U.S. patent application number 15/962968 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-23 for apparatus for spreading a fluid across a substrate and method of using the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Daniel CAMPTON, Joshua NORDBERG, Steve QUARRE, David STEWART. Invention is credited to Daniel CAMPTON, Joshua NORDBERG, Steve QUARRE, David STEWART.
Application Number | 20180238778 15/962968 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52480717 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180238778 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NORDBERG; Joshua ; et
al. |
August 23, 2018 |
APPARATUS FOR SPREADING A FLUID ACROSS A SUBSTRATE AND METHOD OF
USING THE SAME
Abstract
This disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method for
spreading a fluid across a substrate. A spreader for spreading a
fluid across a substrate includes a wiper and a frame. The wiper
and the frame may mate to permit translation of the wiper across,
and with respect to, the frame. The wiper spreads the fluid across
the substrate and the frame supports the wiper and the substrate.
The frame may also include a ramp to cause a portion of the wiper
to lift away from the substrate.
Inventors: |
NORDBERG; Joshua;
(Bainbridge Island, WA) ; CAMPTON; Daniel;
(Seattle, WA) ; QUARRE; Steve; (Woodinville,
WA) ; STEWART; David; (Seattle, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NORDBERG; Joshua
CAMPTON; Daniel
QUARRE; Steve
STEWART; David |
Bainbridge Island
Seattle
Woodinville
Seattle |
WA
WA
WA
WA |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52480717 |
Appl. No.: |
15/962968 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14948327 |
Nov 22, 2015 |
10018538 |
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15962968 |
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|
14801637 |
Jul 16, 2015 |
9222857 |
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14948327 |
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|
14465065 |
Aug 21, 2014 |
9121798 |
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14801637 |
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61869881 |
Aug 26, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 2300/06 20130101;
B01L 3/502 20130101; G01N 1/312 20130101; B01L 2300/0809 20130101;
G01N 1/2813 20130101; B01L 2200/0605 20130101; B01L 2400/0475
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01N 1/28 20060101
G01N001/28; G01N 1/31 20060101 G01N001/31; B01L 3/00 20060101
B01L003/00 |
Claims
1. A wiper, comprising: a main body; a platform comprising a blade
extending at least partially downwardly to engage a fluid on a
substrate; wherein the platform extends outwardly from the main
body, and wherein the platform is flexibly attached to the main
body.
2. The wiper of claim 1, further comprising: a pedestal; and a bore
extending through the pedestal, wherein the pedestal extends
outwardly from the main body in the same direction as the
platform.
3. The wiper of claim 2, wherein the bore of the connector is
threaded or includes a Luer lock.
4. The wiper of claim 2, wherein the bore includes a needle to
puncture a vessel.
5. The wiper of claim 2, further comprising a connector comprising:
an attachment segment to attach to the main body; the pedestal; and
the bore.
6. The wiper of claim 1, wherein the platform is flexibly attached
to the main body via flexures.
7. The wiper of claim 6, wherein the flexures are cut-outs or
flexible material.
8. The wiper of claim 1, wherein the blade is straight, angled, or
curved.
9. The wiper of claim 1, wherein the blade is rubber, plastic,
ceramic, metal, or combinations thereof.
10. A wiper, comprising: a main body; a platform comprising a blade
extending at least partially downwardly to engage a fluid on a
substrate; a pedestal; and a bore extending through the pedestal,
wherein the platform extends outwardly from the main body, and
wherein the pedestal extends outwardly from the main body in the
same direction as the platform.
11. The wiper of claim 10, wherein the bore of the connector is
threaded or includes a Luer lock.
12. The wiper of claim 10, wherein the bore includes a needle to
puncture a vessel.
13. The wiper of claim 10, wherein the platform is flexibly
attached to the main body.
14. The wiper of claim 10, further comprising a connector
comprising: an attachment segment to attach to the main body, the
pedestal, and the bore.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
14/948,327, filed Nov. 22, 2015, which is a continuation of
application Ser. No. 14/801,637, filed Jul. 16, 2015, now issued as
U.S. Pat. No. 9,222,857, which is a continuation of application
Ser. No. 14/465,065, filed Aug. 21, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat.
No. 9,121,798, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application
No. 61/869,881, filed Aug. 26, 2013, each of which is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to smearing a fluid and,
in particular, to spreading a fluid across a substrate.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Analysis of a biological sample includes the step of placing
the biological sample on a substrate, such as a microscope slide,
for examination. Once placed on the substrate, the biological
sample may be smeared across the substrate, thereby forming a wider
and thinner layer of the biological sample to enable more efficient
processing, imaging and examination of components of the biological
sample. However, non-uniformity may lead to problems with imaging
and examination, thereby leading to errors and incorrect analysis.
As a result, practitioners, researchers, and those working with
suspensions or solutions continue to seek an apparatus and method
for repeatedly and uniformly spreading a biological sample, a
solution, or a suspension across a substrate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1A-1C show an example spreader.
[0005] FIGS. 2A-2B show an example a wiper.
[0006] FIG. 2C shows an example wiper.
[0007] FIG. 3 shows an example frame.
[0008] FIGS. 4A-4B show an example spreader.
[0009] FIG. 5 shows an example spreader.
[0010] FIG. 6 shows an example wiper.
[0011] FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram for spreading a sample with a
spreader.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] This disclosure is directed to fluid spreaders and methods
for spreading a fluid across a substrate. A spreader includes a
wiper and a frame. The wiper and the frame may mate to permit
translation of the wiper across, and with respect to, the frame.
The wiper spreads the fluid across the substrate and the frame
supports the wiper and the substrate. The frame may also include a
ramp to cause a portion of the wiper to lift away from the
substrate.
Spreader
[0013] FIG. 1A shows an exploded view of a spreader 100. The
spreader 100 includes a wiper 102 and a frame 104. The wiper 102
spreads a fluid across a substrate held in position by the frame
104. The wiper 102 includes a handle 106 that enables a user to
move the wiper 102 along the frame 104 while eventually spreading a
fluid across the substrate held in place by the frame 104. The
wiper 102 also includes a platform 108. The platform 108 includes
an extension 110 extending from the handle 106 and a blade 112
extending downward from the extension 110 to engage the fluid. The
platform 108 may be sized to contact at least a portion of a
surface of the substrate or may be sized so as to not contact the
surface of the substrate. The blade 112 may be straight, angled, or
curved. The platform 108 may be composed of metal, ceramic, rubber,
plastic, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the extension 110
may be removed, and the blade 112 and the handle 106 may be
longitudinally co-axial, thereby sharing the same central axis.
Alternatively, the spreader 100 may allow for back and forth
spreading, such that the wiper 102 is moved in a first direction
and then is moved backwards in a second direction. For example, the
blade 112 may include a double plough to spread the suspension in
opposite directions.
[0014] The wiper 102 also includes a first wing 114 and a second
wing 116. The first and second wings 114 and 116 include first and
second flanges 118 and 120, respectively. The first and second
flanges 114 and 116 are directed inward to mate with a first guide
(not shown) and a second guide 118, respectively, located on
opposite sides of the frame 104 handle 106 flanges 114 and 116.
[0015] The frame 104 includes parallel first and second arms 122
and 124 that extend from a stanchion 126. The first and second arms
122 and 124 each include a shelf 128. The shelf 128 is a cut-out
from an inner top portion of the respective side. The shelf 128
supports the substrate when the substrate is inserted into the
frame 104. The shelf 128 inhibits translation of the substrate
relative to the frame 104. The first and second arms 122 and 124
may be adjustable, thereby allowing for different dimensioned
substrates to be used within the same frame 104.
[0016] The wiper 102 and the frame 104 may be interlockable via a
tongue and groove connection to permit translation of the wiper 102
across, and with respect to, the frame 104. The first and second
flanges 118 and 120 of the wiper 102 (i.e. the tongues) mate with a
first guide (not shown) and a second guide 130 (i.e. the grooves),
respectively. The first guide (not shown) and the second guide 130
include a linear portion 132 and a ramp 134. The linear portion 132
permits the wiper 102 to drag the fluid across the substrate at a
consistent height. When the wiper 102 reaches and moves across the
ramp 134, the blade 112 is lifted away from the substrate to avoid
spreading off of the edges and end of the substrate while also
allowing for ease of removal of the substrate from the frame 104.
The ramp 134 may be angled or curved. The stanchion 126 may support
at least a portion of the wiper 102 when the wiper 102 reaches the
end of the ramp 134 in such a manner so as to prevent the blade 112
and/or the extension 110 from touching the stanchion 126 or any
other portion of the frame 104. Alternatively, movement of the
wiper 102 relative to the frame 104 may be constrained to the x-y
plane, such as by a flexure mechanism, motorized actuator, linear
or non-linear guides, a rotary mechanism, rack-and-pinion, or the
like. Alternatively, the flanges may be located on the frame 104
whereas the guides may be located on the wiper 102.
[0017] FIG. 1B shows an isometric view of the spreader 100. FIG. 1C
shows a cross-section of the spreader 100 taken along the line
I-I.
[0018] FIG. 2A shows an example of a wiper 200. The wiper 200 is
similar to the wiper 102, except that the wiper 200 includes a
connector 202. The connector 202 may be located on a extension 204
of a platform 206. The platform 206 also includes a blade 208
similar to the blade 112. The connector 202 permits a vessel (not
shown) to dispense a fluid onto the substrate without having to
transfer the fluid or portion thereof to the substrate before being
inserted into the frame. The connector 202 may be threaded or
embedded with a Luer lock. The connector 202 may be any appropriate
shape, including, but not limited to cylindrical, rectangular,
conical, pyramidal, or the like. The connector 202 may be a hollow
receptacle or may be a receptacle with a needle. For example, as
seen in FIG. 2B which is a cross-sectional view taken along the
line II-II, a tube 210 with a flexible bottom 212 may be inverted
such that a cap 214 is punctured by a needle 216. The flexible
bottom is pushed, which draws a pre-determined volume of fluid
through the needle. The fluid is then dispensed onto the substrate
from the needle 216. Alternatively, the fluid may be dispensed via
a syringe, a compressible cap, a pump via a fitting, or the
like.
[0019] FIG. 2C shows an example of a wiper 218. The wiper 218 is
similar to the wiper 200, except that the wiper 218 includes a
platform 220 where the extension 222 is enclosed on the sides to
form a cavity 224 on an underside of the platform 220. The
extension 222 also includes a blade 226 similar to the blade 112.
The extension 222 may also include a connector 228 similar to the
connector 202.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows an example of a frame 300. The frame 300 is
similar to the frame 104, except that the frame 300 includes a
stanchion 302 with a back plate 304. The back plate 304 may include
controllable drive mechanism 306 to move the wiper (not shown)
along the frame 300 at a constant rate. The controllable drive
mechanism 306 includes, but is not limited to, a spring, a damper
(e.g. a rotary or linear damper) to move the wiper (not shown) at a
constant rate. The controllable drive mechanism 306 may be used to
move the wiper (not shown) along the frame at a predictable motion
profile as the fluid droplet changes size across the substrate.
[0021] FIG. 4A shows an isometric view of a spreader 400. FIG. 4B
shows a cross-sectional view of the spreader 400 taken along the
line III-III. The spreader 400 includes a wiper 402 and a frame
404. The wiper 402 includes a main body 406 connected to a first
wing 408 and a second wing 410. The first wing 408 includes a first
flange (not shown) and the second wing 410 includes a second flange
412. The first flange (not shown) and the second flange 412 mate
with a guide 414 of a respective side of the frame 404 (such as by
a tongue-and-groove joint) to guide the x-, y-, and z-positions of
the wiper 402. The first flange (not shown) and the second flange
412 extend towards the central axis of the main body 404 from the
first and second wings 408 and 410, respectively.
[0022] The wiper 402 also includes a platform 416. The platform 416
may include first and second support members 418 and 420 extending
from and connected to the main body 406. An extension 422 connects
the first and second support members 418 and 420 at an end opposite
the end at which the first and second support members 418 and 420
connect to the main body 406. The extension 422 includes a blade
424 to interact with a fluid on a substrate, thereby spreading the
fluid across the substrate. The blade 424 may be hydrophobic or
hydrophilic. The first and second support members 418 and 420 may
include flexures 426. The flexures 426 may be cut-outs from the
first and second support members 418 and 420 or flexible material
to permit flexion of the blade 424 relative to the main body 406.
The blade 424 may be sized to contact at least a portion of a
surface of the substrate or may be sized so as to not contact the
surface of the substrate. The blade 424 may be tapered or flat. The
blade 424 may be composed of metal, ceramic, rubber, plastic, or a
combination thereof. The wiper 402 also includes feet 428 at the
junction of the extension 422 and the first and second support
members 418 and 420, respectively, which extend downward and may
engage the substrate to maintain a consistent blade height relative
to the substrate. The flexures 426 may also be pre-loaded to keep
the feet 428 in constant contact with the substrate. Alternatively,
the feet 428 may engage a shelf of the frame 404.
[0023] The wiper 402 may also include a connector 430. The
connector 430 may be located in the main body 406. The connector
430 permits a vessel (not shown) to dispense a fluid onto the
substrate without having to transfer the fluid or portion thereof
to the substrate before being inserted into the frame. The
connector 430 may be a hole, a hollow receptacle, or may be a
receptacle with a needle. For example, a tube or tubular main body
with a flexible bottom may be inverted such that a cap is punctured
by the needle. The flexible bottom is pushed, which draws a
pre-determined volume of fluid through the needle. The fluid is
then dispensed onto the substrate from the needle. Alternatively,
the fluid may be dispensed via a syringe, a compressible cap, a
pump via a fitting, or the like.
[0024] The connector 430 may be threaded or embedded with a Luer
lock. The connector 430 may be any appropriate shape, including,
but not limited to cylindrical, rectangular, conical, pyramidal, or
the like. The vessel, upon connection with the connector 430, may
be used as a handle. Alternatively, the wiper 402 may also include
handle to move the wiper 402 relative to the frame 404.
[0025] The frame 404 includes a first arm 432 and a second arm 434,
the first and second arms 432 and 434 being disconnected at one end
and connected at another end via a stanchion 436. The first and
second arms 432 and 434 each include a shelf 438. The shelf 438 is
a cut-out from an inner top portion of the respective side. A lip
440 is then cut out from the respective shelf 438 within each side.
The lip 440 supports the substrate when the substrate is inserted
into the frame 404, whereas the shelf 438 supports the feet 428 of
the platform 416. The lip 440 inhibits translation of the substrate
relative to the frame 404. The first and second arms 432 and 434
may be adjustable, thereby permitting different dimensioned
substrates to be used within the same frame 404.
[0026] The respective guides 414 are linear. Each shelf 438 also
includes a riser 442 that lifts the platform 416 away from the
substrate when the wiper 402 reaches the end of the shelf 438. The
feet 428 of the platform 416 then rest in a detent 444 located
behind each riser 442. A dock 446 supports at least a portion of
the wiper 402, such as the blade 424, when the feet 428 reach the
detents 444. Alternatively, the guides may be located on the wiper
402 whereas the flanges may be located on the frame 404. The wiper
402 may be moved relative to the frame 404 manually or mechanically
by, including, but not limited to, a flexure mechanism, motorized
actuator, linear or non-linear guides, a rotary mechanism, or the
like.
[0027] The frame 404 may also include a back plate. The back plate
may include a controllable drive mechanism to move the wiper 402
along the frame 404 at a constant rate. The controllable drive
mechanism includes, but is not limited to, a spring, a damper (e.g.
a rotary or linear damper) to move the wiper (not shown) at a
constant rate. The controllable drive mechanism may be used to move
the wiper (not shown) along the frame at a predictable motion
profile as the fluid droplet changes size across the substrate.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a spreader 500. The
spreader 500 includes a wiper 502 and a frame 504. The wiper 502
includes a main body 506 connected to a first wing 508 and a second
wing 510. Each wing 508 and 510 includes a flange 512. The flanges
512 mate with a guide 514 of a respective side of the frame 504
(such as by a tongue-and-groove joint) to guide the x-, y-, and
z-positions of the wiper 502. The flanges 512 extend towards the
central axis of the main body 504 from the first and second wings
508 and 510, respectively.
[0029] The wiper 502 also includes a platform 516. The platform 516
may include first and second support members 518 and 520 extending
from and connected to the main body 504. An extension 522 connects
the first and second support members 518 and 520 at an end opposite
the end at which the first and second support members 518 and 520
connect to the main body 506. The extension 522 includes a blade
524 to interact with a fluid on a substrate, thereby spreading the
fluid across the substrate. The blade 524 may be hydrophobic or
hydrophilic. The first and second support members 518 and 520 may
include flexures 526. The flexures 526 may be cut-outs from the
first and second support members 518 and 520 or flexible material
to permit flexion of the blade 524 relative to the main body 506.
The blade 524 may be sized to contact at least a portion of a
surface of the substrate or may be sized so as to not contact the
surface of the substrate. The blade 524 may be metal, ceramic,
rubber, plastic, or a combination thereof. The blade 524 may be
tapered or flat. The wiper 502 also includes feet 528 at the
junction of the extension 522 and the first and second support
members 518 and 520, respectively, which extend downward and may
engage the substrate to maintain a consistent blade height relative
to the substrate. The flexures 526 may also be pre-loaded to keep
the feet 528 in constant contact with the substrate. Alternatively,
the feet 528 may engage a shelf of the frame 504 track 548. The
first and second wings 508 and 510 may include a cut-out 530 to
permit an operator or another device to grip the wiper 502 to be
dragged across the frame 504. The first and second wings 508 and
510 may also include a guard 532 to prevent the operator or another
device from disturbing other samples when at least two frames are
placed side-by-side. The guard 532 may also permit for consistent
grip height from wiper to wiper and when the wiper is moved from
frame to frame.
[0030] The wiper 502 may also include a connector 534. The
connector 534 may be a separate piece from the wiper 502 and may
attach to the main body 506 of the wiper 502 via an attachment
segment 536. The attachment segment 536 may be a clip so as to slip
onto the main body 506. The connector 534 permits a vessel (not
shown) to dispense a fluid onto the substrate without having to
transfer the fluid or portion thereof to the substrate before being
inserted into the frame. The connector 534 may include a bore 538
within a pedestal 540 extending from the attachment segment 536
towards the blade 542 of the wiper 502. The bore 538 may accept or
mate with the vessel and may be threaded or may include a Luer
lock. Alternatively, the bore 538 may include a needle to puncture
the vessel. For example, a tube or tubular main body with a
flexible bottom may be inverted such that a cap is punctured by the
needle. The flexible bottom is pushed, which draws a pre-determined
volume of fluid through the needle. The fluid is then dispensed
onto the substrate from the needle. Alternatively, the fluid may be
dispensed via a syringe, a compressible cap, a pump via a fitting,
or the like.
[0031] The frame 502 includes a stanchion 542 which adjoins first
and second sides 544 and 546. Each side of the frame 502 includes
the guide 514, which may extend the full length of the respective
side or may extend only a portion of the respective side. When the
guide 514 only extends a portion of the respective side, the guide
514 may include a notch 548 to permit insertion of the wiper 502
onto the guide 514. The track 548 may be angled to maintain a
relative distance of the blade 524 to the sample based on the
changing volume of the not-yet-smeared portion of the sample (i.e.
to maintain a consistent blade 524 to smear area ratio). Each
flange 512 may be passed through the respective notch 548 and then
moved to engage the respective guide 514. Each side also includes a
shelf 550 to support the substrate when the substrate is inserted
into the frame 504 and a mantle 552 to support and engage the feet
528 of the wiper 502. The mantle 552 may include a riser 554 to
lift the blade 524 of the wiper 502 away from the substrate. The
frame 504 may also include a lip 556 to inhibit translation of the
substrate relative to the frame 504. Each side of the frame 504 may
include a cut-out 558 to permit an operator or another device to
grip the frame 504 while the wiper 502 is dragged across the frame
504. Each side of the frame 504 may also include a base 560 so that
the operator or another device may stabilize the frame 504 by
exerting a force on the frame 504. The frame 504 may also include a
cavity 562 to permit the substrate to be inserted and removed from
the frame 504 without touching the portion of the substrate that
has or may receive the sample. The frame 504 may be level or angled
(i.e. approximately)0.1.degree.-5.degree..
[0032] The frame 504 may also include a back plate. The back plate
may include controllable drive mechanism (not shown) to move the
wiper 502 along the frame 504 at a constant rate. The controllable
drive mechanism (not shown) includes, but is not limited to, a
spring, a damper (e.g. a rotary or linear damper) to move the wiper
(not shown) at a constant rate. The controllable drive mechanism
(not shown) may be used to move the wiper (not shown) along the
frame at a predictable motion profile as the fluid droplet changes
size across the substrate.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of a wiper 600. The wiper 600
is similar to the wiper 502 except the wiper 600 includes a
receptacle 602 extending from a brace 604. The receptacle 602
includes a bore 606 that spans the length of the receptacle and is
configured to receive a vessel. The receptacle 602 may also include
a collar 608, which may include fingers 610, to secure the vessel
within the receptacle 602. The receptacle 602 holds the vessel
containing a sample to be dispensed through an aperture 612.
Alternatively, the receptacle 602 may include a needle to be
inserted into the vessel to draw a portion of the sample out and
onto the substrate. The needle extends vertically, thereby being
parallel with the wall of the receptacle 602.
[0034] The wiper 600 may also include an abutment 614 that extends
between the main body 506 and the receptacle 602 to support the
receptacle 602. The brace 604 may be connected to the main body 506
via the flexures 526. The brace 604 includes a blade 616 similar to
the blade 524.
[0035] The wiper may be composed of a variety of different
materials including, but not limited to, a ceramic; metals; organic
or inorganic materials; and plastic materials; and combinations
thereof. The wiper may be disposable or re-useable. The frame may
be composed of a variety of different materials including, but not
limited to, a ceramic; metals; organic or inorganic materials; and
plastic materials; and combinations thereof. The frame may be
disposable or re-useable. The tracks may be on the outer side of
the respective first and second sides or may be on the inner side
of the respective first and second sides.
[0036] Alternatively, the spreader may include multiple frames
lined up next to one another. A wiper may include multiple blades,
such that the number of blades is equal to the number of frames.
The blades may share a handle such that pulling on the handle
causes all of the blades to move simultaneously. The blades may
also share first and second arms so as to move off the substrates
in unison.
[0037] Alternatively, the spreader may be housed in a cartridge to
be inserted into a machine and then ejected from the machine after
use. A lid of the cartridge may be removable to access the contents
or a handle and connector may extend through the lid, so as to
dispense the fluid onto the substrate and the move wiper to spread
the fluid.
Method
[0038] For the sake of convenience, the methods are described with
reference to an example fluid of buffy coat. But the methods
described below are not intended to be so limited in their scope of
application. The methods, in practice, may be used with any kind of
suspension, solution, or fluid. For example, a sample fluid may be
urine, blood, Buffy coat, red blood cells, plasma, bone marrow,
cystic fluid, ascites fluid, stool, semen, cerebrospinal fluid,
nipple aspirate fluid, saliva, amniotic fluid, vaginal secretions,
mucus membrane secretions, aqueous humor, vitreous humor, vomit,
and any other physiological fluid or semi-solid. The method and
apparatus may also be used with another appropriate solution or
suspension. Furthermore, the example fluids may be mixed with a
processing solution, such as a preservative, a cell adhesion
solution, a fixative, or the like, from previous processing or for
subsequent processing and analysis.
[0039] FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram for spreading a sample with a
spreader. In block 702, a sample of buffy coat may be obtained,
such enrichment and/or isolation, and held within a vessel. In
block 704, a substrate, such as a microscope slide, may be
pre-loaded onto a shelf of a frame. In block 706, at least a
portion of the buffy coat sample may be dispensed onto the
substrate. The buffy coat may be dispensed in one drop or in more
than one drop on the substrate. When one drop is dispensed onto the
substrate, the drop may be approximately equidistant between the
long sides of the substrate. When more than one drop is dispensed
onto the substrate, the drops may be equally spaced apart between
the long sides of the substrate.
[0040] In block 708, a wiper may be dragged across a frame to
spread the sample on the substrate. The protrusion interacts with
the buffy coat, thereby wicking the buffy coat outwards (i.e.
width) and/or across (i.e. length) the microscope slide. When
guides of the wiper slide up a ramp within a track of the frame,
the protrusion is lifted away from the microscope slide. In block
710, the substrate may then be removed from the shelf either
horizontally or vertically, so as to inhibit any run-off or
movement of the buffy coat from the substrate.
[0041] In diamond 712, a determination may be made as to whether or
not any sample remains in the vessel to be distributed. In oval
714, when no buffy coat remains, the process ends. However, when
buffy coat remains, the process continues, starting at block 704
and a new substrate is placed onto the shelf, the wiper is reset,
and the process is repeated as many times necessary until the
vessel is empty.
[0042] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used
specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the
disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art
that the specific details are not required in order to practice the
systems and methods described herein. The foregoing descriptions of
specific embodiments are presented by way of examples for purposes
of illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive of or to limit this disclosure to the precise forms
described. Many modifications and variations are possible in view
of the above teachings. The embodiments are shown and described in
order to best explain the principles of this disclosure and
practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art
to best utilize this disclosure and various embodiments with
various modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated. It is intended that the scope of this disclosure be
defined by the following claims and their equivalents:
* * * * *