US 11,808,778 B2
Intelligent pressure control apparatus and methods for maintaining manifold pressure in a diagnostic testing apparatus
Richard Derman, Wilmington, DE (US); and David Haruch, Media, PA (US)
Assigned to Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, NY (US)
Appl. No. 17/048,573
Filed by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, NY (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 28, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/024501
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 16, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/209454, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 31, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/662,587, filed on Apr. 25, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0156878 A1, May 27, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 35/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/1016 (2013.01) [G01N 35/1004 (2013.01); G01N 2035/1034 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pressure control apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of pipettes configured to dispense a liquid from an outlet of each of the plurality of pipettes;
a manifold including a manifold chamber configured to supply the liquid to the outlets of the plurality of pipettes through flow paths passing between the manifold chamber and the outlets;
a flow control valve in each of the flow paths and configured to modulate a flow of the liquid in each of the flow paths;
a pump interconnected to a liquid source and configured to supply the liquid to the manifold chamber and maintain a target pressure in the manifold chamber;
a pressure sensor coupled to the manifold chamber and configured to provide a measured pressure correlated to a pressure within the manifold chamber; and
a flow controller configured to command an individual operational state combination from a plurality of operational state combinations, the flow controller further configured to:
in a calibration mode, decrease a pump drive setting if the measured pressure is too high, increase the pump drive setting if the measured pressure is too low, and store the pump drive setting for the individual combined operational state if the pressure measurement is within predetermined pressure threshold limits of the target pressure, or
in a testing mode, determine if the measured pressure in the manifold chamber is within the predetermined pressure threshold limits of the target pressure for a previously-commanded state combination commanded prior to the individual operational state combination, and adjust the pump drive setting if not within the predetermined pressure threshold limits for a next time the previously-commanded state combination is commanded.
 
11. A pressure control method for maintaining manifold pressure in a manifold chamber of a flow control apparatus in a diagnostic testing apparatus, comprising:
characterizing an operational state combination of a plurality of flow control valves in flow paths connected to the manifold chamber;
providing a drive setting to a pump supplying liquid to the manifold chamber;
measuring a pressure in the manifold chamber to provide a measure pressure;
determining if the measured pressure in the manifold chamber is within predetermined pressure threshold limits of a target pressure; and
either:
increasing or decreasing the drive setting if not within the predetermined pressure threshold limits, or
storing an optimal drive setting for the operational state combination of the plurality of flow control valves if within the predetermined pressure threshold limits.