CARTRIDGE AND ANALYZING SYSTEM

• US 20100196201A1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Sato, Yoshiharu
• Granted Patent: US 8,313,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/401
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/203332 Hydroxyl containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/212 Aromatic

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartridge 1 including a plurality of analyzing tools 3 arranged lined in a plane direction and a case 2 for accommodating the plurality of analyzing tools 3, and being configured to take out the analyzing tool 3 one at a time from the case 2. The plurality of analyzing tools 3 further include engagement means 32, 33 for restricting the analyzing tools 3 adjacent to each other in the plane direction and allowing removable attachment in a thickness direction D1, D2 of the analyzing tool 3. The present invention further relates to an analyzer and an analyzing system for analyzing a sample using the cartridge 1.

Claims

1. A cartridge comprising a plurality of analyzing tools arranged lined in a plane direction and a case for accommodating the plurality of analyzing tools, and being configured to take out the analyzing tool one at a time from the case;

wherein

the plurality of analyzing tools further include engagement means for restricting the analyzing tools adjacent to each other in the plane direction and allowing removable attachment in a thickness direction of the analyzing tool.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the engagement means includes a projecting portion projecting out in the thickness direction and a recessed portion to which the projecting portion is inserted.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising holding means for putting an analyzing tool to be taken out in standby at a target position.

4. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the holding means includes a recessed portion arranged in the analyzing tool, and a hook arranged in the case.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing tool further includes an engagement portion utilized to act a load in a take-out direction on the analyzing tool when taking out from the cartridge.

6. The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the engagement portion is a through-hole.

7. The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the case further includes a slit for allowing movement of an acting body for acting a load on the engagement portion.

8. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the case further includes a recessed portion for allowing displacement of a position in the thickness direction of the analyzing tool when the analyzing tool is relatively moved in a take-out direction with respect to the case.

9. An analyzing system comprising:

a cartridge having a plurality of analyzing tools arranged lined in a plane direction accommodated in a case; and

an analyzer, attached with the cartridge, for analyzing a sample using the analyzing tool taken out from the cartridge;

wherein

the plurality of analyzing tools include engagement means for restricting the analyzing tools adjacent to each other in the plane direction and allowing removable attachment in a thickness direction of the analyzing tool, and an engagement portion utilized to act a load in a take-out direction on the analyzing tool when taking out from the cartridge; and

the analyzer includes an acting body for acting on the engagement portion when taking out the analyzing tool from the cartridge.

10. The analyzing system according to claim 9, wherein the acting body reciprocates in the thickness direction of the analyzing tool, and is configured to select a state the load can be acted on the engagement portion and a state the load cannot be acted.

11. The analyzing system according to claim 10, wherein the engagement portion is a recessed portion, and the acting body is a projecting portion.

12. The analyzing system according to claim 11, wherein the recessed portion is a through-hole, and the projecting portion is a pin.

13. The analyzing system according to claim 9, wherein

the case further includes a recessed portion allowing displacement of a position in the thickness direction of the analyzing tool when the analyzing tool is relatively moved in a take-out direction with respect to the case;

and

the analyzer further includes a pressing body for pressing the analyzing tool in the thickness direction and holding the analyzing tool.

14. The analyzing system according to claim 13, wherein the pressing body is movable in the thickness direction with the acting body.