AUTOMATED INSTRUMENTATION AND METHOD FOR MEASUREMENTS OF SAMPLES

• US 20100203573A1
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wallac Oy (Revvity, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wallac Oy (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Paul, Ojala, Markku, Korpi, Jarmo, Salonen, Janne, Torsti, Ilari, Nurmi, Jarmo, Varjonen, Markku, Heinonen, Aarne, Karunen, Juha, Salminen, Timo
• Granted Patent: US 8,669,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/288 Filter punches
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00108 Test strips, e.g. paper
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00326 Analysers with modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

One object of the invention is to provide instrumentation and a method for efficient and reliable assaying and measuring samples. The teachings include an automated self-contained instrument for assaying and measuring samples, wherein the samples are located on wells of sample plates, and the instrument comprises a plurality of units for processing or storing sample plates. The instrument according to the teaching may comprise at least one dispensing unit for dispensing reagents or other assay components to the sample wells, at least two units for simultaneously processing or storing a plurality of sample plates, at least one unit for removing substance from the sample wells, and one or several measurement units, the measurement unit(s) providing a capability for the instrument to optically measure samples in at least two measurement modes. Further, the instrument comprises a manipulator having a capability to move the sample plates in three orthogonal directions or combinations thereof and to rotate the sample plates in relation to a vertical axis for transferring the sample plates to the units.

Claims

1. Automated self-contained instrument for assaying and measuring of samples, wherein the samples are sample discs impregnated with blood and located on wells of sample plates, the instrument comprising

a plurality of units for processing or storing sample plates, the units comprising

at least one dispensing unit for dispensing reagents or other assay components to the sample wells,

at least two units for simultaneously processing or storing a plurality of sample plates,

at least one unit for removing substance from the sample wells, and

one or several measurement units, the measurement unit(s) providing a capability for the instrument to optically measure samples in at least two measurement modes, and

a manipulator for transferring sample plates between the units,—

the manipulator having a capability to move the sample plates in three orthogonal directions or combinations thereof and to rotate the sample plates in relation to a vertical axis for transferring the sample plates to the units.

2. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein each unit for processing or storing sample plates has one or several determined locations for the sample plate for the processing or storing, and the units are thus located in the instrument such that:

the instrument comprises a first unit and a second unit, wherein the projections of the first unit and the second unit on a horizontal plane overlap,

the instrument comprises a third unit and a fourth unit, wherein the projections of the third unit and the fourth unit on the horizontal plane overlap, and

the determined locations of sample plates at the first unit and the second unit are such that their projections on the horizontal plane do not overlap with projections on the horizontal plane of the determined locations of the sample plates at the third unit and the fourth unit.

3. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least one unit, preferably each unit, for processing or storing sample plates is a module which is designed to allow installation and removal as a whole to/from the instrument.

4. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein

at least one unit, preferably each unit, for processing or storing sample plates is a module designed to allow installation and removal to/from the instrument,

for said module, the apparatus comprises a front panel installed on a stationary position with respect to the manipulator and comprising means, such as a pin or aperture, for positioning the module accurately with respect to the front panel.

5. An instrument according to claim 4, wherein the position of the front panel with respect to the manipulator is adjustable at least in the horizontal plane for allowing exact mutual positioning of the front panel and the manipulator.

6. An instrument according to claim 4, wherein the front panel comprises a mechanical interface for a sample plate and that the module associated with that front panel can be changed without individual calibration of the mechanical interface.

7. An instrument according to claim 4, wherein the front panel is designed to significantly contribute to the rigidity of the structure supporting the manipulator.

8. An instrument according to claim 3, wherein the instrument comprises at least four vertical frames and between each pair of adjacent frames there is at least one module installed, whereby the manipulator is located between the four frames, and the manipulator is capable of turning by at least 270 degrees in order to transfer sample plates between all modules installed at the frames.

9. An instrument according to claim 8, wherein the manipulator and the frames, and optionally the front panel(s), form an integral unit.

10. An instrument according to claim 3, wherein a module can be installed in alternative positions within the frames, whereby the information on the locations of the modules is stored in the system for controlling the movements of the manipulator.

11. A measurement instrument according to claim 1, wherein it comprises at least one plate holder for receiving and holding a sample plate, wherein the plate holder comprises a mechanical interface for the manipulator and for the attachment to inside a unit for processing or storing a sample plate.

12. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein the at least two units for simultaneously processing or storing a plurality of sample plates comprise at least two incubator units, preferably shaking incubator units, which are preferably arranged to provide simultaneous processing in different processing modes.

13. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein the at least one unit for removing substance from the sample wells is a washing unit for washing the wells of the sample plates.

14. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein the at least one said unit for removing substance from the sample wells is a disc remover unit for removing a sample disc from a sample well.

15. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein the instrument comprises an air dryer for controlling the humidity of the air within the instrument, preferably for controlling the humidity of the air within a plate storage unit, wherein the air dryer comprises controlling means for controlling the humidity of the air into a humidity value that is adjustable within a determined range.

16. Method for assaying and measuring of blood samples in a self-contained instrument, wherein the samples are impregnated into sample discs and located on wells of sample plates, and the method comprises phases in which sample plate is processed in processing units and the sample plate is moved by a manipulator between the units for processing or storing, the method comprising phases in which:

reagents or other assay components are dispensed to the sample wells,

a plurality of sample plates are simultaneously processed or stored in at least two units,

substance is removed from the sample wells,

samples are optically measured in at least two measurement modes, and

the sample plates are moved by the manipulator in three orthogonal directions or combinations thereof and rotated by the manipulator in relation to a vertical axis.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one unit for processing or storing sample plates is installed or removed as a whole module to/from the instrument, the module being preferably positioned to the instrument with positioning means, wherein the positioning means are accurately positioned in a front panel of the module in relation to the location for a sample plate in the module, thus allowing a change of a module without individual calibration of the mechanical interface between the manipulator and the module.