Patent ID: 6818182
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: B01F,B01L,G01N

Abstract:
The device for processing samples of blood products contained in tubes which are closed by means of bungs and loaded into cassettes, said device comprising: means of agitation for agitating the tubes, and means for sampling and collecting at least one sample from a pre-agitated tube, the improvement comprising: transfer means (10) for moving the cassettes (12) individually on a pre-determined path, means for immobilising the cassettes on said path and wherein the means of agitation (30) incorporates at least one pick-up mechanism (32) capable of picking up at least one selected tube (18) from one of the cassettes (12) immobilised on the path, removing said at least one selected tube away from the one cassette, agitating said at least one selected tube and replacing said at least one selected in the one cassette, and wherein the means for sampling (34) includes at least one needle (148) capable of drawing a given sample quantity from the at least one selected tube that has been pre-agitated and replaced in the cassette,wherein the pick-up mechanism (32) or each such mechanism is capable of being driven in continuous rotation by a motor (88), thereby effecting continuous agitation by turning the tube through a complete revolution.