US 11,768,135 B2
Waste evacuation apparatus for an automated specimen preparation system
Raymond Jenoski, Boylston, MA (US); and Eric Grimes, Hopedale, MA (US)
Assigned to Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, MA (US)
Appl. No. 16/644,490
Filed by HOLOGIC, INC., Marlborough, MA (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 29, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/048495
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 4, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/050734, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 14, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/554,458, filed on Sep. 5, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0284701 A1, Sep. 10, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 1/28 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/2813 (2013.01) [G01N 1/2806 (2013.01); G01N 2001/2846 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated specimen preparation system for preparing a specimen from a sample in a sample container, the system comprising:
a specimen transfer device configured for holding a specimen collector thereon and for being positioned within the sample container, wherein the specimen transfer device comprises a central bore having an open distal end and a closed proximal end, a pressure monitoring port fluidly coupled to the central bore at the proximal end of the central bore, and a fluid waste evacuation port fluidly coupled to the proximal end of the central bore, wherein the pressure monitoring port comprises a reduced diameter portion coupled directly to the central bore;
a vacuum source fluidly coupled to the fluid waste evacuation port; and
a pressure monitoring device fluidly coupled to the pressure monitoring port.