US 12,078,579 B2
System and method for trapping fluid at a valve
Daniel R. Wiederin, Omaha, NE (US); and Tyler Yost, Omaha, NE (US)
Assigned to Elemental Scientific, Inc., Omaha, NE (US)
Filed by Elemental Scientific, Inc., Omaha, NE (US)
Filed on May 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/318,940.
Application 18/318,940 is a continuation of application No. 17/012,883, filed on Sep. 4, 2020, granted, now 11,692,912.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/040,768, filed on Jun. 18, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/897,023, filed on Sep. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0366789 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 1/20 (2006.01); G01N 1/22 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/2035 (2013.01) [G01N 1/2247 (2013.01); G01N 35/1016 (2013.01); G01N 2001/205 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for capturing fluid within a fluid reservoir, comprising:
directing a fluid sample received from a sample container into a sample reservoir, via action of a vacuum source fluidically coupled with the sample reservoir, wherein the sample reservoir is fluidically coupled with a valve, the fluid sample flowing through the valve prior to introduction to the sample reservoir, and wherein the fluid sample flows through the valve following exiting of the fluid sample from the sample reservoir;
detecting, via one or more sensors, a presence of the fluid sample at least one of prior to introduction of the fluid sample to the sample reservoir or subsequent to the fluid sample exiting from the sample reservoir;
generating one or more sense signals responsive to detecting the presence of the fluid sample via the one or more sensors;
transmitting the one or more sense signals to a controller responsive to detecting the presence of the fluid sample via the one or more sensors; and
decoupling fluid communication between the vacuum source and the sample reservoir via control by the controller responsive to detecting the presence of the fluid sample via the one or more sensors to capture the fluid sample within the sample reservoir.