IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,586,890
Granted Patent B2
US 8,586,890 · App. 13/561,941 · Granted Nov 19, 2013

Methods of separating, identifying and dispensing specimen and device therefor, and analyzing device method

Inventors: Toru Takahashi (Tokyo, JP); Ken Tsukii (Tokyo, JP); Jie Xu (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,586,890
App. No.
13/561,941
Granted
Nov 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A specimen sorter includes a separating device to remove a specimen from a container, a detection device to identify the specimen as a target specimen or a non-target specimen, and a dispensing device to dispense the specimen. The dispensing device includes a dispensing nozzle to contact a vibration member to form liquid droplets at a front end of the dispensing nozzle and to dispense the liquid droplets, a first container to collect the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the target specimen, and a second container to collect the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the non-target specimen.

Claims (40)

1. A specimen sorter, comprising:

a separating device to remove a specimen from a container;

a detection device to identify the specimen as a target specimen or a non-target specimen; and

a dispensing device to dispense the specimen, the dispensing device comprising:

a dispensing nozzle and a vibration member, wherein one of the dispensing nozzle and the vibration member moves relative to the other of the vibration member and the dispensing nozzle from a position in which the dispensing nozzle is not in contact with the vibration member to a position in which the dispensing nozzle and the vibration member collide to form liquid droplets at a front end of the dispensing nozzle and to dispense the liquid droplets;

a first container to collect the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the target specimen; and

a second container to collect the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the non-target specimen.

2. The specimen sorter according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing device further comprises:

a driving device to move the first container and the second container to collect the liquid droplets.

3. The specimen sorter according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing device further comprises:

a third container to collect the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the target specimen; and

a fourth container to collect the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the non-target specimen.

4. The specimen sorter according to claim 3 , wherein the dispensing device further comprises:

a driving device to move the first container, the second container, the third container, and the fourth container to collect the liquid droplets.

5. The specimen sorter according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid droplets in the dispensing nozzle are formed by a predetermined vibration generated when the dispensing nozzle and the vibration member collide.

6. The specimen sorter according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle includes a front end member at the front end of the nozzle, and the vibration member is moved to collide with the front end member.

7. The specimen sorter according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration member is moved to collide with the nozzle to form the liquid droplets.

8. The specimen sorter according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is moved to collide with the vibration member to form the liquid droplets.

9. The specimen sorter according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration member includes two side members, and the dispensing nozzle is shook between the side members to collide with the side members alternately one after another.

10. A method of sorting a specimen, comprising:

removing a specimen from a container;

identifying the specimen as a target specimen or a non-target specimen; and

dispensing the specimen, the dispensing the specimen comprising:

forming liquid droplets at a front end of a dispensing nozzle by moving one of the dispensing nozzle and a vibration member relative to the other of the vibration member and the dispensing nozzle from a position in which the vibration member is not in contact with the dispensing nozzle to a position in which the vibration member and the dispensing nozzle collide;

dispensing the liquid droplets from the dispensing nozzle;

collecting, in a first container, the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the target specimen; and

collecting, in a second container, the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the non-target specimen.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the dispensing further comprises:

moving the first container and the second container to collect the liquid droplets.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the dispensing further comprises:

collecting, in a third container, the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the target specimen; and

collecting, in a fourth container, the liquid droplets dispensed from the dispensing nozzle that contain the non-target specimen.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the dispensing further comprises:

moving the first container, the second container, the third container, and the fourth container to collect the liquid droplets.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the forming the liquid droplets in the dispensing nozzle includes generating a predetermined vibration to form the liquid droplets when the dispensing nozzle and the vibration member collide.

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the forming liquid droplets includes moving a vibration member to collide with a front end member at the front end of the nozzle.

16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the forming the liquid droplet includes moving the vibration member to collide with the nozzle to form the liquid droplets.

17. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the forming the liquid droplet includes moving the nozzle to collide with the vibration member to form the liquid droplets.

18. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the forming liquid droplets further comprises:

shaking the dispensing nozzle between two side members of the vibration member so that the dispensing nozzle collides with the side members alternately one after another.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2023
From: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: YAMATO SCIENTIFIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063203/0367 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2004-128467 · Apr 23, 2004 · national
JP 2004-280187 · Sep 27, 2004 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 11587210
Related Publication 20130026180A1 · Jan 31, 2013