Patent ID: 8285497
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: G01G

Abstract:
1. A method for the gravimetric volume determination of a liquid volume in a clinical diagnostic analyzer comprising: (a) calibrating a load cell, at a determined positioning, outside an analytic system using an internal or external weight for calibration, (b) introducing said load cell into a housing, (c) adjusting the positioning of said load cell to correspond to the positioning of said load cell during step (a), (d) introducing said housing with said load cell into an analytic analyzer, (e) introducing a liquid sample to be weighed into said load cell and transmitting an output signal generated by said load cell to an electronic processing unit, said output signal being representative of the weight of said liquid sample, (f) measuring the temperature of the environment of said load cell with a temperature sensor and transmitting an output signal generated by said temperature sensor to the electronic processing unit, (g) measuring the air pressure of the environment of said load cell with an air-pressure sensor and transmitting an output signal generated by said pressure sensor to the electronic processing unit, (h) measuring the humidity of the environment of said load cell with a humidity sensor and transmitting an output signal generated by said humidity sensor to the electronic processing unit, and (i) processing in the electronic processing unit the output signals generated according to steps (a) to (e), said processing including the calculation of the volume of the liquid sample which corresponds to the weight of the liquid sample measured with said load cell.