Methods and apparatus for measuring aspiration pressure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016258972-A1
Application number	US-201415028823-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 15, 2014
Priority date	Oct 17, 2013
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aspiration apparatus adapted to allow aspiration verification of a liquid such as of a biological liquid or reagent liquid, especially at low aspiration volumes (e.g., less than 25 μL). The apparatus includes a pump operable at an operating frequency, the pump optionally including a pumping chamber, a probe having a probe interior, a main supply line containing a backing liquid coupled to and extending from the pump and including the probe interior, a striction coupled to the main supply line, or the pump chamber, if present, and a reservoir fluidly coupled to the striction, wherein the striction is sized to minimize backing liquid flow through the striction at one or more disturbance frequencies above the operating frequency. Systems and methods for carrying out the liquid aspiration are provided, as are other aspects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An aspirating apparatus, comprising:
a pump operable at an operating frequency, the pump optionally including a pumping chamber; a probe having a probe interior; a main supply line containing a backing liquid coupled to and extending from the pump, the main supply line including the probe interior; a striction coupled to the main supply line, or the pump chamber, if present; and a reservoir fluidly coupled to the striction, wherein the striction is sized to minimize flow through the striction at one or more disturbance frequencies above the operating frequency.

2 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a sensor coupled to the reservoir.

3 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sensor produces a measured sensor signal that is devoid of disturbances produced by flow in the main supply line that are above the operating frequency.

4 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a liquid-containing portion and a gas-containing portion.

5 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the striction is sized to substantially minimize flow of the backing liquid through the striction at greater than about 50 Hz.

6 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a valve adapted to apply gas pressure to the reservoir.

7 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes a wall of a transparent or translucent material.

8 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the striction is sized to eliminate flow of the backing liquid through the striction at the one or more disturbance frequencies.

9 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the striction has a striction cross-sectional area (As) that is less than a main supply line cross-sectional area (Am) of the main supply line.

10 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir and the striction are included in a manifold.

11 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the manifold is positioned directly adjacent to, or integrated into, the probe.

12 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the manifold is positioned directly adjacent to the pump.

13 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the manifold is positioned directly in the main supply line.

14 . The aspirating apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the manifold comprises a base including the striction, the reservoir including a translucent or transparent wall, a sensor coupled to the reservoir, and a valve adapted to apply gas pressure to the reservoir.

15 . A method of aspirating a biological or reagent liquid, comprising:
attempting to aspirate a volume of the biological or reagent liquid into a probe by pumping a backing liquid in a main supply line at an operating frequency; measuring pressure in a reservoir decoupled from the main supply line by a striction and providing a measured pressure signal; and verifying the attempting to aspirate the volume of the biological or reagent liquid.

16 . The method of claim 15 , comprising sizing the striction to eliminate flow of the backing liquid through the striction at one or more disturbance frequencies.

17 . The method of claim 15 , comprising applying gas pressure to the reservoir.

18 . The method of claim 15 , comprising coupling a sensor to the reservoir to provide the measured pressure signal.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the measuring pressure in the reservoir comprises directly measuring pressure of a gas contained in the reservoir.

20 . An aspiration system, comprising:
a probe having a probe interior adapted to aspirate a biological liquid or reagent liquid; a pump having a pumping chamber operable at an operating frequency; a robot coupled to and adapted to move the probe; a main supply line containing a backing liquid coupled to the pumping chamber, the main supply line including the probe interior; a striction coupled to the pumping chamber or main supply line; and a reservoir fluidly coupled to the striction, wherein the striction is sized to decouple the reservoir and minimize flow of backing liquid at one or more disturbance frequencies above the operating frequency.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc

Inventors

• Zordan Enrico

Classifications

• G01N35/1009

  Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids · CPC title

• B01L2400/086

  using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions · CPC title

• B01L3/021 Primary

  Pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids · CPC title

• B01L2300/12

  Specific details about materials · CPC title

• B01L2200/146

  Employing pressure sensors · CPC title