Automatic diagnostic apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automatic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
- a controller for controlling operation of the apparatus and for processing data;
a sensing system operably connected to the controller for performing an assay, preferably an electrochemical assay (more preferably an electrochemical immunoassay), of a sample and communicating data from said assay to said controller;
voltage supply means for applying a potential difference to said sensing system; and
output means for communicating processed data to a user.
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Abstract
Automatic diagnostic apparatus comprises: a controller for controlling operation of the apparatus and for processing data; a sensing system operably connected to the controller for performing an assay, preferably an electrochemical assay (more preferably an electrochemical immunoassay), of a sample and communicating data from the assay to the controller; voltage supply means for applying a potential differential to the sensing system; and output means for communicating processed data to a user.
20 Citations
58 Claims
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1. An automatic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
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a controller for controlling operation of the apparatus and for processing data;
a sensing system operably connected to the controller for performing an assay, preferably an electrochemical assay (more preferably an electrochemical immunoassay), of a sample and communicating data from said assay to said controller;
voltage supply means for applying a potential difference to said sensing system; and
output means for communicating processed data to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 38)
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17. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
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19. A method of automatic diagnosis, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a sample within an automatic diagnostic apparatus;
(b) generating instructions with a controller for instructing a voltage supply means to apply a voltage to a sensing system;
(c) controlling said sensing system with said controller to perform an assay, preferably an electrochemical assay (more preferably an electrochemical immunoassay), of said sample and to generate data for output to said controller;
(d) processing said data In said controller to generate processed data; and
(e) controlling with said controller an output means to output said processed data to a user.
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21. A disposable electrochemical immunoassay biosensor comprising:
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a sensor body with a depression therein and a sensor outlet in said depression;
an apertured counter electrode provided in abutment with one side of said depression such that said counter electrode aperture communicates with said outlet;
an apertured working electrode provided in abutment with another side of said depression such that said working electrode aperture communicates with said sensor outlet;
an immunoassay system provided in close proximity to said working electrode, and an apertured sensor inlet means also provided within said working electrode and in communication with said immunoassay system;
wherein said sensor body is manufactured from a plastics material and said working and counter electrodes are manufactured from an electrically conductive plastics material. - View Dependent Claims (22, 25)
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- 23. A prepacked disposable diagnostic testing kit sealed with a removable cover, the kit comprising at least one disposable sample holding means, at least one disposable electrochemical biosensor, at least one disposable through-flow producing means and at least one disposable reagent cartridge, wherein said each of said at least one disposable reagent cartridge is prepacked with at least one reagent for the performance of at least one diagnostic test and then sealed with a removable seal.
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28. A container having a first base and a second base, said second base being raised from said first base and having a depression provided therein, such that when material comprising a heavier component and a lighter component is placed within said container and spun, said heavier component is forced towards said first base and said lighter component is forced towards and onto said second base and subsequently retained within said depression.
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29. A disposable reagent cartridge comprising a body with at least one depression therein;
- and a removable cover sealed over said depression;
wherein at least one reagent is provided within said depression and said removable cover is printed with a bar-code on an outer side thereof, said barcode being usable to identify said reagent and/or a diagnostic test requiring that reagent. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- and a removable cover sealed over said depression;
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36. A disposable reagent cartridge for diagnostic testing of myocardial infarction, the cartridge comprising a plastic body with four depressions therein and a removable cover sealed over said depressions;
- wherein a first depression is filled with a buffer solution, a second depression is filled with a wash solution, a third depression is filled with dried naphthyl phosphate, a fourth depression is filled with alkaline phosphatase, preferably associated with an antibody, and said removable cover is printed with a bar-code on an outer side thereof, said bar-code being usable to identify said contents within one or more of the depression and/or the diagnostic test.
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37. A method of automatically diagnosing myocardial infarction, the method comprising monitoring ex vivo levels of one or more detectable cardiac marker proteins, such as any one or more of CK, CK-MM, CK-MB, myoglobin, cardiac myosin light chain(s), Troponin T or Troponin I or a cardiac marker suitable for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.
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39. A conducting plastic electrode suitable for use in a diagnostic apparatus.
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40. Use of a conducting plastic electrode for an electrochemical immunoassay.
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41. An automatic diagnostic apparatus comprising:
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a controller for controlling operation of the apparatus and for processing data;
a sensing system for performing an assay of a sample, and for communicating sensed information to the controller; and
output means for communicating processed data to the user. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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42. Apparatus according to claim 42, further comprising means for supplying a power or voltage signal to the sensing system.
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44. A self contained diagnostic apparatus comprising:
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a centrifuge;
a system for collecting and temporarily storing material from the centrifuge after spinning;
means for transferring the collected material to or through a sensor for performing an assay on the collected material;
means for transferring one or more other materials to or through the sensor;
an electronic controller for controlling operation of the apparatus and for processing output information from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of automatic diagnosis, the method comprising the steps of:
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operating a sensing system under the control of a controller to perform an assay of a sample and to generate output information to the controller;
processing said information in said controller; and
outputting information from the controller to the user. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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- 50. A carrier for carrying material in a centrifuge and having first and second regions such that, in use, during spinning in a centrifuge a heavier component of the material collects in one of the regions, and a lighter component of the material collects in the other regions, the carrier being configured to obstruct re-mixing of the component after spinning.
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53. A disposable reagent cartridge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
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54. A container substantially as here before described with reference to FIG. 5 of the accompanying drawings.
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55. A biosensor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings.
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56. A kit substantially as here before described with reference to FIG. 9 of the accompanying drawings.
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57. A method of automatic diagnosis substantially as hereinbefore described.
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58. A method of automatically diagnosing myocardial infarction substantially as hereinbefore described.
Specification