Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for mixing fluids for analysis

US5840254A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
41References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 2, 1995
Grant dateNov 24, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 2, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T436/117497
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In an apparatus for fluid analysis, such as hematologic analysis, a plurality of reagent-mixture components are each injected by a respective pump through a valve matrix and into a flow-injection unit. The flow-injection unit defines a mixing chamber including a plurality of protuberances or nubs projecting inwardly toward the center of the chamber, and spaced relative to each other both axially and radially. As the reagent-mixture components are injected into the mixing chamber, the nubs agitate the fluid flow and create turbulence, thereby dispersing the reagent-mixture components and in turn mixing the components together to create a reagent mixture. The flow rates of the reagent-mixture components are adjusted in order to select the reagent-mixture ratio as the components are combined in the flow-injection unit to thereby create the selected reagent mixture. Upon passage through the flow-injection unit, the reagent mixture is injected into a sensing unit for analyzing a particle distribution of the mixture.

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