Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
76036
_ckground Of The Invention_
This invention relates to an improved washer and
aspiratox device having removable intake members which can
both wash and aspirate the wash water from a solid body
5 mel~ er. More particularly, this invention relates to an
improved combined hand washer and aspirator apparatus which
is utilized in conjunction with an immunoassay apparatus and
procedures which employs beads.
In the process of conducting laboratory testing for
10 diseases it is often necessary to wash and rinse the
detection media with rinsing solutions and subsequently to
remove the rinsing solution from a container into which a
detection means and the media to be detected, such as a
serum, is placed. For example, one immunoassay procedure in
15 which the device may conveniently be utilized as a hepatitis
detection procedure generally known as Ausria II-125 system
which utilizes a solid phase radioimmunoassay techniques to
measure Hepatitis Associated Anti~en (HAA) levels in serum.
In this procedure, plastic beads are coated with guinea pig
20 antibody which are supplied in a kit form. Patient serum is
added and during incubation, any antigen from this serum is
fixed to the antibody. When antibody tagged with iodine-125
is added, it binds to any antigen on the bead creating an
antibody-antigen-antibody "sandwich". This procedure is the
25 subject of an article entitled "Prevalence of Hepatitis B
Virus Antigen As Revealed By Direct Radioimmune Assay With
125 I-Antibody" appearing in The ~ourna~ of Immuno~ogy,
Vol. 109, No. 4, October, 1972, p. 334. When conducting the
foregoing procedure it is necessary to evacuate the serum
30 which is placed in a small well-like container of a tray
which also contains the bead. Further ! it is necessary that
each well and bead be rinsed and that the procedure of
rinsing and evacuation be repeated any given number of times.
United States Patent No. 3,949,771 describes a washer and
35 aspirator which can wash and remove the wash solution from
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a container for a detection device; simultaneously wash and
hold the solid body member out of contact from a container
for the solid body; fit easily within the confines of a
small well and can afford a rinsing technique without
spattering or spillage; and be utilized in combination with
readily available sources of vacuum and pumping mechanisms.
The present invention provides an improved washer
and aspirator which provides in addition to the above-
described attributes of the prior art device, a washer-
aspirator having insertable and removable intake membersto facilitate cleaning procedures and an improved design
and constructionto limit pressure variances across the fluid
passages thereby increasing the accuracy of the amount of
wash solution delivered by the device.
Summary Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a hand-held
combined washer and aspirator deyice having a solid body
member and removable fluid intake channel. The body member
is fabricated from two separate body sections comprising an
intake body section defining an intake fluid passage and
an outlet body section defining an outlet fluid passage.
The intake fluid passage connects to a source of vacuum
and the outlet fluid passage connects to a source of fluid
under positive pressure such as from a pumping device, From
the outlet body section extend nozzle members defining a
fluid outlet channel in fluid communication with the outl~t
fluid passage. From the intake fluid passage a removable
intake member having a probe defining a fluid intake
channel in fluid communicaticn with said intake fluid
passage as well as an orifice extends through the compartment,
outlet fluid passage and fluid outlet channel. The removable
intake member is retained and positioned in the body member
by a frictional retaining means operatively associated with
said intake and outlet body sections so as to permit said
intake channel to be in fluid communication with the intake
_ 3 _ 1'17 ~ ~ 3 6
fluid passage. The orifice in the probe has an internal
wall surface with oppositioning means to limit movement
of a solid body member and hold the solid body member in a
spaced manner from the wall surface of the orifice so as
to permit fluids to flow around the solld body member as
it is retained by means of the vacuum source in the central
fluid intake channel. In a preferred manner, the fluid
intake and outlet channels are formed from an insertable
and removable intake member having a probe and outer tubular
member concentrically positioned. When the combined washer
and aspirator device is to be utilized in conjunction with
the washer and retention of a spherical body member, the
orifice is provided with a concave indentation with projections
extending from the wall of the probe so as to position a
spherical solid body member in a spaced distance from the
wall of the orifice. To effec-t outward flow of fluid from
the nozzle, the outer tubular member is spaced a short
distance from the end wall of the orifice and the remo~able
intake member has deflecting surfaces in the probe portion
so that the fluid is caused to deflect at approximately a
45 angle from the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The
combined washer and aspirator device preferably has a
multiplicity of nozzle members which are designed to fit
within small wells of a plastic tray and to be easily
manipulated by the human hand.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
A better understanding of the present combined
washer and aspirator device will be accomplished by reference
to the drawing wherein.
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the combined
washer and aspirator device operatively connected to a fluid
source as well as a source of vacuum.
FIGURE 2 is an assembly view of the combined washer
and aspirator illustrating the intake and outlet section
and the removable intake member.
FIGIJRE 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation
of the combined washer and aspirator with a portion broken
" 1176~i36
away and with other portions in operative engagement with
well members of a tray.
FIGUR~ 4 is a view in vertical section of the
combined aspi,rator and washer illustrating one of the nozzle
members in operati.ve communication with a well of a tray
and a ball member retained in the orifice of the device,
FIGURE 5 is a partial enlarged partial view of
one of the nozzle members of the combined washer and
aspirator device illustra-ting the removable in~ake member and
outer concentric tubular member and the passages formed
therein.
FIGURE 6 is an end view taken along line 6-6 of
FIGURE 5.
Description Of The Preferred Embodiment
Proceeding to a detailed description of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the combined washer and
aspirator device 10 generally is operatively connected to
a source of fluid 12 by means of a pumping deyice 11 and
intake lines 14 and 18. Aspirator de~ice 10 is also in
fluid communication with a vacuum source 15 which is inter-
connected through outlet lines 13, 48 and 49 to two yacuum
trap bottles 16 and 17.
The combined washer and aspirator device 10 is
composed of a body member comprising an intake body section
20 and outlet body section 21 having a multiplicity of
nozzles 22 with the body sectlons preferably sonic we].ded
together and a multiplicity of intake members 27 hav;ng
probes 40. Referring specifically to FIGURES 2 and 3,
it will be seen that the intake body section 20 includes a
manifold 31 and seal plate 30 and an outlet body section 21
define generally parallel independent fluid passages 23 and
24 w~ch communicate with outlet line 13 and intake line 14,
respectively. This is effected through outlet and intake
connectors 25 and 26, respectively, which are preferably
sonic welded into outlet and intake body sec-tions 20 and 21
and surround fluid passages 23 and 24. The seal plate 30
ha,s a mul-tiplicity of openings 32 from which extend a seal
36
rim 33. The outlet body section 21 has a multiplicity of
openings 34 from which extend a seal rim 35. The intake
and outlet body sections 20 and 21 are positioned in a
manner to allow a removable intake member 27 to extend from
the fluid intake passage 23, through opening 32 of the
seal plate 30r across opening 34 of the outlet boay section
21, through fluid outlet passage 24 and through outlet
channel 29 in the nozzle 22, ~hen the intake and outlet
body systems are aligned in this manner the seal rim 33
extending from the seal plate 30 and seal ring 35 extending
from the outlet body section 21, preferably form a compart-
ment 36 in which a frictional retaining means, preferably
an 0-ring 37 is housed. Each intake member 27 defining an
intake channel 28 is retained and positioned in intake body
section 20 by frictional retaining means comprising an
0-ring 37 housed in compartment 36 and held on intake
member 27. In addition the 0-ring 37 provides a means of
sealing and separating the intake and outlet fluid passages
23 and 24. Surrounding intake member 27 in a concentric~
,` ~7~,
manner and spaced therefrom is an ou-ter tubular member
which, as best shown in FIGURE 4, provides a fluid outlet
tubular member ~ extending from the outlet body section 21
having its upper end portion in open communication with the
fluid outlet passage. It will also be noted that intake
}nember 27 has a probe portion 40 with an orifice 41 for
communicating with fluid intake channel 28 and ultimately
with fluid intake passage 23.
As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, nozzle 22 in
combination with removable probe portion 40 extending from
the end of intake member 27 contains a plurality of passages
43 in communication with fluid outlet channel 29. Passages
43 have deflecting wall surfaces 44 for effecting an out-
ward direction to fluid passing outwardly from fluid outlet
channel 29.
As bes-t seen in FIGURE 6, probe portion 40 has a
concave or semicircular opening 45 havi.ng a somewhat smaller
radius of curvature than a spherical ball member such as
shown at 47. Referriny specifically to FIGURE 6, it will
be seen that probe portion 40 at its orifice 41 has
L766.,n36
spaced projections 50 formin~ in effect passageways 52
therebetween.
It should also be pointed out that a shut-off
valving device 53 is operatively carried by intake body
5 section 20 for regulating the vacuum source in fluid outlet
channel 23, the valving device being connected to connector
25.
Operation
A better understanding of the advantages of the
10 combined washer and aspirator 10 will be had by a des-
cription of its operation. As indicated earlier, washer-
aspirator is preferably designed to be utilized in con-
junction with an immunoassay method such as hepatitis
detection procedure~ Such a method will generally employ
15 a plastic tray 54 having a multiplicity of well members
55 in which are placed small plastic beads or balls such
as 47. These beads are precoated with guinea pi~ antibody.
Patient serum is added into the wells to contact the beads
47. They are later subjected to an incubation period
20 during which any antigen from this serum is fixed to that
antibody. The antibody is later tagged with radioactive
iodine-125 and it binds to the antigen on the bead creating
an antibody-antigen-antibody "sandwich". In order to
accomplish the foregoing "sandwich" it is preferable to
25 utilize certain procedures. The plastic tray as well as
a dispensing tube for the plastic beads or balls 47 is well
known in the art and examples thereof are illustrated in
United States Patent No. 3,932,141. The plastic beads 47
will be placed in the wells 55 and will have been contacted
30 with serum. It will be necessary after the incubation
period to remove the serum which is advantageously accomplished
with the combined washer and aspirator 10. Vacuum line 13
will be interconnected to connec-tor 25 and pumping device
11 will be interconnected to connection 26 by means of
35 intake line 14 The vacuum source 15 will be activated and
is preferably left on continuously with valve 53 being open.
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The probes 40 will be lowered into the wells 55 of the
tray 54 until the orifice 41 surrounds the beads 47 and is
partially accommodated in the semicircular opening 45.
Pump 11 will then be activated to draw 5 + 0.2 ml of rinse
solution from solution source 12 through intake lines 14
and 18 into fluid passage 24, passing through out-
let channel 29 in tubular member 35. As the
fluid will flow through outlet channel 29 it will ultimately
engage passages 43 and deflecting wall members 44 causing
the fluid to assume an outward pattern as shown by the
arrows in FIGURE 5, During the foregoing washing step a
vacuum will have held spherical ball 47 in orifice 41.
This vacuum is effected by a reduction in pressure in intake
channel 28 which is in communlcation with vacuum passage
23 and ultimately with yacuum line 13. The fluid which is
drawn through the described vacuum channel 23, passage 23
and line 13 will be deposited in vacuum trap bottle 16 and
17 by means of lines 13 and 48. It should be noted that
when the vacuum source is applied, the spherical ball 47
will not be drawn completely into semicircular opening 45.
This is effected by means of projections 50 extending from
probe 40 with the spaces between the projections 50 forming
passageways 52 for the inward flow of washing liquid. The
foregoing procedure of dispensing fluid and aspirating by
means of the vacuum source can be effected as many times as
desirable, the purpose being to wash the excess serum from
all portions of the beads as they are held in a stationary
manner. They are later subjected to a counting device for
the fixed radioactive iodine. In order to assure that the
beads 47 are dry, the vacuum source 15 is left to continue
to operate and to hold thekeads against the orifice 41 which
will cause a drying of the beads through the aspiration
effect. In order to return the beads to the bottom of the
tray wells 55 valve 53 is closed which will cause them to
move away from the end of the probe 40.
6~36
~ s previously mentioned, an advantage of -the washer-
aspirator device of the present invention is that the intake
members 27 can be easily removed thereby facilitatiny
the cleaning of the device in general and the intake members
27 in particular. The intake members are removed by pullin~
the probe portion 40 of the intake member away from the
body member. To reinsert the intake member 27, one inserts
the intake member 27, in the opening of the nozzle 22
defining the fluid outlet channel 29 and pushes the intake
member 27 inward until the 0-ring 37 in compartment 36 is
in position on the retaining ring S9. The 0-ring 37 serves
to both retain and position the intake member 27 in the body
member of the device as well as provide a sealing means to
effectively separate and seal the intake and outlet fluid
passages 23 and 24.
It should be mentioned that in order to equalize
the vacuum source over a plurality of beads, there should be
provided a bead for every nozzle or probe member. This can
be accomplished by using dummy beads where there is no
serum to be deposited in a tray well.
Although in the description o the present invention
an 0-ring 37 was illustratively employed as the functional
retaining means, one skilled in the art can readily ascertain
other functional retaining means such as an indent means that
will be suitable when employed in the washer-aspirator device
of the present invention.
It will be recognized tha-t while a multiplicity of
nozzles 22 and probes 40 are utilized in a single row with
the nozzles positioned adjacent each other, these can be
extended or arranged in double rows from a single header or
body member in any geometric fashion and with any number
of probes including only a single one. The combined
aspirator and washer 10 can be advantageously utilized in
any type of operation where a washing and aspirating of the
washing fluid is to be accomplished~ Further, it is not
necessary that the washing take place prior to the
aspirating but -the aspirating effect could be utilized
even prior to washing such as for the removal of fluid
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prior to the washing step. The intake and outlet body
sections 20 and 21 as well as the nozzle members 22 are plastic
injection mok~ed. Although ABS-plastic is employed as the
plastic material of choice, other rigid or semirigid materials
capable of being injection molded may be utilized depedning
upon the purpose to which the device is -to be utilized. The
intake members 27 are generally fabricated from stainless steel,
although aluminum or other rigid material may be used. The probe
portion 40 may be fabricated from stainless steel, ABS-plastic
or any suitable rigid material. Pump 11 is of the type which
will automatically force a controlled quantity of fluid in
nozzles 22. The preferred pump is a vial filler sold by
National Instrument Company of Baltimore, Maryland, under the
trademark Filamatic~. However, any type of automatic,
sequentially regulated pump can be employed.
It will thus be seen that through the present
invention there is now provided a combined aspirator and
washer device which can effectively perform both a washing
and drying method as well as a removal of the fluid from a
cavity. The combined washer and aspirator device can be
utilized in relatively small cavities and can effectively
hold the member which is to be washed away from the container
cavity. The combined washer and aspirator deyice ls fabri~
cated from a minimum number of parts and is sturdy in its
construction. It utilizes a minimum number of moving parts
and can be fabricated from many existing components.
The foregoing invention can be practiced by those
skilled in the art. Such skilled persons will know that the
invention is not necessarily restricted to the particular
ernbodiments presented herein. The scope of the invention
is to be defined by the terms of the following claims as
given meaning by the preceding description.
