Patent ID: 9297797
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method of determining an electrolyte in a sample, the method comprising: adding the sample to an electrolyte module, the electrolyte module including a single, integrated body and a pump, the single, integrated body including a dilution cup and a flow cell, the dilution cup having a hemispherical bottom and being formed within the single, integrated body, the flow cell having a flow channel with a first end and a second end, the first end fluidically coupled to the dilution cup, and the second end fluidically coupled to the pump; combining the sample with a diluent in the dilution cup to produce a diluted sample; operating the pump to aspirate the diluted sample into the flow cell through the first end; measuring the electrolyte in the diluted sample in the flow cell; and reversing the pump to dispense a reference solution through the second end to displace the diluted sample from the flow cell back into the dilution cup and to fill the flow cell with the reference solution, wherein the flow cell further includes a side channel having a junction end and a free end, the junction end fluidically coupled to the flow channel at an intersection in between the first end and the second end, wherein a reference solution is added to the flow cell through either of two paths, wherein one of the two paths includes the side channel and the intersection, and wherein the other of the two paths includes the second end and the intersection; and wherein adding the reference solution to the flow cell through either of the two paths includes actuating a bidirectional valve to direct the reference solution through one or the other of the two paths.