Pipelining Assembly For A Blood Analyzing Instrument

Abstract

A pipelining assembly for use in a blood analyzing instrument, methods for performing parallel pipelining functions, and methods for processing a plurality of prepared blood samples through a blood analyzing instrument. The pipelining assembly presented generally includes a first sample preparation chamber, a first queuing chamber in fluid communication with the first sample preparation chamber, and a first control valve between the first sample preparation chamber and the first queuing chamber. The pipelining assembly further includes a second sample preparation chamber, a second queuing chamber in fluid communication with the second sample preparation chamber, and a second control valve between the second sample preparation chamber and the second queuing chamber. An analysis chamber is provided to receive first and second prepared blood samples from the in first and second queuing chambers. The presented methods include steps for repeated processing of prepared blood samples through the blood analyzing instrument.

1 . A pipelining assembly for a blood analyzing instrument, comprising:
 a first sample preparation chamber;   a first queuing chamber in fluid communication with the first sample preparation chamber;   a first control valve between the first sample preparation chamber and the first queuing chamber and adapted to control the flow of fluid between the first sample preparation chamber and the first queuing chamber;   a second sample preparation chamber;   a second queuing chamber in fluid communication with the second sample preparation chamber;   a second control valve between the second sample preparation chamber and the second queuing chamber and adapted to control the flow of fluid between the second sample preparation chamber and the second queuing chamber; and   an analysis chamber in fluid communication with the first queuing chamber and the second queuing chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second control valves are solenoid valves. 
     
     
         3 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third control valve between the first queuing chamber and the analysis chamber and adapted to control the flow of fluid between the first queuing chamber and the analysis chamber; and   a fourth control valve between the second queuing chamber and the analysis chamber and adapted to control the flow of fluid between the second queuing chamber and the analysis chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hydraulic system in fluid communication with the pipelining assembly to manipulate the movement of fluid through the pipelining assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pneumatic system in fluid communication with the pipelining assembly to manipulate the movement of fluid through the pipelining assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third sample preparation chamber in fluid communication with one of the queuing chambers.   
     
     
         7 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third queuing chamber in fluid communication with the analysis chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a priming outlet extending from a common fluid line, wherein the common fluid line links the first and second queuing chambers to the analysis chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a priming outlet extending from the analysis chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a waste circuit for disposing of excess fluid in the pipelining assembly.   
     
     
         11 . A method of processing a plurality of prepared blood samples through a blood analyzing instrument, comprising:
 (a) transferring a first prepared blood sample from a first sample preparation chamber to a first queuing chamber;   (b) transferring an aliquot of the first prepared blood sample from the first queuing chamber to an analysis chamber for analysis;   (c) cleaning the first sample preparation chamber, wherein step (c) is performed concurrently with step (b);   (d) transferring a second prepared blood sample from a second sample preparation chamber to a second queuing chamber;   (e) cleaning the second sample preparation chamber;   (f) upon completion of step (b), cleaning a path between the analysis chamber and the first queuing chamber;   (g) cleaning the first queuing chamber;   (h) transferring an aliquot of the second prepared blood sample from the second queuing chamber to the analysis chamber for analysis;   (i) upon completion of step (h), cleaning a path between the analysis chamber and the second queuing chamber; and   (j) cleaning the second queuing chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein step (h) is performed concurrently with step (e). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein step (h) is performed concurrently with step (g). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 (k) transferring an aliquot of a third prepared blood sample to the first queuing chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step (k) is performed concurrently with step (h). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , priming the path between the first queuing chamber and the analysis chamber prior to step (b). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 priming the path between the second queuing chamber and the analysis chamber prior to step (h).   
     
     
         18 . A pipelining assembly for a blood analyzing instrument, comprising:
 at least two queuing chambers, wherein each queuing chamber has an input and an output;   a plurality of sample preparation chambers, wherein the input of each queuing chamber is connected to at least one of the sample preparation chambers;   a plurality of control valves, wherein at least one control valve is disposed between one of the plurality of sample preparation chambers and one of the two queuing chambers; and   an analysis chamber connected to an output of each queuing chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a priming outlet extending from a common fluid line, wherein the common fluid line links the output of each queuing chamber to the analysis chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a priming outlet extending from the analysis chamber.   
     
     
         21 . The pipelining assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a plurality of queuing chamber ports in communication with the queuing chambers.