APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MIXING FLUIDS FOR ANALYSIS

摘要

In an apparatus (10) for fluid analysis, such as hematologic analysis, a plurality of reagent-mixture components are each injected by a respective pump (P1...Pn) through a valve matrix (16) and into a flow-injection unit (24). The flow-injection unit (24) defines a mixing chamber (50) including a plurality of protuberances or nubs (54) projecting inwardly toward the center of the chamber, and spaced relative to each other both axially and radially. As the reagent-mixture components are injected into the mixing chamber (50), the nubs (54) agitate the fluid flow and create turbulence, thereby dispersing the reagent-mixture components and in turn mixing the components together to create a reagent mixture. The flow rates of the reagent-mixture components are adjusted in order to select the reagent-mixture ratio as the components are combined in the flow-injection unit (24) to thereby create the selected reagent mixture. Upon passage through the flow-injection unit (24), the reagent mixture is injected into a sensing unit (20) for analyzing a particle distribution of the mixture.