WO2014122490A1 - Multipurpose unit for the handling of samples containing liquid components - Google Patents

Multipurpose unit for the handling of samples containing liquid components Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014122490A1
WO2014122490A1 PCT/HU2014/000012 HU2014000012W WO2014122490A1 WO 2014122490 A1 WO2014122490 A1 WO 2014122490A1 HU 2014000012 W HU2014000012 W HU 2014000012W WO 2014122490 A1 WO2014122490 A1 WO 2014122490A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
passage
unit
stationary member
measuring
sample
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/HU2014/000012
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jenö CSIKÓS
Péter Kovács
Bálint Tibor MENDELE
László ORBÁN
László SÜLE
Péter TÓTH-MIKLÓS
Attila Zsott TREMMEL
Gábor VÁRNAGY
Original Assignee
Norma Instruments Zrt.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Norma Instruments Zrt. filed Critical Norma Instruments Zrt.
Publication of WO2014122490A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014122490A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/483—Physical analysis of biological material
    • G01N33/487—Physical analysis of biological material of liquid biological material
    • G01N33/49—Blood
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/10—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
    • G01N35/1095—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers
    • G01N35/1097—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers characterised by the valves

Definitions

  • Multipurpose unit for the handling of samples containing liquid components
  • the subject of the invention relates to a multipurpose unit for the handling of samples containing liquid components, especially for preparing the analysis of blood samples, which contains a sampling part-unit having a lower stationary member, an upper stationary member and a moving member, which is inserted between the lower stationary member and the upper stationary member and is movable in relation to them, the moving member of the sampling part-unit has a sample holder passage, while the upper stationary member has at least one upper sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage and/or the lower stationary member has at least one lower sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage, and the upper sample transfer passage of the upper stationary member and/or the lower sample transfer passage of the lower stationary member is connected to a sampling piece.
  • sampling unit which usually contains a sampling needle, an element that can take out samples with appropriate precision, and a unit that moves the analysed blood sample to the place where the sample is taken out.
  • measuring unit which contains a chamber for preparing the diluted blood sample, a measuring head suitable for analysing the diluted blood sample, and a fluid moving element that transfers the blood sample across the measuring head.
  • the sampling unit and the measuring unit are placed independently from each other.
  • Patent specification no GB 2.459.122 specifically describes a sampling device, while devices preparing the sample for measuring are described, for example, in patent specification no GB 1.064.813, and in publication documents no WO 2004/003517 and WO 2013/002213.
  • a significant deficiency of these solutions is that due to the fact that the two main part-units are physically separated, the device contains numerous tube sections - suitable for moving the fluid -, junctions and regulator valves, which makes it a large device with a high energy and reagent demand, and it is also susceptible to failures because of the numerous controlled parts.
  • a general disadvantage of the known devices is that they perform the two tasks at separate places, in independent constructions. Their further disadvantage is that in the case of measurements performed based on the principle of volumetric impedance the aperture is available only in one size, as a result of which the measurable substances and samples are within narrow limits.
  • Our aim with the solution according to the invention was to overcome the deficiencies of the known devices and to create a multipurpose unit of a smaller overall size, with a reduced number of structural fluid moving and actuator elements between the two units, with a lower need for repairs, where the device can be operated with the use of a lower amount of reagents, more cost efficiently, with a lower number of parts and more reliably, and where it is possible to analyse samples within a much wider range.
  • the idea behind the invention was based on the recognition that if the intermediate element of this known sampling device with a simple structural construction consisting of a low number of parts is constructed in such a way that besides making it suitable for separating samples of the desired quantity, further necessary structural elements needed for measuring samples are also placed in this moving member, and the stationary members surrounding the moving member are also supplemented with parts facilitating measuring in a specific way, then the relative displacement of the moving member in relation to the stationary members can be used for forwarding the sample to technological locations, e.g.
  • the multipurpose unit according to the invention for the handling of samples containing liquid components, especially for preparing the analysis of blood samples which contains a sampling part-unit having a lower stationary member, an upper stationary member and a moving member that is inserted between the lower stationary member and the upper stationary member and is movable in relation to them, the moving member of the sampling part-unit has a sample holder passage, while the upper stationary member has at least one upper sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage and/or the lower stationary member has at least one lower sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage, and the upper sample transfer passage of the upper stationary member and/or the lower sample transfer passage of the lower stationary member is connected to a sampling piece, - is constructed in such a way that the upper stationary member is paired with a reactor part-unit situated in the environment of its external side and containing one or more preparation chambers, in the upper stationary member there are ducts leading from the preparation chambers of the reactor part-unit to the upper delimiting surface of
  • a further feature of the multipurpose unit according to the invention may be that the upper stationary member of the sampling part-unit has one upper sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage, while its lower stationary member also has one lower sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage, and the upper sample transfer passage and the lower sample transfer passage are arranged below each other in the upper stationary member and in the lower stationary member.
  • the upper stationary member of the sampling part-unit has two upper sample transfer passages, at least one of the upper sample transfer passages of the moving member and in its resting position both of its upper sample transfer passages are situated above the sample holder passage of the moving member, connected to it in a way enabling liquid flow, or the lower stationary member of the sampling part-unit has two lower sample transfer passages, at least one of the lower sample transfer passages of the moving member and in its resting position both of its lower sample transfer passages are situated below the sample holder passage of the moving member, connected to it in a way enabling liquid flow.
  • the invention has a moving part- unit connected to the moving member, and in a given case there is a blood detector piece near the external side of the lower stationary member in the environment of the sample transfer passage or near the external side of the upper stationary member, in the environment of the sample transfer passage.
  • each measuring passage there is an independent measuring apertures, and the independet measuring apertures have different pass openings.
  • the measuring aperture of the measuring passage situated in the measuring zone is constructed by the upper delimiting surface of the moving member facing the upper stationary member, or by the lower delimiting surface of the moving member facing the lower stationary member.
  • the sampling piece is a thin tube, practically a needle, attached to the upper stationary member or to the lower stationary member in a fixed position.
  • the multipurpose unit according to the invention has numerous favourable characteristics. The most important one of these is that due to the novel construction taking a sample of the desired quantity and measuring can be performed in one single compact unit so that while the size of the multipurpose unit is reduced - as compared to the dimensions of other devices suitable for performing similar tasks the number of tasks that can be performed with the multipurpose device increases, and the range of analysed samples can also be extended.
  • a further advantage is that the number of parts needed for the operation of the multipurpose unit, the number of structural elements for moving the liquid, i.e. the number of tube sections and valves, reduces, and the intervention system also becomes significantly simpler and clearer. This results in reduced maintenance demand, while the operational reliability of the multipurpose unit increases, and it becomes less susceptible to failures.
  • the multipurpose unit according to the invention can be operated more cost efficiently.
  • measuring aperture's pass opening of a variable size may increase the potential uses of the multipurpose unit, as for example in veterinary use, an optimally sized measuring aperture can be allocated to the differently sized cells of different species, using the same device.
  • Another important economic advantage is that due to the shorter liquid paths the necessary reagent consumption can be reduced as well as the energy consumption needed for operation, which has a favourable effect on operation costs.
  • FIG. 1 is the lateral view of a version of the multipurpose unit according to the invention, shown partly in cross-section,
  • figure 2 is the lateral view of a different construction of the measuring zone of the multipurpose unit according to the invention, shown partly in cross- section
  • figure 3 is the lateral view of another version of the sampling part-unit of the multipurpose unit according to the invention, shown partly in cross- section
  • figure 4 is the lateral view of an even further version of the sampling part-unit of the multipurpose unit according to the invention, shown partly in cross- section.
  • FIG 1 an example is shown of the use of the multipurpose unit according to the invention in a blood cell counting device used for haematological purposes.
  • the sampling part-unit 10 of the multipurpose unit in a way known by itself— consists of the lower stationary member 1 1 , the upper stationary member 13 and the moving member 12 situated between them.
  • the lower stationary member 1 1 , the moving member 12 and the upper stationary member 13 are ceramic discs of the same size, and the moving, member 12 is connected to the lower stationary member 1 1 and to the upper stationary member 13 so that it can rotate around its own axis of rotation.
  • this geometric construction and choice of material is not a necessary requirement.
  • the rotation of the moving member 12 is controlled by the moving part-unit 70, which, in the present case, has a stepper motor suitable for high-precision positioning.
  • the upper stationary member 13 of the sampling part-unit 10 is supplemented with a reactor part-unit 14 on the external side 13b of the upper stationary member 13.
  • preparation chamber 14a and preparation chamber 14b Suiting preparation chamber 14a and preparation chamber 14b of the reactor part-unit 14, in the upper stationary member in the continuation of preparation chamber 14a there is duct 15a, while in the continuation of preparation chamber 14b there is duct 15b.
  • Duct 15a and duct 15b connects the external side 13b of the upper stationary member 13 and the external side 13c of the upper stationary member 13 to each other, by this making it possible to access preparation chamber 14a and preparation chamber 14b of the reactor part-unit 14 from the direction of the moving member 12.
  • the upper stationary member 13 also has an upper sample transfer passage 13a, and the sampling piece 30, a rigid needle in the present case, is connected to its end facing the external side 13b of the upper stationary member 13. It must be pointed out here that besides preparation chamber 14a and preparation chamber 14b there may be an optional number of further measuring chambers too in the reactor part-unit 14, obviously together with the same number of further ducts running between the external side 13b and the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13.
  • the moving member 12 of the sampling part-unit 10 contains the sample holder passage 12a and the measuring zone 20, and - in a given case - the forwarding chamber 17 too.
  • measuring passage 16, measuring passage 16' and measuring passage 16" are arranged in the measuring zone 20.
  • the measuring passage 16 has an inlet cross-section 16a opening onto the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member, a discharge cross-section 16c opening onto the lower delimiting surface 12c of the moving member 12, and a measuring aperture 16b situated inside the measuring passage and having with a pass opening 16d.
  • measuring passage 16 ⁇ which has an inlet cross-section 16a' on the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member 12, a discharge cross-section 16c' situated on the lower delimiting surface 12c of the moving member, and a measuring aperture 16b' situated between the inlet cross-section 16a' and the discharge cross-section 16c'.
  • the measuring aperture 16b' has a pass opening 16d', which, however, is of a different size than the size of the pass opening 16d of the measuring passage 16.
  • measuring passage 16' and measuring passage 16" a further optional number of measuring passages can also be placed in the measuring zone 20 of the moving member 12, but in this the pass openings 16d all have a different size, because in this way the same multipurpose unit can be used for the analysis even in the case of different cell sizes.
  • the function of the forwarding chamber 17 situated in the moving member 12 is that in the case of samples when during the preparation of the measurement the samples must be contacted with several reagents, it must enable the forwarding of the sample between preparation chamber 14a and preparation chamber 14b.
  • FIG 2 there is another version of the measuring zone 20 constructed in the sampling part-unit 10.
  • the measuring zone 20 contains one single measuring passage 16, which is constructed in the moving member 12.
  • the measuring passage 16 has an inlet cross-section 16a and a discharge cross-section 16c. It can be seen, however, that while the inlet cross-section 16a of the measuring passage 16 is exactly identical to the cross-section of the duct 15a of the upper stationary member 13 opening onto the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13, the cross- section of the control passage 1 Id of the lower stationary member 1 1 facing the internal side 1 1 c is significantly larger than the discharge cross-section 16c of the measuring passage 16.
  • control passage l id has an appropriately sized opening where the lower delimiting surface 12c of the moving member 12 and the internal side 1 l c of the lower stationary member 1 1 meet, in order to make sure that the discharge cross-section 16c of the measuring passage 16 remains completely free independently from the given position of the inlet cross-section 16a of the measuring passage 16 in relation to the duct 15a of the upper stationary member 13.
  • the lower stationary member 1 1 also has one lower sample transfer passage 1 1a, in the vicinity of which, favourably surrounding it, there is the blood detector piece 80 on the external side 1 lb of the lower stationary member 1 1.
  • the control passage is also situated in the lower stationary member 1 1 , which connects the internal side 1 lc and the external side 1 lb of the lower stationary member 1 1.
  • the liquid forwarding part -unit 40 On the external side l ib of the lower stationary member 1 1. near the control passage 1 Id there is the liquid forwarding part -unit 40, the task of which is to forward the materials situated in the measuring zone 20 of the moving member 12 and in the reactor part-unit 14 of the upper stationary member 13 in the appropriate direction using pressure difference, i.e. compression and suction.
  • a first current conducting piece 50 is placed in the environment of the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13, in duct 15a and in duct 15b, while a second current conducting piece 60 is placed in the control passage 1 1 d of the lower stationary member 1 1.
  • the task of the first current conducting piece 50 and the second current conducting piece 60 is to conduct current into the analysed sample situated in measuring passage 16 or measuring passage 16' or measuring passage 16" of the measuring zone in order to enable measuring, e.g. in the pass opening 16d of measuring aperture 16b or in the pass opening 16d' of measuring aperture 16b'.
  • the measuring passage 16 situated in the measuring zone 20 can also be fitted with an optional sensor, e.g. optical sensor, and even an arrangement is possible, where there are several sensor pieces arranged in the same measuring passage 16 for measuring physical or chemical characteristics.
  • the upper sample transfer passage 13a, the sample holder passage 12a, the lower sample transfer passage 1 1a, the control passage 1 Id, measuring passage 16, measuring passage 16' and measuring passage 16" of the measuring zone 20, and duct 15a and duct 15b of the upper stationary member 13 are - viewing the situation shown in figure 1 - are vertical passage openings, and the sampling part-unit 10 rests horizontally on the external side 1 l b of the lower stationary member 11 as a base.
  • FIG 3 a possible construction of the sampling part-unit 10 is shown, where there are two upper sample transfer passages 13a in the upper stationary member 13, but there is no lower sample transfer passage 1 la in the lower stationaiy member 1 1 at all, and the sample holder passage 12a in the moving member 12 is a nest cut into the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member 12.
  • the two upper sample transfer passages 13a of the upper stationary member 13 are arranged in the upper stationary member 13 so that in a given position both upper sample transfer passages 13a are situated above the sample holder passage 12a, connected to it in a way allowing liquid flow.
  • One of the upper sample transfer passages 13a is connected to the sampling piece 30, while there is the blood detector piece 80 near the other upper sample transfer passage 13 a.
  • FIG 4 unlike in figure 3 - a sampling part-unit 10 is shown, where there is no upper sample transfer passage 13a in the upper stationary member 13, while the lower stationary member 1 1 has two lower sample transfer passages 11a.
  • the sample holder passage 12a of the moving member 12 is a nest of the shape of an upside down "U" cut into the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member, and its two vertical passages go through the moving member 12 from the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member to the lower delimiting surface 12c of the moving member.
  • the first lower sample transfer passage 1 1a and the second lower sample transfer passage 1 1a of the lower stationary member 1 1 meet a vertical extension of the sample holder passage 12a each and they are connected to it so that this connection is suitable for transferring liquid.
  • the first lower sample transfer passage 1 1a of the lower stationary member 1 1 is connected to the sampling piece 30, while the second lower sample transfer passage 1 1a is paired with the blood detector piece 80.
  • sampling part-unit 10 of the multipurpose unit may also have further technological apertures besides the visible passages, e.g. for storing and entering neutral liquid for cleaning the ducts used by the samples, or for collecting used washing liquid.
  • these are irrelevant from the aspect of describing the essence and operation of the invention, so they are not shown in the figures for the sake of simplicity.
  • the operation of the multipurpose unit according to the invention is described in greater detail on the basis of the form of execution shown in figure 1.
  • the storing unit containing the sample must be contacted with the sampling piece 30.
  • the liquid forwarding part-unit 40 - on the basis of the programme of its own control unit - switches on and sucks the sample via the path sampling piece 30-upper sample transfer passage 13a-sample holder passage 12a-lower sample transfer passage 1 1 a into the sampling part-unit 10 of the multipurpose unit.
  • the blood detector piece 80 sends a signal to the liquid forwarding part-unit 40, which then switches off.
  • the moving part-unit 70 starts the moving member 12, which slides between the upper stationary member 13 and the lower stationary member 1 1 gets into a position, in which the sample holder passage 12a stops exactly under the duct 1 5a.
  • the sample situated in the sample holder passage 12a can be forwarded through the duct 15a into the preparation chamber 14a of the reactor part-unit 14.
  • the analysed sample meets the desired amount of reagent, and the expected reaction takes place.
  • the sample holder passage 12a which is now empty, slides away from underneath the duct 15 a, and the measuring zone 20 arrives under the duct 15 a, if no further preparation is needed.
  • the measuring passage 16 with the currently suitable pass opening 16d arrives under the duct 15a.
  • the measuring aperture 16b of which is situated inside the measuring passage 16 between the inlet cross-section 16a and the discharge cross-section 16c then only this measuring passage 16 can arrive under the duct 15a.
  • a measuring zone 20 which is formed by several measuring passages 16 containing measuring apertures 16b with different pass openings 16d
  • the sample prepared for measuring in the preparation chamber 14a - with the help of the liquid forwarding part-unit 40 - moves through the duct 15a, downwards, and reaches the inlet cross-section 16a of the measuring passage 16, passes through it and enters the pass opening 16d of the measuring aperture 16b, where the desired analysis, blood cell counting performed with the method of volumetric impedance takes place for example with the help of the electric current between conducted between the first current conducting piece 50 and the second current conducting piece 60.
  • the sample flowing downwards inside the measuring passage 16 passes through the pass opening 16d, reaches the discharge cross- section 16c of the measuring passage 16, exits through the control passage l id and leaves the measuring zone 20 of the multipurpose unit.
  • the measuring path can be cleaned, and the analysis of the next sample can be started as described above.
  • the moving part-unit 70 sets back the moving member 12 of the sampling part-unit 10 in initial position, and the sample holder passage 12a is positioned again under the upper sample transfer passage of the upper stationary member 13, and above the lower sample transfer passage 1 1a of the lower stationary member 1 1.
  • the sample needs to be contacted with several reagents, then after spending time in the preparation chamber 14a it is not the measuring passage 16 of the measuring zone 20 that slides underneath the duct 15a, but the forwarding chamber 17, due to the control of the moving part-unit 70. Now, with the help of the liquid forwarding part-unit 40, from the preparation chamber 14a the sample treated with the first reagent is forwarded to the forwarding chamber 17, and the moving part-unit 70 moves the forwarding chamber 17 filled in this way together with the moving member 12 so that the forwarding chamber 17 gets positioned under the duct 15b.
  • the treated sample is forwarded through the duct 15b into the preparation chamber 14b, where it contacts the second reagent.
  • the measuring passage 16 of the measuring zone 20 of the moving member 12 rotates underneath the duct 15b, and the measuring process is realised as described above.
  • the moving part-unit 70 slides the moving member 12 between the upper stationary member 13 and the lower stationary member 1 1 so that the overlapping part appearing where the inlet cross-section 16a of the only measuring passage 16 of the measuring zone 20 and the cross-section of for example duct 15a above it meet each other, which overlapping part basically forms the pass opening 16d here, is exactly of the desired size.
  • the moving part-unit 70 fixes the moving member 12 in the given position, and the sample is measured.
  • the pass opening 16d itself is basically the penetration between the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13 and the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member 12, so measuring is realised when the analysed sample passes through the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13 and the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member 12.
  • the liquid forwarding unit 40 is connected with several control passages l id, which regulate the movement of the sample to be analysed, the sample under preparation and the already measured sample.
  • control passages l id which regulate the movement of the sample to be analysed, the sample under preparation and the already measured sample.
  • the passages of the network connected to the liquid forwarding 40 part-unit may be situated not only in the lower stationary member 1 1 , but also in the moving member 12 and in the upper stationary member 13, or even in the reactor part-unit 14.
  • the multipurpose unit according to the invention can be favourably used as the sampling and measuring system of blood cell counting devices especially, but it is also suitable for use in the sampling and measuring system of general particle counting devices.

Abstract

The invention relates to a multipurpose unit for the handling of samples containing liquid components, especially for preparing the analysis of blood sample. The multipurpose unit contains a sampling part unit (10), having a lower stationary member (11), an upper stationary member (13) and a moving member (12). The moving member (12) has a sample holder passage (12a), the upper stationary member (13) has upper sample transfer passage (13a) co-acting with the sample holder passage (12a) and/or the lower stationary member (11) has lower sample transfer passage (11a) co-acting with the sample holder passage (12a). The passage (13a) and/or passage (11a) is connected to a sampling piece (30). The upper stationary member (13) is paired with a reactor part-unit (14) containing preparation chambers (14a,14b) and has ducts (15a,15b) leading from the chambers (14a,14b) to the upper delimiting surface (12b). The moving member (12) has a measuring zone (20) with a measuring passage (16). The device can be operated with the use of a lower amount of reagents, more cost efficiently, with a lower number of parts and more reliably.

Description

Multipurpose unit for the handling of samples containing liquid components
The subject of the invention relates to a multipurpose unit for the handling of samples containing liquid components, especially for preparing the analysis of blood samples, which contains a sampling part-unit having a lower stationary member, an upper stationary member and a moving member, which is inserted between the lower stationary member and the upper stationary member and is movable in relation to them, the moving member of the sampling part-unit has a sample holder passage, while the upper stationary member has at least one upper sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage and/or the lower stationary member has at least one lower sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage, and the upper sample transfer passage of the upper stationary member and/or the lower sample transfer passage of the lower stationary member is connected to a sampling piece.
Numerous different devices are used for testing different fluids and liquid-solid phase mixtures. These also include automated haematology devices, one of the essential parts of which is the sampling unit, which usually contains a sampling needle, an element that can take out samples with appropriate precision, and a unit that moves the analysed blood sample to the place where the sample is taken out. Another essential part of automated haematology devices is the measuring unit, which contains a chamber for preparing the diluted blood sample, a measuring head suitable for analysing the diluted blood sample, and a fluid moving element that transfers the blood sample across the measuring head. Generally the sampling unit and the measuring unit are placed independently from each other.
Patent specification no GB 2.459.122 specifically describes a sampling device, while devices preparing the sample for measuring are described, for example, in patent specification no GB 1.064.813, and in publication documents no WO 2004/003517 and WO 2013/002213. A significant deficiency of these solutions is that due to the fact that the two main part-units are physically separated, the device contains numerous tube sections - suitable for moving the fluid -, junctions and regulator valves, which makes it a large device with a high energy and reagent demand, and it is also susceptible to failures because of the numerous controlled parts.
Publication document no US 2012/0122139 describes a so-called "microfluidic" device, which is suitable for preparing the sample and perform the analysis with a small space demand. However, its disadvantage is that it is not suitable for taking out, producing or forwarding samples for analysis in sufficient quantities.
A general disadvantage of the known devices is that they perform the two tasks at separate places, in independent constructions. Their further disadvantage is that in the case of measurements performed based on the principle of volumetric impedance the aperture is available only in one size, as a result of which the measurable substances and samples are within narrow limits.
Our aim with the solution according to the invention was to overcome the deficiencies of the known devices and to create a multipurpose unit of a smaller overall size, with a reduced number of structural fluid moving and actuator elements between the two units, with a lower need for repairs, where the device can be operated with the use of a lower amount of reagents, more cost efficiently, with a lower number of parts and more reliably, and where it is possible to analyse samples within a much wider range.
The idea behind the solution according to the invention was based on the so-called "shear valve" known by itself, which involves an intermediate structural element moving between two stationary structural elements, and the primary task of which is to take a sample of the material to be analysed in certain exact quantities. In accordance with the above, the idea behind the invention was based on the recognition that if the intermediate element of this known sampling device with a simple structural construction consisting of a low number of parts is constructed in such a way that besides making it suitable for separating samples of the desired quantity, further necessary structural elements needed for measuring samples are also placed in this moving member, and the stationary members surrounding the moving member are also supplemented with parts facilitating measuring in a specific way, then the relative displacement of the moving member in relation to the stationary members can be used for forwarding the sample to technological locations, e.g. dilution, measuring, etc., or even for setting the required size of the aperture, as a result of which exact sampling and measuring of the desired precision can be performed in a small place, using a few number of parts and short liquid paths, in one single unit, and so the task can be solved.
In accordance with the set aim, the multipurpose unit according to the invention for the handling of samples containing liquid components, especially for preparing the analysis of blood samples, - which contains a sampling part-unit having a lower stationary member, an upper stationary member and a moving member that is inserted between the lower stationary member and the upper stationary member and is movable in relation to them, the moving member of the sampling part-unit has a sample holder passage, while the upper stationary member has at least one upper sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage and/or the lower stationary member has at least one lower sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage, and the upper sample transfer passage of the upper stationary member and/or the lower sample transfer passage of the lower stationary member is connected to a sampling piece, - is constructed in such a way that the upper stationary member is paired with a reactor part-unit situated in the environment of its external side and containing one or more preparation chambers, in the upper stationary member there are ducts leading from the preparation chambers of the reactor part-unit to the upper delimiting surface of the moving member, while the lower stationary member has at least one control passage that can be connected to the liquid forwarding part-unit, the moving member has a measuring zone containing at least one measuring passage with its inlet cross-section situated next to the sample holding cavity between the upper delimiting surface and lower delimiting surface of the moving member and opening onto the upper delimiting surface, and with its discharge cross-section opening onto the lower delimiting surface, the upper stationary member and/or the reactor part-unit is supplemented with a first current conducting piece, while the lower stationary member is supplemented with a second current conducting piece.
A further feature of the multipurpose unit according to the invention may be that the upper stationary member of the sampling part-unit has one upper sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage, while its lower stationary member also has one lower sample transfer passage co-acting with the sample holder passage, and the upper sample transfer passage and the lower sample transfer passage are arranged below each other in the upper stationary member and in the lower stationary member.
In the case of another version of the multipurpose unit the upper stationary member of the sampling part-unit has two upper sample transfer passages, at least one of the upper sample transfer passages of the moving member and in its resting position both of its upper sample transfer passages are situated above the sample holder passage of the moving member, connected to it in a way enabling liquid flow, or the lower stationary member of the sampling part-unit has two lower sample transfer passages, at least one of the lower sample transfer passages of the moving member and in its resting position both of its lower sample transfer passages are situated below the sample holder passage of the moving member, connected to it in a way enabling liquid flow.
In the case of a further different construction of the invention it has a moving part- unit connected to the moving member, and in a given case there is a blood detector piece near the external side of the lower stationary member in the environment of the sample transfer passage or near the external side of the upper stationary member, in the environment of the sample transfer passage.
In the case of an even further different realisation of the multipurpose unit, several different measuring passages are arranged in the measuring zone. In each measuring passage there is an independent measuring apertures, and the independet measuring apertures have different pass openings.
In the case of another form of execution of the invention, the measuring aperture of the measuring passage situated in the measuring zone is constructed by the upper delimiting surface of the moving member facing the upper stationary member, or by the lower delimiting surface of the moving member facing the lower stationary member.
From the aspect of the multipurpose unit it is favourable, if the sampling piece is a thin tube, practically a needle, attached to the upper stationary member or to the lower stationary member in a fixed position.
The multipurpose unit according to the invention has numerous favourable characteristics. The most important one of these is that due to the novel construction taking a sample of the desired quantity and measuring can be performed in one single compact unit so that while the size of the multipurpose unit is reduced - as compared to the dimensions of other devices suitable for performing similar tasks the number of tasks that can be performed with the multipurpose device increases, and the range of analysed samples can also be extended.
A further advantage is that the number of parts needed for the operation of the multipurpose unit, the number of structural elements for moving the liquid, i.e. the number of tube sections and valves, reduces, and the intervention system also becomes significantly simpler and clearer. This results in reduced maintenance demand, while the operational reliability of the multipurpose unit increases, and it becomes less susceptible to failures. In summary, the multipurpose unit according to the invention can be operated more cost efficiently.
Besides suitable dimensioning it can also be regarded as a significant advantage that the same amount of samples can be produced in the preparation chambers in each case, and the total amount of the prepared samples can be measured, as a result of which the measurement results become much more reliable.
Another advantage is that the measuring aperture's pass opening of a variable size may increase the potential uses of the multipurpose unit, as for example in veterinary use, an optimally sized measuring aperture can be allocated to the differently sized cells of different species, using the same device.
Also due to the construction, the risk of aperture clogging (blocking, partially clogging) can be significantly reduced, as a result of which the potential uses of the multipurpose unit can be increased significantly.
Another important economic advantage is that due to the shorter liquid paths the necessary reagent consumption can be reduced as well as the energy consumption needed for operation, which has a favourable effect on operation costs.
Below the multipurpose unit according to the invention is described in detail in connection with forms of execution, on the basis of a drawing. In the drawing figure 1 is the lateral view of a version of the multipurpose unit according to the invention, shown partly in cross-section,
figure 2 is the lateral view of a different construction of the measuring zone of the multipurpose unit according to the invention, shown partly in cross- section, figure 3 is the lateral view of another version of the sampling part-unit of the multipurpose unit according to the invention, shown partly in cross- section,
figure 4 is the lateral view of an even further version of the sampling part-unit of the multipurpose unit according to the invention, shown partly in cross- section.
In figure 1 an example is shown of the use of the multipurpose unit according to the invention in a blood cell counting device used for haematological purposes. It can be seen that the sampling part-unit 10 of the multipurpose unit - in a way known by itself— consists of the lower stationary member 1 1 , the upper stationary member 13 and the moving member 12 situated between them. In the present case the lower stationary member 1 1 , the moving member 12 and the upper stationary member 13 are ceramic discs of the same size, and the moving, member 12 is connected to the lower stationary member 1 1 and to the upper stationary member 13 so that it can rotate around its own axis of rotation. Obviously, this geometric construction and choice of material is not a necessary requirement.
The rotation of the moving member 12 is controlled by the moving part-unit 70, which, in the present case, has a stepper motor suitable for high-precision positioning.
In the case of this form of execution, the upper stationary member 13 of the sampling part-unit 10 is supplemented with a reactor part-unit 14 on the external side 13b of the upper stationary member 13. Here, in the reactor part-unit 14 there is preparation chamber 14a and preparation chamber 14b. Suiting preparation chamber 14a and preparation chamber 14b of the reactor part-unit 14, in the upper stationary member in the continuation of preparation chamber 14a there is duct 15a, while in the continuation of preparation chamber 14b there is duct 15b. Duct 15a and duct 15b connects the external side 13b of the upper stationary member 13 and the external side 13c of the upper stationary member 13 to each other, by this making it possible to access preparation chamber 14a and preparation chamber 14b of the reactor part-unit 14 from the direction of the moving member 12. Here, besides duct 15a and duct 15b, the upper stationary member 13 also has an upper sample transfer passage 13a, and the sampling piece 30, a rigid needle in the present case, is connected to its end facing the external side 13b of the upper stationary member 13. It must be pointed out here that besides preparation chamber 14a and preparation chamber 14b there may be an optional number of further measuring chambers too in the reactor part-unit 14, obviously together with the same number of further ducts running between the external side 13b and the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13.
The moving member 12 of the sampling part-unit 10 contains the sample holder passage 12a and the measuring zone 20, and - in a given case - the forwarding chamber 17 too. In the case of this construction, measuring passage 16, measuring passage 16' and measuring passage 16" are arranged in the measuring zone 20. The measuring passage 16 has an inlet cross-section 16a opening onto the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member, a discharge cross-section 16c opening onto the lower delimiting surface 12c of the moving member 12, and a measuring aperture 16b situated inside the measuring passage and having with a pass opening 16d. The same stands for measuring passage 16\ which has an inlet cross-section 16a' on the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member 12, a discharge cross-section 16c' situated on the lower delimiting surface 12c of the moving member, and a measuring aperture 16b' situated between the inlet cross-section 16a' and the discharge cross-section 16c'. In this case too, the measuring aperture 16b' has a pass opening 16d', which, however, is of a different size than the size of the pass opening 16d of the measuring passage 16. Obviously, besides measuring passage 16, measuring passage 16' and measuring passage 16" a further optional number of measuring passages can also be placed in the measuring zone 20 of the moving member 12, but in this the pass openings 16d all have a different size, because in this way the same multipurpose unit can be used for the analysis even in the case of different cell sizes. The function of the forwarding chamber 17 situated in the moving member 12 is that in the case of samples when during the preparation of the measurement the samples must be contacted with several reagents, it must enable the forwarding of the sample between preparation chamber 14a and preparation chamber 14b.
In figure 2 there is another version of the measuring zone 20 constructed in the sampling part-unit 10. Here the measuring zone 20 contains one single measuring passage 16, which is constructed in the moving member 12. In this case again, the measuring passage 16 has an inlet cross-section 16a and a discharge cross-section 16c. It can be seen, however, that while the inlet cross-section 16a of the measuring passage 16 is exactly identical to the cross-section of the duct 15a of the upper stationary member 13 opening onto the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13, the cross- section of the control passage 1 Id of the lower stationary member 1 1 facing the internal side 1 1 c is significantly larger than the discharge cross-section 16c of the measuring passage 16.
The reason for this is that in the case of this measuring zone 20 construction, by finely moving the moving member 12, the passage between the duct 15a of the upper stationary member 13 and the inlet cross-section 16a of the measuring passage 16 of the moving member 12, that is the aperture appearing between the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13 and the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member 12, can be set to a continuously variable size, and here this aperture forms the pass opening 16d of the measuring aperture 16b of the only measuring passage, where the sample is measured. However, in order to ensure appropriate flow of the measured medium, where the moving member 12 and the lower stationary member 1 1 meet, in each case the discharge cross-section 16c of the measuring passage 16 must join the control passage 1 1 d of the lower stationary member 1 1 free from resistance. This can be solved, if the control passage l id has an appropriately sized opening where the lower delimiting surface 12c of the moving member 12 and the internal side 1 l c of the lower stationary member 1 1 meet, in order to make sure that the discharge cross-section 16c of the measuring passage 16 remains completely free independently from the given position of the inlet cross-section 16a of the measuring passage 16 in relation to the duct 15a of the upper stationary member 13.
On going back to figure 1, it can also be seen there that the lower stationary member 1 1 also has one lower sample transfer passage 1 1a, in the vicinity of which, favourably surrounding it, there is the blood detector piece 80 on the external side 1 lb of the lower stationary member 1 1. Furthermore, the control passage is also situated in the lower stationary member 1 1 , which connects the internal side 1 lc and the external side 1 lb of the lower stationary member 1 1. On the external side l ib of the lower stationary member 1 1. near the control passage 1 Id there is the liquid forwarding part -unit 40, the task of which is to forward the materials situated in the measuring zone 20 of the moving member 12 and in the reactor part-unit 14 of the upper stationary member 13 in the appropriate direction using pressure difference, i.e. compression and suction.
In the interest of being able to measure the analysed sample on the basis of the principle of volumetric impedance, in this version of the multipurpose unit according to the invention a first current conducting piece 50 is placed in the environment of the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13, in duct 15a and in duct 15b, while a second current conducting piece 60 is placed in the control passage 1 1 d of the lower stationary member 1 1. The task of the first current conducting piece 50 and the second current conducting piece 60 is to conduct current into the analysed sample situated in measuring passage 16 or measuring passage 16' or measuring passage 16" of the measuring zone in order to enable measuring, e.g. in the pass opening 16d of measuring aperture 16b or in the pass opening 16d' of measuring aperture 16b'.
It must be pointed out here that the measuring passage 16 situated in the measuring zone 20 can also be fitted with an optional sensor, e.g. optical sensor, and even an arrangement is possible, where there are several sensor pieces arranged in the same measuring passage 16 for measuring physical or chemical characteristics. In the form of execution shown in figure 1, the upper sample transfer passage 13a, the sample holder passage 12a, the lower sample transfer passage 1 1a, the control passage 1 Id, measuring passage 16, measuring passage 16' and measuring passage 16" of the measuring zone 20, and duct 15a and duct 15b of the upper stationary member 13 are - viewing the situation shown in figure 1 - are vertical passage openings, and the sampling part-unit 10 rests horizontally on the external side 1 l b of the lower stationary member 11 as a base.
In initial position of the multipurpose unit, shown in figure 1, it can be seen that the lower sample transfer passage 1 la of the lower stationaiy member 1 1 , the sample holder passage 12a of the moving member 12, and the upper sample transfer passage 13a of the upper stationary member 13 are situated on the same straight line. However, this arrangement is not compulsory.
In figure 3 a possible construction of the sampling part-unit 10 is shown, where there are two upper sample transfer passages 13a in the upper stationary member 13, but there is no lower sample transfer passage 1 la in the lower stationaiy member 1 1 at all, and the sample holder passage 12a in the moving member 12 is a nest cut into the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member 12. Here the two upper sample transfer passages 13a of the upper stationary member 13 are arranged in the upper stationary member 13 so that in a given position both upper sample transfer passages 13a are situated above the sample holder passage 12a, connected to it in a way allowing liquid flow. One of the upper sample transfer passages 13a is connected to the sampling piece 30, while there is the blood detector piece 80 near the other upper sample transfer passage 13 a.
In figure 4 - unlike in figure 3 - a sampling part-unit 10 is shown, where there is no upper sample transfer passage 13a in the upper stationary member 13, while the lower stationary member 1 1 has two lower sample transfer passages 11a. Here again the sample holder passage 12a of the moving member 12 is a nest of the shape of an upside down "U" cut into the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member, and its two vertical passages go through the moving member 12 from the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member to the lower delimiting surface 12c of the moving member. In initial position of the sampling part-unit 10 the first lower sample transfer passage 1 1a and the second lower sample transfer passage 1 1a of the lower stationary member 1 1 meet a vertical extension of the sample holder passage 12a each and they are connected to it so that this connection is suitable for transferring liquid. The first lower sample transfer passage 1 1a of the lower stationary member 1 1 is connected to the sampling piece 30, while the second lower sample transfer passage 1 1a is paired with the blood detector piece 80.
It must be pointed out here that the sampling part-unit 10 of the multipurpose unit may also have further technological apertures besides the visible passages, e.g. for storing and entering neutral liquid for cleaning the ducts used by the samples, or for collecting used washing liquid. However, these are irrelevant from the aspect of describing the essence and operation of the invention, so they are not shown in the figures for the sake of simplicity.
The operation of the multipurpose unit according to the invention is described in greater detail on the basis of the form of execution shown in figure 1. When starting sample analysis, the storing unit containing the sample must be contacted with the sampling piece 30. When the sampling piece 30 reaches the sample, the liquid forwarding part-unit 40 - on the basis of the programme of its own control unit - switches on and sucks the sample via the path sampling piece 30-upper sample transfer passage 13a-sample holder passage 12a-lower sample transfer passage 1 1 a into the sampling part-unit 10 of the multipurpose unit. When the sample reaches the blood detector piece 80, the blood detector piece 80 sends a signal to the liquid forwarding part-unit 40, which then switches off. At this point there is a sufficient amount of the analysed sample in the sample holder passage 12a of the moving member 12 of the sampling part-unit 10. When the sample of an accurately determined amount enters the sample holder passage 12a of the moving member, the moving part-unit 70 starts the moving member 12, which slides between the upper stationary member 13 and the lower stationary member 1 1 gets into a position, in which the sample holder passage 12a stops exactly under the duct 1 5a. In this position of the moving member 12, with the help of the liquid forwarding part-unit 40 the sample situated in the sample holder passage 12a can be forwarded through the duct 15a into the preparation chamber 14a of the reactor part-unit 14. In the preparation chamber 14a the analysed sample meets the desired amount of reagent, and the expected reaction takes place.
In the following, as the moving member 12 is moved with the help of the moving part-unit 70, the sample holder passage 12a, which is now empty, slides away from underneath the duct 15 a, and the measuring zone 20 arrives under the duct 15 a, if no further preparation is needed. Depending on the physical parameters of components in the analysed material, the measuring passage 16 with the currently suitable pass opening 16d arrives under the duct 15a. Obviously, if there is one single measuring passage 16 in the measuring zone 20 of the moving member 12, the measuring aperture 16b of which is situated inside the measuring passage 16 between the inlet cross-section 16a and the discharge cross-section 16c, then only this measuring passage 16 can arrive under the duct 15a.
In the case of a measuring zone 20, which is formed by several measuring passages 16 containing measuring apertures 16b with different pass openings 16d, after the measuring passage 16 with the desired pass opening 16d arrives and the moving member 12 gets fixed in the given position, the sample prepared for measuring in the preparation chamber 14a - with the help of the liquid forwarding part-unit 40 - moves through the duct 15a, downwards, and reaches the inlet cross-section 16a of the measuring passage 16, passes through it and enters the pass opening 16d of the measuring aperture 16b, where the desired analysis, blood cell counting performed with the method of volumetric impedance takes place for example with the help of the electric current between conducted between the first current conducting piece 50 and the second current conducting piece 60. The sample flowing downwards inside the measuring passage 16 passes through the pass opening 16d, reaches the discharge cross- section 16c of the measuring passage 16, exits through the control passage l id and leaves the measuring zone 20 of the multipurpose unit.
After analysing the sample, with the help of the washing liquid - not shown in the figures - the measuring path can be cleaned, and the analysis of the next sample can be started as described above. Obviously, for this the moving part-unit 70 sets back the moving member 12 of the sampling part-unit 10 in initial position, and the sample holder passage 12a is positioned again under the upper sample transfer passage of the upper stationary member 13, and above the lower sample transfer passage 1 1a of the lower stationary member 1 1.
If the sample needs to be contacted with several reagents, then after spending time in the preparation chamber 14a it is not the measuring passage 16 of the measuring zone 20 that slides underneath the duct 15a, but the forwarding chamber 17, due to the control of the moving part-unit 70. Now, with the help of the liquid forwarding part-unit 40, from the preparation chamber 14a the sample treated with the first reagent is forwarded to the forwarding chamber 17, and the moving part-unit 70 moves the forwarding chamber 17 filled in this way together with the moving member 12 so that the forwarding chamber 17 gets positioned under the duct 15b. From the forwarding chamber 17 positioned in this way, with the help of the liquid forwarding part-unit 40 the treated sample is forwarded through the duct 15b into the preparation chamber 14b, where it contacts the second reagent. After spending the appropriate amount of time in the preparation chamber 14b, the measuring passage 16 of the measuring zone 20 of the moving member 12 rotates underneath the duct 15b, and the measuring process is realised as described above. If the measuring zone 20 of the multipurpose unit suits the one shown in figure 2, then in the phase of sample analysis the moving part-unit 70 slides the moving member 12 between the upper stationary member 13 and the lower stationary member 1 1 so that the overlapping part appearing where the inlet cross-section 16a of the only measuring passage 16 of the measuring zone 20 and the cross-section of for example duct 15a above it meet each other, which overlapping part basically forms the pass opening 16d here, is exactly of the desired size. When the pass opening 16d of the desired size is created, the moving part-unit 70 fixes the moving member 12 in the given position, and the sample is measured. Here the pass opening 16d itself is basically the penetration between the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13 and the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member 12, so measuring is realised when the analysed sample passes through the internal side 13c of the upper stationary member 13 and the upper delimiting surface 12b of the moving member 12.
It must be pointed out here that the liquid forwarding unit 40 is connected with several control passages l id, which regulate the movement of the sample to be analysed, the sample under preparation and the already measured sample. However, for the sake of simplicity here only one single element of this network is described, which is situated in the lower stationary member 1 1. It is obvious, however, that the passages of the network connected to the liquid forwarding 40 part-unit may be situated not only in the lower stationary member 1 1 , but also in the moving member 12 and in the upper stationary member 13, or even in the reactor part-unit 14.
The multipurpose unit according to the invention can be favourably used as the sampling and measuring system of blood cell counting devices especially, but it is also suitable for use in the sampling and measuring system of general particle counting devices. List of references
sampling part-unit 11 lower stationary member
11 a lower sample transfer passage 1 1 b external side
11c internal side
11 d control passage
12 moving member
12a sampler holder passage 12b upper delimiting surface 12c lower delimiting surface
13 upper stationary member
13a upper sample transfer passage 13b external side
13c internal side
14 reactor part-unit
14a preparation chamber
14b preparation chamber 15a duct
15b duct
16 measuring passage
16a inlet cross-section
16b measuring aperture
16c discharge cross-section 16d pass opening
16' measuring passage
16a' inlet cross-section
16b' measuring aperture
16c' discharge cross-section 16d' pass opening
17 forwarding chamber measuring zone sampling piece liquid forwarding part-unit first current conducting piece second current conducting piece moving part-unit blood detector piece

Claims

1. Multipurpose unit for the handling of samples containing liquid components, especially for preparing the analysis of blood samples, which contains a sampling part- unit (10) having a lower stationaiy member (1 1 ), an upper stationary member (13) and a moving member (12) that is inserted between the lower stationary member (1 1) and the upper stationaiy member (13) and is movable in relation to them, the moving member
(12) of the samp/mg part-unit (7(7 j has a sanipfe noider passage (12a), while the upper stationary member (13) has at least one upper sample transfer passage (13a) co-acting with the sample holder passage (12a) and/or the lower stationary member (1 1) has at least one lower sample transfer passage (1 la) co-acting with the sample holder passage (12a), and the upper sample transfer passage (13a) of the upper stationary member (13) and/or the lower sample transfer passage (1 1a) of the lower stationary member (1 1 ) is connected to a sampling piece (30), characterised by that the upper stationary member
(13) is paired with a reactor part-unit (14) situated in the environment of its external side (13b) and containing one or more preparation chambers (14a, 14b), in the upper stationary member ( 13) there are ducts (15a, 15b) leading from the preparation chambers (14a, 14b) of the reactor part-unit (14) to the upper delimiting surface (12b) of the moving member (12), while the lower stationary member (1 1) has at least one control passage ( l id) that can be connected to the liquid forwarding part-unit (40), the moving member (12) has a measuring zone (20) containing at least one measuring passage (16) with its inlet cross-section (16a) situated next to the sample holding cavity (12a) between the upper delimiting surface (12b) and lower delimiting surface (12c) of the moving member ( 2) and opening onto the upper delimiting surface (12b), and with its discharge cross-section (16c) opening onto the lower delimiting surface (12c), the upper stationary member (13) and/or the reactor part-unit (14) is supplemented with a first current conducting piece (50), while the lower stationary member (1 1) is supplemented with a second current conducting piece (60).
2. Multipurpose unit as in claim 1 , characterised by that the upper stationary member (13) of the sampling part-unit (10) has one upper sample transfer passage (13a) co-acting with the sample holder passage (12a), while its lower stationaiy member (1 1) also has one lower sample transfer passage (1 1 a) co-acting with the sample holder passage (12a), and the upper sample transfer passage (13a) and the lower sample transfer passage (1 1a) are arranged below each other in the upper stationary member ( 13) and in the lower stationary member (1 1).
3. Multipurpose unit as in claim 1, characterised by that the upper stationaiy member (13) of the sampling part-unit (10) has two upper sample transfer passages (13a), at least one of the upper sample transfer passages (13a) of the moving member (12) and in its resting position both of its upper sample transfer passages (13a) are situated above the sample holder passage (12a) of the moving member (12), connected to it in a way enabling liquid flow.
4. Multipurpose unit as in claim 1 , characterised by that the lower stationary member (1 1) of the sampling part-unit (10) has two lower sample transfer passages (1 1a), at least one of the lower sample transfer passages (1 1a) of the moving member (12) and in its resting position both of its lower sample transfer passages (1 1 a) are situated below the sample holder passage (12a) of the moving member (12), connected to it in a way enabling liquid flow.
5. Multipurpose unit as in any of claims 1-4, characterised by that it has a moving part-unit (70) connected to the moving member (12).
6. Multipurpose unit as in any of claims 1-5, characterised by that there is a blood detector piece (80) near the external side (l i b) of the lower stationary member (11) in the environment of the sample transfer passage (1 1a) or near the external side (13b) of the upper stationary member ( 13), in the environment of the sample transfer passage
7. Multipurpose unit as in any of claims 1 -6, characterised by that several different measuring passages ( 16, 16') are arranged i n the measuring zone (20).
8. Multipurpose unit as in claim 7, characterised by that in each measuring passage (16, 161) there is an independent measuring aperture (16b, 1 6b'), and the independent measuring apertures ( 16b, 16b" ) have different pass openings ( 16d, 16d').
9. Multipurpose unit as in any of claims 1 -6, characterised by that the measuring aperture (16b) of the measuring passage ( 16) situated in the measuring zone (20) is constructed at the upper delimiting surface ( 12b) of I he moving member (12) facing the upper stationary member ( 13), or at the lower del i miting surface (12c) of the moving member (12) facing the lower stationary member ( I I ).
10. Multipurpose unit as in any of claims 1 -9, characterised by that the sampling piece (30) is a thin tube, practically a needle, attached to the upper stationary member ( 1 3) or to the lower stationary member (1 1) in a fi xed position.
PCT/HU2014/000012 2013-02-05 2014-02-04 Multipurpose unit for the handling of samples containing liquid components WO2014122490A1 (en)

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HUP1300070 2013-02-05
HU1300070A HU230504B1 (en) 2013-02-05 2013-02-05 Multi-purpose unit for handling liquid components found in samples

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WO2018096206A1 (en) * 2016-11-28 2018-05-31 Labmaster Oy Lab-on-a-chip device for performing analyses

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US20050227370A1 (en) * 2004-03-08 2005-10-13 Ramel Urs A Body fluid analyte meter & cartridge system for performing combined general chemical and specific binding assays
US20110200486A1 (en) * 2008-11-05 2011-08-18 Biomerieux Device for preparing and/or treating a biological sample

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050227370A1 (en) * 2004-03-08 2005-10-13 Ramel Urs A Body fluid analyte meter & cartridge system for performing combined general chemical and specific binding assays
US20110200486A1 (en) * 2008-11-05 2011-08-18 Biomerieux Device for preparing and/or treating a biological sample

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018096206A1 (en) * 2016-11-28 2018-05-31 Labmaster Oy Lab-on-a-chip device for performing analyses

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