Patent · US Expired

Fluid probe washing apparatus and method

US5408891A · kind A · utility

32Cited by

34References

19Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Beckman Instruments, Inc. · US

Inventors

Duane G. Barber · Yorba Linda, US
David Dalke · Rancho Santa Margarita, US

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 17, 1992
Grant date	Apr 25, 1995
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Dec 17, 2012

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01N2035/1025
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A probe washing apparatus including a probe having a tip and a wash collar having a bore coaxially aligned with the probe, the wash collar including ports for applying a vacuum and a wash liquid to the wash collar bore. The probe may be displaced vertically with respect to the wash collar to aspirate and dispense liquids, and the wash collar and probe are displaced together laterally. The steps of washing the probe tip include raising the probe to a position with the probe tip within the bore, applying vacuum to the bore, flushing the interior of the probe, and flushing the exterior of the probe.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.