摘要:
A method for incubating the contents of a reaction receptacle at an incubation temperature within a prescribed temperature range, the method comprising the automated steps of: providing a reaction receptacle to a temperature ramping station constructed and arranged to adjust the temperature of the contents of the reaction receptacle to approximate the incubation temperature and retaining the reaction receptacle within the temperature ramping station for a predetermined length of time; and moving the reaction receptacle from the temperature ramping station into an incubator that maintains the contents of the reaction receptacle at the incubation temperature and retaining the reaction receptacle within the incubator for a predetermined period of time.
摘要:
A device for agitating the fluid contents of at least one container, said device comprising:
a turntable structure constructed and arranged to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation; one or more container holders, each of said container holders having an axis of rotation and being constructed and arranged to hold a container therein, said container holders being mounted on said turntable structure so as to be rotatable therewith and so that said axis of rotation of each container holder is generally parallel to said first axis of rotation; a container holder mounting assembly associated with each container holder, said container holder mounting assembly being constructed and arranged to mount said associated container holder to said turntable structure and to permit said associated container holder to rotate about a second axis of rotation that is generally parallel to and spaced from both said first axis of rotation and said axis of rotation of said associated container holder; and rotational motion coupling elements operatively associated with said turntable structure and said container holder mounting structure and constructed and arranged to cause each container holder to rotate about said second axis of rotation as said turntable structure rotates about said first axis of rotation.
摘要:
A device for agitating the fluid contents of at least one container, said device comprising:
a turntable structure constructed and arranged to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation; one or more container holders, each of said container holders having an axis of rotation and being constructed and arranged to hold a container therein, said container holders being mounted on said turntable structure so as to be rotatable therewith and so that said axis of rotation of each container holder is generally parallel to said first axis of rotation; a container holder mounting assembly associated with each container holder, said container holder mounting assembly being constructed and arranged to mount said associated container holder to said turntable structure and to permit said associated container holder to rotate about a second axis of rotation that is generally parallel to and spaced from both said first axis of rotation and said axis of rotation of said associated container holder; and rotational motion coupling elements operatively associated with said turntable structure and said container holder mounting structure and constructed and arranged to cause each container holder to rotate about said second axis of rotation as said turntable structure rotates about said first axis of rotation.
摘要:
An incubator for receiving a plurality of reaction receptacles containing reaction fluids and for maintaining the reaction fluids in a temperature controlled environment, said incubator comprising:
a housing including a receptacle access opening formed therein for allowing movement of a reaction receptacle into or out of said housing through said receptacle access opening; a command-responsive closure mechanism connected to said housing in proximal relation to said receptacle access opening, said command-responsive closure mechanism being constructed and arranged to be movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to said receptacle access opening in response to corresponding closure movement commands to prevent or permit access to said housing through said access opening, said housing and said command-responsive closure mechanism constituting an enclosure defining an incubation chamber therein; a heat source in thermal communication with said incubation chamber; a powered fan mechanism disposed within said incubation chamber and constructed and arranged to generate air movement within said incubation chamber to promote a generally uniform temperature distribution internal to said incubation chamber; and a receptacle carrier disposed within said incubation chamber and including a plurality of receptacle stations, each of said receptacle stations being constructed and arranged to carry a single reaction receptacle, said receptacle carrier being constructed and arranged to present any of said plurality of receptacle stations in a receptacle transfer position with respect to said access opening.
摘要:
An instrument for detecting the amount of light emitted from the contents of a receptacle vessel, said instrument comprising:
structure defining a transport path along which a plurality of adjacently-arranged receptacle vessels are moved through the instrument; a photosensitive device disposed along said transport path and constructed and arranged to detect light emitted from the contents of a receptacle vessel operatively positioned with respect to said photosensitive device; and a receptacle vessel isolating device positioned adjacent said transport path and constructed and arranged to pivot between: (1) a first position permitting the plurality of adjacently-arranged receptacle vessels to be moved along said transport path; and (2) a second position operatively engaging one of said receptacle vessels disposed on said transport path and operatively positioned with respect to said photosensitive device, said receptacle vessel isolating device being constructed and arranged to substantially prevent light from sources other than said operatively positioned receptacle vessel engaged by said receptacle vessel isolating device from being detected by said photosensitive device, said receptacle vessel isolating device being constructed and arranged to pivotally rotate between said first and second positions and including structure at least partially surrounding a receptacle vessel engaged by said receptacle vessel isolating device when said receptacle vessel isolating device is in said second position.
摘要:
An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations, or modules, in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a specimen sample, incubating the sample at prescribed temperatures for prescribed periods, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next. The analyzer further includes devices for carrying a plurality of specimen tubes and disposable pipette tips in a machine-accessible manner, a device for agitating containers of target capture reagents comprising suspensions of solid support material and for presenting the containers for machine access thereto, and a device for holding containers of reagents in a temperature controlled environment and presenting the containers for machine access thereto. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte. The process is performed by automatically moving each of a plurality of reaction receptacles containing a solid support material and a fluid sample between stations for incubating the contents of the reaction receptacle and for separating the target analyte bound to the solid support from the fluid sample. An amplification reagent is added to the separated analyte after the analyte separation step and before a final incubation step.
摘要:
A method for incubating the contents of a reaction receptacle at an incubation temperature within a prescribed temperature range, the method comprising the automated steps of: providing a reaction receptacle to a temperature ramping station constructed and arranged to adjust the temperature of the contents of the reaction receptacle to approximate the incubation temperature and retaining the reaction receptacle within the temperature ramping station for a predetermined length of time; and moving the reaction receptacle from the temperature ramping station into an incubator that maintains the contents of the reaction receptacle at the incubation temperature and retaining the reaction receptacle within the incubator for a predetermined period of time.