1. A cartridge device for a measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, comprising:
a measuring chamber formed therein;
a mixing chamber formed therein; and
a duct connecting the measuring chamber to the mixing chamber so as to create a flow path for the sample liquid from the measuring chamber to the mixing chamber, the duct comprising a stop junction configured to regulate flow of the sample liquid from the measuring chamber to the mixing chamber.
2. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the sample liquid is a blood sample.
3. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the stop junction is configured to prevent flow of the sample liquid from the measuring chamber to the mixing chamber under a pressure required to fill the measuring chamber with the sample liquid.
4. The cartridge device of claim 3, wherein the pressure is a vacuum pressure.
5. The cartridge device of claim 3, wherein the stop junction is configured to allow air to flow through the stop valve while preventing the flow of the sample liquid from the measuring chamber to the mixing chamber.
6. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the stop junction is configured to allow initial flow of the sample liquid from the measuring chamber to the mixing chamber through the duct upon application of a pressure differential between the measuring chamber and the mixing chamber.
7. The cartridge device of claim 1, further comprising a pressure application port configured to apply pressure to the measuring chamber to initiate flow of the sample liquid through the stop junction.
8. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the stop junction does not comprise a valve or solenoid.
9. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the stop junction comprises a barrier.
10. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the stop junction comprises a narrow junction configured to interface with surface tension of the sample liquid to prevent flow of the sample liquid under insufficient pressure or capillary forces.
11. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber comprises a reagent to mix with the sample liquid.
12. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber comprises a mixing element.
13. The cartridge device of claim 1, further comprising a testing chamber formed in the cartridge device.
14. The cartridge device of claim 13, wherein the testing chamber is configured to receive the sample liquid from the mixing chamber.
15. The cartridge device of claim 13, wherein the testing chamber comprises a probe element arranged therein, the probe element configured to perform a test on the sample liquid.
16. The cartridge device of claim 15, wherein the test measures the viscoelastic characteristics of the sample liquid.
17. The cartridge device of claim 15, wherein the probe element is movable within the testing chamber for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of the sample liquid.
18. The cartridge device of claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber further comprises a vent configured to release pressure from the mixing chamber.
19. The cartridge device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of the measuring chambers, a plurality of the mixing chambers formed therein, and a plurality of the ducts, each of the measuring chambers fluidically connected to one of the plurality of mixing chambers through one of the plurality of ducts comprising the stop junction.
20. A measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, comprising:
at least one interface element;
at least one shaft rotatably supported by the interface element to be rotated by drive means;
at least one cartridge device according to claim 13 configured to affix to the interface element for holding the sample liquid, the probe element of the testing chamber engaging with the shaft;
at least one detector engaging with the shaft for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of the sample liquid in contact with the probe element; and
a controller to control the measuring system.
21. The measuring system of claim 20, wherein the controller applies a positive or negative pressure to the at least one cartridge device, thereby initiating flow of the sample fluid through the stop junction.
22. The measuring system of claim 20, wherein the probe element is movable within the testing chamber of the cartridge device for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of the sample liquid.
23. The measuring system of claim 20, wherein the sample liquid is a blood sample.
24. A method for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid by means of a measuring system of claim 20, comprising:
providing the cartridge device having the testing chamber with the probe element arranged therein;
attaching the cartridge device to the interface element, the shaft being inserted into the probe element;
filling the testing chamber of the cartridge device with the sample liquid;
rotating the shaft in an oscillating motion around a rotation axis; and
measuring viscoelastic characteristics of the sample liquid by detecting the rotation of the shaft by the detecting means.
25. A method of transferring a sample liquid from a measuring chamber to a mixing chamber, comprising:
a. obtaining the device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a sample liquid in the measuring chamber, and wherein the device comprises a pressure application port configured to apply pressure to the sample liquid in the measuring chamber;
b. applying pressure to the sample liquid through the pressure application port, thereby initiating flow of the sample liquid through the stop junction; and
c. flowing the sample liquid from the measuring chamber to the mixing chamber.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising releasing pressure from the mixing chamber.
27. A cartridge device for a measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, comprising:
a measuring chamber formed therein, wherein the measuring chamber comprises and inlet and an outlet, the inlet configured to flow blood into the measuring chamber, and the outlet configured for blood to flow out of the measuring chamber once the measuring chamber has filled to a predetermined volume, the outlet fluidically connected to another measuring chamber or to a waste chamber, and wherein the inlet and the outlet are on opposite sides of the chamber;
a mixing chamber formed therein; and
a duct connecting the measuring chamber to the mixing chamber so as to create a flow path for the sample liquid from the measuring chamber to the mixing chamber, the duct comprising a stop junction configured to regulate flow of the sample liquid from the measuring chamber to the mixing chamber.
28. The cartridge device of claim 27, wherein the measuring chamber is angled to remove air bubbles from the blood in the measuring chamber.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An adjustable shock absorber comprising:
a pressure tube defining a working chamber;
a piston rod extending through said pressure tube and into said working chamber;
a piston slidably disposed within said pressure tube and connected to said piston rod, said piston defining a plurality of compression fluid passages and a plurality of rebound fluid passages, said piston dividing said working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber;
a compression valve attached to said piston, said compression valve allowing fluid flow from said lower working chamber to said upper working chamber when a first fluid pressure is exerted on said compression valve;
a rebound valve attached to said piston, said rebound valve allowing fluid flow from said upper working chamber to said lower working chamber when a second fluid pressure is exerted on said rebound valve, the second fluid pressure being greater than the first fluid pressure;
a reserve tube surrounding said pressure tube, said reserve tube defining a reserve chamber;
a single valve assembly separate from said piston in direct communication with said upper and lower working chambers and said reserve chamber, said single valve assembly defining a first flow path which includes a first variable orifice for controlling flow from said upper working chamber into said reserve chamber and a second flow path which includes a second variable orifice for controlling flow from said lower working chamber to said reserve chamber;
said first flow path being the only flow path from said upper working chamber into said reserve chamber.
2. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein, said single valve assembly includes a solenoid valve having means for controlling said first variable orifice.
3. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 2 wherein, said means for controlling said first variable orifice includes a spool valve.
4. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 2 wherein, said solenoid valve includes means for controlling said second variable orifice.
5. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 4 wherein, said means for controlling said first and second orifices include a spool valve.
6. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein, said single valve assembly includes a first poppet valve in communication with said upper working chamber.
7. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 6 wherein, said single valve assembly includes a second poppet valve in communication with said lower working chamber.
8. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 6 wherein, said first poppet valve is in communication with said reserve chamber.
9. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 6 wherein, said single valve assembly includes a solenoid valve having means for controlling said first variable orifice.
10. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 9 wherein, said means for controlling said first variable orifice includes a spool valve.
11. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 8 further comprising a base valve assembly disposed between said lower working chamber and said reserve chamber, said base valve assembly controlling fluid flow from said reserve chamber to said lower working chamber, said base valve assembly prohibiting all fluid flow from said lower working chamber to said reserve chamber.
12. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 6 wherein, said rebound valve is a blowoff valve.
13. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 12 wherein, said first poppet valve is in communication with said reserve chamber.
14. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 12 wherein, said single valve assembly includes a solenoid valve having means for controlling said first variable orifice.
15. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 14 wherein, said means for controlling said first variable orifice includes a spool valve.
16. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 13 wherein, a base valve assembly disposed between said lower working chamber and said reserve chamber, said base valve assembly controlling fluid flow from said reserve chamber to said lower working chamber, said base valve assembly prohibiting all fluid flow from said lower working chamber to said reserve chamber.
17. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein, said first variable orifice is in communication with said lower working chamber.
18. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 17 wherein, said second variable orifice is in communication with said upper working chamber.
19. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein, said first and second variable orifices are in communication with said reserve chamber.
20. The adjustable shock absorber according to claim 12 wherein, said first poppet valve is in communication with said lower working chamber and said blowoff valve is in communication with said upper working chamber.