Hand held sample tube manipulator, system and method

Patent · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873543

Kenny, Donald V ^[1]; Smith, Deborah L ^[1]; Severance, Richard A ^[2]

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1. Liberty Township, OH
2. late of Columbus, OH

A manipulator apparatus, system and method for measuring analytes present in sample tubes. The manipulator apparatus includes a housing having a central bore with an inlet end and outlet end; a plunger mechanism with at least a portion thereof slideably disposed for reciprocal movement within the central bore, the plunger mechanism having a tubular gas channel with an inlet end and an outlet end, the gas channel inlet end disposed in the same direction as said inlet end of the central bore, wherein the inlet end of said plunger mechanism is adapted for movement so as to expel a sample tube inserted in the bore at the outlet end of the housing, the inlet end of the plunger mechanism is adapted for connection to gas supply; a first seal is disposed in the housing for sealing between the central bore and the plunger mechanism; a second seal is disposed at the outlet end of the housing for sealing between the central bore and a sample tube; a holder mounted on the housing for holding the sample tube; and a biasing mechanism for returning the plunger mechanism to a starting position.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute (Columbus, OH)
• Patent Number(s): US 6186012
• OSTI ID: 873543
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/73/
adapted
analytes
apparatus
biasing
bore
central
central bore
channel
connection
direction
disposed
expel
gas
gas channel
gas supply
hand
hand held
held
holder
holder mounted
holding
housing
inlet
inserted
manipulator
manipulator apparatus
measuring
mechanism
method
mounted
movement
outlet
plunger
portion
position
reciprocal
returning
sample
sample tube
sample tubes
seal
sealing
slideably
starting
starting position
supply
tube
tubes
tubular