摘要:
An improved automated immunoassay analyzer including a high throughput automated immunoassay system which can perform high volume testing on a broad range of analytes while selecting from among a diverse set of immunoassays for any given sample. The immunoanalyzer has the capacity to perform a wide range of different types of immunoassays by facile storage and automated combination aboard the instrument among a wide variety of different types of reagents and heterogenous immunoassay beads stored on-board the instrument. The automated design allows reduced user interface (e.g., tests are performed automatically from computer input) including the ability to order, perform and reassay tests reflexively based on test results without operator intervention. Further, the inventive analyzer is not sample tube specific; that is, an instrument that can accept sample tube sizes within a broad size range. The inventive automated immunoassay analyzer also provides a re-useable sample dilution well, and a high speed bead washing station that eliminates the need for assay tubes having integral, waste fluid collection chambers.
摘要:
A test vessel agitator assembly that agitates test vessels and the contents therein within an immunoassay automated analyzer system. The test vessels are transported along an element that is comprised of ridges and troughs such that the test vessel is moved in a directions that is approximately perpendicular to the direction of transportation.
摘要:
Self-sealing reagent container, and a system of same on a carousel, related to a vessel having a plurality of separate compartments, each compartment having an opening in an upper surface of the vessel, with a hinged lid member attached to said vessel having spring-like biasing to automatically reseal openings of the vessel after reagent extraction. The lid has a first arm that is normally biased such that its caps cover the compartment openings, but external force can be applied to said first arm to permit the first arm to be translated so as to displace the caps from covering the compartment openings whereby reagent in the compartments can be accessed and withdrawn. Once the reagent extraction is completed and the compartment opening cleared of the extraction device, the normal biasing acting on the first arm of the lid causes it to move back to reseal the caps over the compartment openings. The lid member is used with a ramp guide means to ensure alignment of openings and caps and provide vertical clearance of the first arm relative to the cover of the reagent vessel when displaced by external force.
摘要:
An instrument (50) automatically determines the concentrations of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides for a sample (80) of whole, anticoagulated blood placed in a doughnut shaped container (10). The sample (80) is first separated into its blood cell and plasma (84) constituents using high speed centrifugation (54) and a thixotropic gel (82). Part of the plasma (84) is then deposited in an HDL separation chamber (14) where LDL cholesterol and VLDL cholesterol are precipitated by a reagent and the precipitant is sedimented by high speed centrifugation (54) against V-shaped grooves (40) in the outermost wall (38) of the HDL separation chamber (14). Part of the plasma (84) is diluted ten-fold. The supernatant in the HDL separation chamber is then placed in a cuvette reaction chamber (b 18) where it reacts with a cholesterol reagent. The diluted plasma is placed in two other cuvette reaction chambers (18) where it reacts with chloesterol and triglycerides reagents, respectively. Calibration reagents, stored in storage chambers (20), react in two other cuvette reaction chambers (18) to establish a reference absorbance. A pipettor (58) handles all the fluid transfers in the doughnut shaped container (10) and operates in conjunction with a slow speed motor (56) that precisely moves the spindle (52) on which the doughnut shaped container (10) is mounted. A colorimetric measuring system (70, 72, and 74) monitors the absorbance of chemical reactions occurring in the cuvette chambers (18).
摘要:
An improved automated immunoassay analyzer including a high throughput automated immunoassay system which can perform high volume testing on a broad range of analytes while selecting from among a diverse set of immunoassays for any given sample. The immunoanalyzer has the capacity to perform a wide range of different types of immunoassays by facile storage and automated combination aboard the instrument among a wide variety of different types of reagents and heterogenous immunoassay beads stored on-board the instrument. The automated design allows reduced user interface (e.g., tests are performed automatically from computer input) including the ability to order, perform and reassay tests reflexively based on test results without operator intervention. Further, the inventive analyzer is not sample tube specific; that is, an instrument that can accept sample tube sizes within a broad size range. The inventive automated immunoassay analyzer also provides a re-useable sample dilution well, and a high speed bead washing station that eliminates the need for assay tubes having integral, waste fluid collection chambers.
摘要:
A test vessel agitator assembly that agitates test vessels and the contents therein within an immunoassay automated analyzer system. The test vessels are transported along an element that is comprised of ridges and troughs such that the test vessel is moved in a directions that is approximately perpendicular to the direction of transportation.
摘要:
A tube washing system including a tube spinning station having a rotatable chuck and a waste chamber surrounding the chuck for capturing and draining tube fluids expelled from a spun tube driven in rotation by the chuck. The chuck has a body portion and a plurality of spaced apart teeth defining intervening grooves extending through the body portion with at least one of the grooves permitting passage of fluid through the body portion and at least one other of the grooves receives and mechanically connects a projection on an open end of a tube. A pipette for dispensing wash water into a tube is located centrally within the chuck. There is also a tube elevating device located beneath the tube spinning station, the tube elevating device comprising a freely rotatable tube holder, and lift drive motor provided to vertically move the tube holder towards and way from the chuck. The tube used in the washing system has at least one projection provided on its open end which can interlock with a chuck groove. The invention also relates to a method of using the tube washing system to rapidly and efficiently wash a tube and its contents.
摘要:
The present invention relates to an improved process for the production of a deficient citrated plasma useful in the clinical laboratory as a control plasma for the testing of clotting function, and particularly, in patients who are on oral anticoagulant thereapy.
摘要:
A bead dispenser device useful for supplying, one at a time, beads for heterogenous immunoassay, including an inner chamber having a return spring integrally formed to the inner chamber. The bead device also includes a plunger housed within a plunger chamber. The plunger includes a bead holding member and a notch. The return spring communicates with the notch of the plunger and biases the plunger in a resting position. In the resting position, the bead holding member is aligned with a bead receiving channel formed partly in the base of the inner chamber. When the plunger is depressed, the bead residing in the bead holding member is transported to a bead exit opening for dispensing therefrom. In this position, the return spring is also displaced inward to an inner portion of the inner chamber and is capable of agitating and contacting the beads located within the inner chamber. This ensures that the beads will not block or bridge the bead receiving channel which communicates with the bead holding chamber of the plunger.
摘要:
This invention relates to a method for the removal of heparin from heparin-containing blood plasma test samples using an insoluble protamine reaction product, without adversely affecting subsequent testing of the plasma for clotting time. Protamine sulfate or a combination of protamine sulfate and serum albumin is cross-linked with glutaraldehyde to form an insoluble reaction product which is capable of adsorbing heparin. According to the method of this invention, excess amounts of either of the cross-linked protamine reaction products are added to blood plasma samples containing heparin and the mixture is agitated for a time sufficient to permit adsorption of substantially all heparin present. The insoluble protamine heparin complex formed is removed from the plasma along with any excess insoluble protamine reaction product. Aliquots of the heparin-free plasma may be subjected to coagulation tests in order to determine true clotting time.