Retaining clip for reagent test slides

• US 20100008824A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Taylor, Haydn B., Griffin, Justin Jay, Sellers, James M., Rich, Carl Russell
• Granted Patent: US 8,585,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00138 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence

Abstract

A retaining clip for retaining reagent test slides in a stacked arrangement is formed as a unitary member and has first, second and third plates, each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the first plate pivots towards the inner surface of the second plate, and the inner surface of the third plate also pivots such that the inner surfaces of the first and third plates at least partially face each other upon pivoting. The inner surfaces of the first and third plates are separated by a distance to accommodate the reagent test slides in a stacked arrangement. Alternatively, the third and second plates can be fixed rigidly to each other with only the first plate pivoting to at least partially face the third plate upon pivoting.

Claims

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32. A dry chemical reagent test slide, which comprises:

a frame having opposite lateral edges; and

a film portion supported by the frame and being coated with a chemical reagent;

wherein each of the opposite lateral edges has formed therein a recess.

33. A dry chemical reagent test slide as defined by claim 32, wherein the frame is trapezoidal in shape.

50. A dry chemical reagent test slide as defined by claim 32, which further comprises:

a front edge and a rear edge disposed opposite the front edge, the front edge and the rear edge being situated between the opposite lateral edges, the reagent test slide further having a longitudinal centerline; and

wherein the reagent test slide has an orientation notch formed in one of the edges thereof, the orientation notch being offset from the longitudinal centerline of the reagent test slide.

51. A dry chemical reagent test slide as defined by claim 50, wherein the orientation notch is formed in the front edge of the reagent test slide.

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40. A method of loading a reagent test slide into an instrument comprising:

providing at least one reagent test slide having at least one recess;

providing an instrument having at least one resilient slide retaining member; and

moving the at least one slide relative to the at least one resilient slide retaining member, thereby producing an audible click when the at least one resilient retainer snaps into the at least one recess.

41. In combination:

at least one reagent test slide, the at least one reagent test slide including a frame having opposite lateral edges and a recess formed in at least one of the opposite lateral edges, and a film portion supported by the frame and being coated with a chemical reagent; and

a slide injector mechanism, the slide injector mechanism including a pair of spaced apart members for at least partially receiving therebetween the at least one reagent test slide, and a resilient slide retainer mounted on at least one member of the pair of spaced apart members, the resilient slide retainer being at least partially receivable by the recess of the at least one reagent test slide to retain the at least one reagent test slide on the slide injector mechanism.

42. A test slide injector for use with a chemical analyzer and which cooperates with at least one chemical reagent test slide, the at least one reagent test slide having an edge in which is formed a recess, the slide injector comprising:

at least one guide member; and

a resilient member mounted on the at least one guide member, the resilient member projecting from the at least one guide member and being resiliently receivable by the recess formed in the edge of the at least one reagent test slide to secure the at least one reagent test slide to the test slide injector.

43. A test slide injector for use with a chemical analyzer and which cooperates with at least one chemical reagent test slide, the at least one reagent test slide having opposite lateral edges and a recess formed in each lateral edge, the slide injector comprising:

a pair of guide members, the guide members being spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance to define a space therebetween for receiving the at least one reagent test slide, each guide member having a resilient member mounted thereon, the resilient members projecting from the guide members into the space and being resiliently receivable by the recesses formed in the lateral edges of the at least one reagent test slide to secure the at least one reagent test slide to the slide injector.

44. A test slide injector as defined by claim 43, wherein each guide member includes a surface oriented toward the space for receiving the at least one reagent test slide, the surfaces of the guide members being engagable with the lateral edges of the at least one reagent test slide.

45. A test slide injector as defined by claim 44, wherein the surfaces of the guide members are sloped to mutually converge toward the space for receiving the at least one reagent test slide.

46. A test slide injector for use with a chemical analyzer and which cooperates with at least one chemical reagent test slide, the at least one reagent test slide having opposite lateral edges and a recess formed in each lateral edge, the slide injector comprising:

a pair of parallelly disposed, upstanding, vertical guide members, each guide member having a free end, the guide members being spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance to define a space therebetween for receiving the at least one reagent test slide, each vertical guide member having a sloping surface oriented toward the space for receiving the at least one reagent test slide, the sloping surfaces of the guide members being directed to mutually converge and being engagable with the lateral edges of the at least one reagent test slide, each guide member further including a resilient leaf member mounted thereon, the resilient leaf members projecting from the vertical guide members into the space and being resiliently receivable by the recesses formed in the lateral edges of the at least one reagent test slide to secure the at least one reagent test slide to the slide injector.

47. A test slide injector for use with a chemical analyzer and which cooperates with at least one chemical reagent test slide, the at least one reagent test slide having an edge in which is formed a recess, the slide injector comprising:

a resilient member being resiliently receivable by the recess formed in the edge of the at least one reagent test slide to secure the at least one reagent test slide to the test slide injector.

48. A method of using the test slide injector of claim 47, wherein the at least one chemical reagent test slide is loaded horizontally into the injector.

49. A method of using the test slide injector of claim 47, wherein the at least one chemical reagent test slide is loaded vertically into the injector.