(19)
(11) EP 1 450 163 A8

(12) CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(48) Corrigendum issued on:
10.11.2004 Bulletin 2004/46

(88) Date of publication A3:
15.09.2004 Bulletin 2004/38

(43) Date of publication:
25.08.2004 Bulletin 2004/35

(21) Application number: 04010902.7

(22) Date of filing: 24.03.1993
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G01N 35/02, G01N 35/10, F04B 53/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE CH DE ES FR GB IT LI

(30) Priority: 27.03.1992 US 859218
20.07.1992 US 916556
20.07.1992 US 917253
20.07.1992 US 915168
20.07.1992 US 915166
20.07.1992 US 917634
20.07.1992 US 916425
20.07.1992 US 916551
20.07.1992 US 915164
20.07.1992 US 915167
18.03.1993 US 27269
18.03.1993 US 27482

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
93908571.8 / 0746769

(71) Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Abbott Park, IL 60064-6008 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Clark, Frederic L.
    Plano TX 75023 (US)
  • Clift, Gilbert
    Mesquite TX 75150 (US)
  • Hendrick, Kendall B.
    Southlake TX 76092 (US)
  • Kanewske, William J. III.
    Dallas TX 75208 (US)
  • Lagocki, Peter A.
    Park Ridge IL 60068 (US)
  • Martin, Richard R.
    Irving TX 75063 (US)
  • Mitchell, James E.
    Lake Barrington IL 60010 (US)
  • Moore, Larry W.
    Plano TX 75075 (US)
  • Pennington, Charles D.
    Lake Zurich IL 60047 (US)
  • Walker, Edna S.
    Chicago IL 60618 (US)
  • Smith, Jane B.
    Vernon Hills IL 60061 (US)
  • Tayi, Apparao
    Grayslake IL 60030 (US)
  • Vaught, James A.
    Euless TX 76039 (US)
  • Yost, David A.
    Poolesville MD 20837 (US)
  • Rumbaugh, William
    Carollton TX 75006 (US)
  • Winter, Gary E.
    Hanover Park IL 60103 (US)
  • Hance, Robert B.
    Evanston IL 60202 (US)
  • Stanton, Alyn K.
    Barrington IL 60010 (US)
  • Oleksak, Carl M.
    Fort Worth TX 76118 (US)
  • Watkins, William E. III.
    Cedar Hill TX 75104 (US)
  • Vickstrom, Richard L.
    Algonquin IL 60102 (US)
  • Cloonan, Kevin M.
    Round Lake IL 60088 (US)
  • Wohlford Robert A.
    Irving TX 75062 (US)
  • Hills, David B. Jr.
    Plano TX 75025 (US)
  • Schrier, Paul R.
    Carrollton TX 75007 (US)

(74) Representative: Modiano, Guido, Dr.-Ing. et al
Modiano, Josif, Pisanty & Staub, Baaderstrasse 3
80469 München
80469 München (DE)

 
Remarks:
This application was filed on 07 - 05 - 2004 as a divisional application to the application mentioned under INID code 62.
 


(54) Syringe with bubble flushing


(57) A bubble flushing aspirating and dispensing syringe having precision and volumetric accuracy, particularly for use in an automated, continuous and random access analytical system, is disclosed. The syringe comprises a piston (124) within a bore (128), the bore having seal means at a first end and a closed end (130) at a second end, wherein the piston forms an annulus (138) with the bore wall and seal means, and is capable of reciprocating therein. Fluid inlet (134) and fluid outlet (136) means are in communication with the annulus (138) and bore, the fluid inlet and fluid outlet means being located between the seal means and the bore closed end. A fluid source is in communication with the inlet means and a fluid conduit is in communication with the outlet means and an open-ended release tip. A drive means is connected to the piston for reciprocating the piston within the bore. As a result, fluid from the inlet, when connected to a fluid supply, flows through the annulus (138) around the sides of the piston and out through the fluid outlet to the open-ended tip, thereby creating a cross-flow pattern in the annulus (138) around the piston as it reciprocates in the bore to flush bubbles through the outlet.