in that a carrier liquid (C) is drawn into the flow channel by said pump (7) so that the material within the flow channel is carried along as a continuous liquid phase. The apparatus comprises means for extracting the sample and reagent; a peristaltic pump (7) for driving material along the flow channel; a stepping motor (5) connected or connectable to drive the peristaltic pump, the stepping motor being controllable (preferably by a microprocessor (6)) so that it can make precise angular movements; means (10), for example a Y-piece or T-piece, for bringing the extracted sample and the extracted reagent together into a common flow channel (11); and means for deriving an analytical measurement (13) from material in the flow channel. The method and apparatus are particularly well suited for use in the automatic analysis of samples of clinical interest.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford Riley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/08; G01N35/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of analysis of a liquid sample which is carried along a flow channel by a carrier liquid, which method comprises simultaneously introducing a predetermined quantity of a given sample and a predetermined quantity of a selected reagent directly into separate flow lines by aspiration from separate containers; bringing the extracted sample and the extracted reagent together into a common flow channel; and causing the sample/reagent mixture to travel along said flow channel as a discrete liquid slug interposed in a stream of carrier liquid to the measurement cell of an analytical instrument.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of analysis of a liquid sample which is carried along a flow channel by a carrier liquid, which method comprises simultaneously introducing a predetermined quantity of a given sample and a predetermined quantity of a selected reagent directly into separate flow lines by aspiration from separate containers; bringing the extracted sample and the extracted reagent together into a common flow channel; and causing the sample/reagent mixture to travel along said flow channel as a discrete liquid slug interposed in a stream of carrier liquid to the measurement cell of an analytical instrument.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of analysis of a liquid sample which is carried along a flow channel to the measurement cell of an analytical instrument, which is characterised in that a single pump is used to draw sample and reagent into separate arms of the flow channel which subsequently merge and to drive the sample/reagent mixture along the flow channel; and in that a carrier liquid is drawn into the flow channel by said pump so that the material within the flow channel is carried along as a continuous liquid phase.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of analysis of a liquid sample which is carried along a flow channel to the measurement cell of an analytical instrument, which is characterised in that a single pump is used to draw sample and reagent into separate arms of the flow channel which subsequently merge and to drive the sample/reagent mixture along the flow channel; and in that a carrier liquid is drawn into the flow channel by said pump so that the material within the flow channel is carried along as a continuous liquid phase.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein material is caused to flow along the flow channel by a peristaltic pump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein sample and reagent are extracted by hollow probes which are connected to the peristaltic pump by narrow bore tubing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the peristaltic pump is driven by a stepping motor under the control of a microprocessor.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
26 words
A method according to any preceding claim, in which a single discrete sample/reagent slug is caused to pass along the flow channel at any given time.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
39 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of sample/reagent slugs are caused to flow along the flow channel simultaneously, each of the slugs being separated by a predetermined column of carrier liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
,8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the flow channel is constituted by piping of internal diameter not greater than 1 millimetre.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
26 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the sample and reagent are brought together at a Y-piece or T-piece forming part of the flow channel.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the quantity of reagent drawn into the flow channel is greater than the quantity of sample.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
23 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each slug of sample/reagent in the flow channel is subjected to spectrophotometric analysis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for the analysis of liquid samples carried along a flow channel by a carrier liquid, which apparatus comprises means for simultaneously introducing predetermined quantities of a given sample and of a selected reagent directly into separate flow lines by aspiration from separate containers; a peristaltic pump for pumping liquid along the flow channel; a stepping motor connected or connectable to drive the peristaltic pump, the stepping motor being controllable so that it can make precise angular movements; means for bringing the extracted sample and the extracted reagent together into a common flow channel; and means for deriving an analytical measurement from material in the flow channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for the analysis of liquid samples carried along a flow channel by a carrier liquid, which apparatus comprises means for simultaneously introducing predetermined quantities of a given sample and of a selected reagent directly into separate flow lines by aspiration from separate containers; a peristaltic pump for pumping liquid along the flow channel; a stepping motor connected or connectable to drive the peristaltic pump, the stepping motor being controllable so that it can make precise angular movements; means for bringing the extracted sample and the extracted reagent together into a common flow channel; and means for deriving an analytical measurement from material in the flow channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, which further includes a microprocessor adapted to control the stepping motor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the means for deriving an analytical measurement from material in the flow channel is a spectrophotometer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, which further includes a turntable for receiving and holding samples which are to undergo analysis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claims 13 and 15, wherein the turntable is controlled by an indexing arrangement actuated directly or indirectly by the stepping motor and controlled by the microprocessor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the flow channel is constituted by narrow bore tubing of internal diameter less than 1 millimetre.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 12 to 17, in which the means for bringing the extracted sample and the extracted reagent together into a common flow channel is a Y- or a T-piece.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 12 to 18, in which the means for simultaneously extracting quantities of sample and reagent comprise a pair of hollow probes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claims 13 and 19, which further comprises a probe control mechanism which is operated through an indexing arrangement by the stepping motor under control of the microprocessor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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