Automated fluid handling system and method

1. An injection port for a fluid handling system, the injection port comprising;

a central conical portion with a central bore for sealingly engaging a sample probe of the fluid handling system;

an annular waste trough surrounding the central conical portion; and

a plurality of magnets affixed to the injection port and a plurality of opposite polarity magnets affixed to the fluid handling system for attachment and registration of the injection port with respect to the fluid handling system.

2. The injection port of claim 1 , whereby the injection port is detachable from the fluid handling system by rotating the injection port to disengage the magnets from one another and lifting the injection port from the fluid handling system.

3. The injection port of claim 1 , further comprising a resilient tube in fluid communication, with the central bore of the injection port, the resilient tube having an internal diameter sized to create an interference fit when the sample probe is inserted into the resilient tube.

4. A method of analyzing and loading a sample from a sample-holding station into an analytical instrument having a sample-flow tube and a detection zone along the tube for detecting the sample in the zone, said method comprising:

withdrawing a volume of a first sample into a mobile sample probe at the sample-holding station wherein withdrawing comprises:

(i) aspirating fluid into said first pump from a fluid reservoir;

(ii) activating a distribution valve connected to the first pump such that the first pump communicates with the sample probe;

(iii) aspirating a small amount of air into the tip of the sample probe with the first pump to form a separator bubble;

(iv) moving a well plate along X and/or Y axes until said first sample is positioned below the sample probe, and subsequently lowering the sample probe into a sampling position with the tip of the probe immersed within the first sample; and

(v) raising the sample probe out of the first sample and moving the sample probe into a sample injecting position with the sample probe sealingly engaging the injection port;

ejecting the first sample through the injection port and a fluid flow path comprised of (i) a first conduit between the injection port and a switching valve, (ii) the switching valve, and (iii) a second conduit having one end connected to the switching valve and a second end connected to the analytical instrument, at a flow rate effective to prime the fluid flow path between the injection, port and the detection zone of the analytical instrument;

changing a position of the switching valve from (i) a first position to allow fluid movement from the injection port through said fluid flow path to the detection zone under the influence of the first pump to (ii) a second position to allow fluid movement from a second pump operably connected to the switching valve through said second conduit;

moving the first sample through the instrument at a flow rate effective for analyzing the sample with the second pump connected to the switching valve; and

while the first sample is moving through the instrument, transferring a second volume of a second sample into the sample probe.

5. The method of claim 4 , which further includes reciprocating the first pump to create a suck/spit mixing action and aspirating a sample aliquot into the sample probe separated from the fluid by the separator bubble.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first suck/spit mixing draws in more liquid than it ejects, to preserve a liquid volume between the bubble in the probe and the end of the probe.

7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising, while the first sample volume is moving through the instrument at the analysis flow rate, and prior to transferring the second sample volume of the second sample into the sample probe;

disengaging the sample probe from the injection port, and raising the sample probe into a conical portion of the injection port;

expelling fluid through the sample probe with the first pump to wash out sample residue from the sample probe, and to clean an exterior portion of the sample probe;

receiving overflow of fluid from the conical portion of the injection port in a waste trough surrounding the conical portion of the injection port and conveying the overflow of fluid to waste; and

backwashing the fluid flow path from the switching valve through the injection port with fluid from a source of fluid and conveying the overflow of fluid to waste.

8. A method of analyzing arid loading a sample from a sample-holding station into an analytical instrument having a sample-flow tube and a detection zone along the tube for detecting the sample in the zone, said method comprising:

withdrawing a volume of a first sample into a mobile sample probe at the sample-holding station;

moving the sample probe to place the probe in a sealed engagement with an injection port;

ejecting the first sample through the injection port and a fluid flow path comprised of (i) a first conduit between the injection port and a switching valve, (ii) the switching valve, and (iii) a second conduit having one end connected to the switching valve and a second end connected to the analytical instrument, at a flow rate effective to prime the fluid flow path between the injection port and the detection zone of the analytical instrument;

changing a position of the switching valve from (i) a first position to allow fluid movement from the injection port through said fluid flow path to the detection zone under the influence of the first pump to (ii) a second position to allow fluid movement front a second pump operably connected to the switching valve through said second conduit;

moving the first sample through the instrument at a flow rate effective for analyzing the sample with the second pump connected to the switching valve; and

while the first sample is moving through the instrument, transferring a second volume of a second sample into the sample probe;

disengaging the sample probe from the injection port, and raising the sample probe into a conical portion of the injection port;

expelling fluid through the sample probe with the first pump to wash out sample residue from the sample probe, and to clean an exterior portion of the sample probe;

receiving overflow of fluid from the conical portion of the injection port in a waste trough surrounding the conical portion of the injection port and conveying the overflow of fluid to waste; and

backwashing the fluid flow path from the switching valve through the injection port with fluid from a source of fluid and conveying the overflow of fluid to waste.

9. The method of claim 8 , said withdrawing includes aspirating a separation bubble into the tip of the probe, lowering the tip into a well having a first reagent, aspirating a volume of reagent into the probe tip, transferring the probe tip to a second well having a quantity of sample, with suck and spit mixing, mixing the reagent with sample without loss of the bubble in the tip, aspirating an aliquot of the mixed fluid into the probe, and transferring the mixed contents in the probe tip into the injection port, for ejection therein.

10. A method of analyzing and loading a sample from a sample-holding station into an analytical instrument having a sample-flow tube and a detection zone along the tube for detecting the sample in the zone, said method comprising:

withdrawing a volume of a first sample into a mobile sample probe at the sample-holding station, wherein said withdrawing includes aspirating a separation bubble into the tip of the probe, lowering the tip into a well having a first reagent, aspirating a volume of reagent into the probe tip, transferring the probe tip to a second well having a quantity of sample, with suck and spit mixing, mixing the reagent with sample without loss of the bubble in the tip, aspirating an aliquot of the mixed fluid into the probe, and transferring the mixed contents in the probe tip into the injection port, for ejection therein;

moving the sample probe into a sample injecting position with the sample probe sealingly engaging the injection port;

ejecting the first sample through the injection port and a fluid flow path comprised of (i) a first conduit between the injection port and a switching valve, (ii) the switching valve, and (iii) a second conduit having one end connected to the switching valve and a second end connected to the analytical instrument, at a flow rate effective to prime the fluid flow path between the injection port and the detection zone of the analytical instrument;

changing a position of the switching valve from (i) a first position to allow fluid movement from the injection port through said fluid flow path to the detection zone under the influence of the first pump to (ii) a second position to allow fluid movement from a second pump operably connected to the switching valve through said second conduit;

moving the first sample through the instrument at a flow rate effective for analyzing the sample with the second pump connected to the switching valve; and

while the first sample is moving through the instrument, transferring a second volume of a second sample into the sample probe.

11. The method of claim 10 , which further includes reciprocating the first pump to create a suck/spit mixing action and aspirating a sample aliquot into the sample probe separated from the fluid by the separator bubble.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first suck/spit mixing draws in more liquid than it ejects, to preserve a liquid volume between the bubble in the probe and the end of the probe.