method and apparatus for automatic processing and analysis of successive samples without contamination from waste samples.

摘要

1414925 Packaging TECHNICON INSTRUMENTS CORP 14 May 1973 [7 June 1972] 22902/73 Heading B8C [Also in Divisions G1 and B1] Apparatus for forming successive discrete volumes of a liquid such as a sample-reagent mixture for analysis comprises elongated tubing 12 having spaced seals 30, (100) formed in it to provide separate chambers isolated from one another, drive means 18, 20 for moving the tubing along a path and supply means located along the path for supplying predetermined quantities of liquid through punctures into each chamber, the arrangement being such that each chamber is expanded while liquid is being supplied to it to draw the liquid through the puncture into the chamber. In the embodiment shown, each seal 30 is initially formed with L-shaped passages 36, 38. The sample and reagent containers 40, 72 are held in support collars mounted on flexible endless members 56, 86. Each container has a stopper carrying a hypodermic needle and a valved air inlet; when the base of each container is raised as it travels over cam 68 or 96, the needle punctures the tubing 12 as shown. The tubing and the containers travel together, the volume of the chamber V increasing as the tubing is drawn through rollers 18, 20 and first sample then reagent is drawn into the chamber as the valved air inlets are opened in turn. Valve 82 is then closed and the other air inlet valve (46) opened to allow flow of a predetermined volume of air into the tube. The needles are withdrawn when the containers reach the ends of the cams 68, 96, and the puncture openings in tubing 12 may be sealed. The apparatus may be used in the separation of lymphocytes from whole blood samples, when the tubing with its sealed chambers containing blood separating agent mixture is advanced over a helical drum through incubation means and made to travel vertically to allow sedimentation, each chamber then being subdivided by further seals each containing different blood components (Fig. 8, not shown). The apparatus may also be used in colorimetric analysis of blood samples (Fig. 10, not shown).