Patent ID: 6315902
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
Device for selectively filtering liquid samples in compartments comprising inlet and outlet openings of a carrier body under reduced pressure and for vacuum drying drops of the sample liquid present in the area of the outlet openings of the compartments, comprisinga chamber (24) comprising an interior space (46) limited by a top wall (40), a bottom wall (38) and lateral walls (42, 44) connecting them,the top wall (40) comprising an opening (48) with an opening edge (52) whereon a closing lid (84) or the carrier body (26) can selectively be placed in a substantially gastight manner by means of outlet openings (32) directed towards the interior space (46) of the chamber (24),one of the lateral walls being formed as an access lateral wall (44) which can be opened and closed substantially gastightly for introducing the carrier body (26) into the interior space (46) of the chamber (24), andthe bottom wall (38) comprising a drain (76, 78) for liquid exiting from the outlet openings (32) of the compartments (28) of the carrier body (26), anda vacuum pump (82) with a suction conduit (81) terminating in the interior space (46) of the chamber (24) for producing a first low pressure for drawing liquid samples through the outlet openings (32) of the compartments (28) with the carrier body (26) being placed on the opening edge (50) of the top wall (40) and the access lateral wall (44) of the chamber (24) being closed and for producing a second low pressure higher than the first low pressure for drying drops of liquid samples still present on the outlet openings (32) of the compartments (28) with the carrier body (26) being located in the interior space (48) of the chamber (24) and the lid (84) being placed on the opening edge (50) of the top wall (40) as well as the access lateral wall (44) of the chamber (24) being closed.