CHEMICAL ANALYZER

• US 20100254854A1
• Filed: 05/07/2008
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Misener, Garland Christian, Garrepy, Mark Christopher, Fent, Mary Kathleen, Pierson, Mark Weston, Lawrence, Jonathan William, Barski, Stanislaw, Lemieux, Mark Wayne, Dumont, Mark R., Bush, Michael Thomas, Hersey, Stephan, Dassa, Alyssa J., Rich, Carl Russell, Griffin, Justin Jay
• Granted Patent: US 9,116,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 by measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00049 for loading/unloading a carousel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00138 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence

Abstract

A chemical analyzer includes a slide transport mechanism having a slide track adapted to hold a plurality of reagent test slides, a sample metering device, an incubator formed as a part of the slide transport mechanism to precisely maintain the temperature of the reagent test slides, a slide ejector mechanism to remove the slides from the slide transport mechanism, a sample preparation station, which includes a centrifuge, and associated electronics and software. The slide transport mechanism holds a plurality of trapezoidally-shaped reagent test slides about its circumference, which slides are loaded onto the transport mechanism by the slide inserter mechanism. The slide transport mechanism positions the reagent test slides under the sample metering device, which device deposits a predetermined volume of sample onto each slide. The slide transport mechanism also carries the slides above a reflectometer. After testing has been completed, the slide ejector mechanism automatically removes the reagent test slides from the slide transport mechanism.

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21. A chemical analyzer, which comprises:

at least one slide inserter mechanism for receiving a plurality of chemical reagent test slides placed thereon by a user of the analyzer and for inserting the test slides on a slide transport mechanism;

a slide transport mechanism, the slide transport mechanism being operatively in communication with the at least one slide inserter mechanism for receiving the chemical

reagent test slides from the at least one slide inserter mechanism, the slide transport mechanism transporting the test slides in a circular path;

a sample metering sub-assembly, the sample metering sub-assembly being in operative communication with the slide transport mechanism to deposit a fluid sample onto the reagent test slides received by the slide transport mechanism;

at least one of a reflectometer and a fluorometer, the at least one of the reflectometer and the fluorometer being in optical communication with the slide transport mechanism; and

a slide ejector mechanism, the slide ejector mechanism being operatively in communication with the slide transport mechanism and ejecting test slides from the slide transport mechanism;

wherein the slide transport mechanism includes a circular, non-moveable slide track in which the plurality of reagent test slides are received, the test slides being moveable relative to the slide track when received thereby.

22. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 21, wherein the slide track includes a bottom wall, an inner side wall situated on the bottom wall and extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom, and an outer side wall situated on the bottom wall and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the outer side wall being radially spaced apart from the inner side wall, the inner side wall, outer side wall and bottom wall defining a generally U-shaped channel for receiving the plurality of test slides, the test slides being movable within and relative to the U-shaped channel.

23. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 22, wherein at least one of the outer side wall and the inner side wall has at least a first slot formed through the thickness thereof, the at least first slot being situated in alignment with the at least one slide inserter mechanism to receive test slides therethrough from the at least one slide inserter mechanism, the at least first slot being in communication with the U-shaped channel so that test slides received by the at least first slot may be received by the U-shaped channel.

24. A chemical analyzer defined by claim 22, wherein the outer and inner side walls of the slide track are formed from a Delrin®

synthetic resinous plastic material.

25. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 22, wherein the bottom wall of the slide track is formed from aluminum impregnated with polytetrafluoroethylene.

26. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 23, wherein at least one of the outer side wall and the inner side wall has at least a second slot formed through the thickness thereof, the at least second slot being situated in alignment with the slide ejector mechanism to receive test slides therethrough from the slide track, the at least second slot being in communication with the U-shaped channel so that test slides may be ejected by the slide ejector mechanism from the U-shaped channel and pass through the at least second slot.

27. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 22, wherein the bottom wall of the slide track has an opening formed through the thickness thereof for passing therethrough at least one of a solid and a liquid from the U-shaped channel of the slide track.

28. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 22, wherein the at least one of the reflectometer and the fluorometer of the analyzer includes a transparent window;

and wherein the bottom wall of the slide track has at least one opening formed through the thickness thereof, the opening receiving the window of the at least one of the reflectometer and the fluorometer.

29. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 28, wherein the bottom wall of the slide track has an upper surface;

and wherein the transparent window of the at least one of the reflectometer and the fluorometer protrudes slightly in the U-shaped channel of the slide track above the upper surface of the bottom wall so that the window is engageable by test slides received by the U-shaped channel of the slide track.

30. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 22, wherein the slide transport mechanism further includes structure for selectively applying distributed heat to the slide track.

31. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 30, wherein the structure for selectively applying distributed heat to the slide track includes a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being situated in thermal communication with the bottom wall of the slide track, the printed circuit board including a plurality of heating elements situated thereon, the heating elements selectively applying heat to the bottom wall of the slide track.

32. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 31, wherein the printed circuit board includes a surface, and wherein the plurality of heating elements includes printed circuit board lands etched on the surface of the printed circuit board.

33. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 32, wherein the bottom wall of the slide track includes a lower surface, and wherein the printed circuit board is ring-shaped and includes an upper surface, the etched lands of the plurality of heating elements being disposed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board, the upper surface of the printed circuit board being in thermal contact with the lower surface of the bottom wall of the slide track.

34. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 30, wherein the slide transport mechanism further includes at least one temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the slide track.

35. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 31, wherein the printed circuit board further includes at least one temperature sensor mounted thereon, the at least one temperature sensor being in thermal communication with the bottom wall of the slide track for detecting the temperature of the bottom wall.

36. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 35, wherein the at least one temperature sensor includes a plurality of temperature sensors, the temperature sensors of the plurality of temperature sensors being spaced apart from each other to detect the distributed heat selectively applied by the plurality of heating elements to the slide track.

37. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 30, which further comprises a housing, the housing defining an interior space;

and wherein the structure for selectively applying distributed heat to the slide track includes a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the upper surface of the printed circuit board having a plurality of heating elements mounted thereon, the plurality of heating elements mounted on the upper surface of the printed circuit board being in thermal communication with the bottom wall of the slide track, the heating elements of the upper surface selectively applying heat to the bottom wall of the slide track, the printed circuit board further including a plurality of heating elements mounted on the lower surface thereof, the plurality of heating elements of the lower surface being in thermal communication with the interior of the housing to selectively apply heat to the interior of the housing.

38. A chemical analyzer as defined by claim 37, wherein the printed circuit board further includes at least one temperature sensor mounted on the lower surface thereof, the at least one temperature sensor on the lower surface of the printed circuit board being in thermal communication with the interior of the housing to detect the temperature of the interior.

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