Article dispensing apparatus and method

Abstract

Method and apparatus for storing and dispensing articles, one at a time, from the bottom of a stack of like articles. The articles are yieldably supported in at least one upright stack above an outlet, e.g., a resilient choke, sized to pass the articles if forced therethrough. Articles are dispensed by pressing downwardly on the stack with sufficient force and for sufficient duration to overcome the yieldable supporting force and move the lowest article through the outlet. Sensors may be provided for sensing when an article is dispensed, when the tube is empty, and the type of article in the holder. The method and apparatus are especially useful in a vial-based automated system for processing multiple specimens of biological fluid, wherein a filter assembly must be dispensed into a filtration chamber associated with each specimen vial.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of commonly owned U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 330,092, filed Oct. 19, 2001, No. 60 / 372,080, filed Apr. 15, 2002, and No. 60 / 373,658, filed Apr. 19, 2002, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application also is related to commonly owned U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 10 / 122,151, filed Apr. 15, 2002, which is also incorporated herein by reference.[0002] The present disclosure is directed to apparatus and methods for collecting and processing specimens of particulate matter-containing liquid, e.g., biological fluid, including collecting and depositing onto a microscope slide or other surface a uniform layer of particulates therefrom (e.g., cells) suitable for examination (e.g., use in cytology protocols).[0003] Diagnostic cytology, particularly in the area of clinical pathology, bases cytological interpretations and diagnoses on examination of cells and other microscopic objects. The accuracy of the scree...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The processing assembly is coupled to a simple cover for the vial by means of a simple and inexpensive releasable coupling. When the cover is removed at the point-of-care site (physician's office, clinic, hospital, etc.), the processing assembly remains with the cover to allow medical personnel easy access to the container interior for insertion of a biological specimen into the vial. The cover, along with the attached processing assembly, is then replaced to seal the vial. The vial may then be sent to a laboratory for processing.

[0010] When the vial is manipulated in a simple way while still closed, the processing assembly detaches from the cover and remains in the vial for access by automated or manual laboratory equipment when the cover is subsequently removed. In a preferred embodiment, a downward force on the center of the cover is all that is required to detach the processing assembly from the cover. In contrast with the prior art specimen vials discussed above, the vial of the present invention requires no further interaction with the cover, which can be removed by a simple uncapping device and is discarded to avoid contamination. Ribs inside the vial support the processing assembly in the proper position for access during processing. This self-contained vial and processing assembly arrangement minimizes human operator exposure to biohazards, such as tuberculosis or other pathogens in sputum or in other specimens types, such as urine, spinal tap fluid, gastric washings, fine-needle aspirates, and gynecological samples.

[0013] Identifying molecular changes at the cellular level is one of the ways cancer can be detected early and at a more curable stage. Such molecular diagnostic devices can be used for early detection and diagnosis with the necessary sensitivity and specificity to justify their use as population-based screens for individuals who are at-risk for developing cancer. Such a molecular diagnostic device also can be used to characterize the tumor, thereby permitting the oncologist to stratify his / her patients, to customize therapy, and to monitor patients in order to assess therapeutic efficacy and disease regression, progression or recurrence. The availability of such tests will also foster the development of new and more effective therapeutic approaches for the treatment of early stage disease.

[0020] The filter assembly preferably has a holder, a frit seated in the holder, and a membrane filter positioned over and in contact with the outer surface of the frit. The frit can extend beyond the end of the holder. The membrane filter can be attached to the holder. The sidewall portion extending beyond the holder forms an area through which the specimen liquid can flow, creating a secondary flow. The holder can be configured so that the frit is slightly bowed outwardly at the center so that when pressure is applied to a slide during the specimen transferring step, the central portion of the frit flattens to more evenly contact the membrane filter to the slide for more effective transfer.

Problems solved by technology

In all of these endeavors, a limiting factor in the sample preparation protocol is adequately separating solid matter from its fluid carrier, and in easily and efficiently collecting and concentrating the solid matter in a form readily accessible to examination under a microscope.

All of this complexity adds time, and material and labor cost to the processing required prior to the actual cytology examination.

In general, automated equipment thus far developed for processing liquid-based specimens have not performed with sufficient consistency, reliability, speed and automation to satisfy current and projected needs in cancer screening and other cytology-based medical, analytical, screening and diagnostic procedures.

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