Blood cell analyzer with tube holder and cap piercer

Details Blood cell analyzer with tube holder and cap piercer Blood cell analyzer with tube holder and cap piercer

1999-02-25

2001-08-14

Le, Long V. (Department: 1743)

Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser

Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition

C422S091000, C422S105000, C422S081000, C422S063000, C436S054000, C436S180000, C073S864240, C073S864250, C073S863020, C073S863030, C073S863850

Reexamination Certificate

active

06274087

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a diagnostic medical device, and in particular to a blood cell analyzer which by manual or automatic operation withdraws and analyzes a minimal amount of blood that is stored in open or sealed vials with pierceable caps.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Blood sample analysis systems are known in which the operator must position and hold in place tubes or vials of the samples to be analyzed. The systems include needles which pierce a closure on a sample tube to provide communication between blood in the sample tube and the system. Such prior art systems expose operators to the risk of contamination and infection from blood samples, as well as the risk of being cut by broken glass or other shattered materials. In addition, the prior art systems can only accept a limited number of sizes of tubes or vials.
It is desired to have a safer, more flexible means for positioning and holding blood sample tubes and vials during the cap piercing operation. Specifically, it is desired to have a holding and piercing apparatus which is “hands off” during the piercing operation, so as to prevent exposure of the operator to contamination from the blood in the vial being penetrated. It is also desired to improve the safety of such an apparatus by incorporating a safety interlock system. It is also desired to make it easier to insert and remove tubes or vials from the holder. It also is desired to have more flexibility to analyze samples from many sizes of vials or tubes (e.g., from 10.25×64 mm to 16×100 mm).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a blood cell analyzer which by manual or automatic operation withdraws and analyzes a minimal amount of blood that is stored in open or sealed vials. The analyzer includes a manually operated self cleaning sampling device for open vials and an automated self cleaning sampling device for sealed vials fitted with a pierceable cap. The analyzer further includes a red blood cell counter, white blood cell counter, hemoglobin detector, valving system, and electronic controller. The blood cell analyzer further includes features for precisely measuring and mixing whole blood or prediluted blood with diluent as needed in order to analyze the blood sample
The present invention includes an apparatus for holding vials of varying sizes sealed with pierceable caps and for piercing the caps of the vials. The apparatus comprises a frame, holder, plate, cup, needle, driver, and an interlocking safety switch.
The frame has upper and lower ends. The holder is adjustably mounted on the upper end of the frame and is adapted to receive and hold the outer surface of a vial opposite the pierceable cap which seals the vial. The plate, which has an aperture in it, is mounted on the frame below the holder.
A cup is mounted on the top of the plate. The bottom of the cup has an aperture aligned with the aperture in the plate. The cup is adapted to receive the pierceable cap which seals the vial.
The needle is adapted to pierce the pierceable cap of the vial and to communicate with the contents of the vial. The needle is extendable and retractable through the apertures in the plate and the cup.
A driver, such as an electric motor, which extends and retracts the needle, is interlocked with the holder by a safety switch. The driver cannot extend the needle through the aperture in the cup whenever a vial is not held by the holder.
The apparatus may also include a needle cartridge assembly below the plate. The needle cartridge assembly has a lower end, a body, and an upper end, the top of which has an aperture aligned with the aperture in the plate. The body of the needle cartridge assembly contains the needle and a biasing means for engaging the needle and biasing the needle away from the pierceable cap of the vial. The biasing means may be a compression spring, such as a coil spring.
The apparatus may also include a rinse system for cleaning the needle. The needle cartridge assembly is connected to a rinse passage for selectively communicating a rinse fluid to the needle. The needle may be contained in a chamber within the needle cartridge assembly. The chamber is connected to the rinse passage, through which the rinse fluid is injected in one direction into the chamber, and from which the rinse fluid is withdrawn in another direction.


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