BIOLOGICAL FLUID SAMPLE PROCESSING APPARATUS

1,220,699. Automatic analysis. GILFORD INSTRUMENT LABORATORIES Inc. 19 Dec., 1968 [19 Dec., 1967], No. 60403/68. Heading B1X. A fluid sample processing apparatus comprises a plurality of containers 20 each containing a capillary 54 entraining a known volume of sample liquid which containers are translatable by means of a carrier to various injector stations 100-102 where by means of characteristic indicia 38 carried by each container a reader 104 (human or mechanical) produces a signal to a particular injector which then contacts the container responsible for the signal and injects reagent or diluent into the capillary 54 thus forcing sample and diluent into the cavity 22 of the container where the two liquids mix. The capillary may be inserted into a hollow barrel 50 which is inserted into the interior of the container with a well 48 underneath the barrel enabling liquid in the capillary to pass into the cavity of the container. The injector may connect with the capillary through a coupler 68 or through a tapered member 70' (Fig. 7). Each container 20 may have a vertical passageway (30) for engagement with one of posts 44 (Fig. 12). The apparatus of Fig. 11 (not shown) comprises feed device (94) for feeding sections of capillary tubing containing liquids to containers (20') on conveyor (90).