System and program for chemical reaction observation with a moving photometer
First Claim
1. A method of testing samples comprising:
- A. arranging a first plurality of samples into a sequence of sample positions for sequential testing;
B. moving a predetermined one of said sequenced sample positions to a first sample pick up location;
C. picking up at least a first sample aliquot in the first sample pick up location and dispensing the aliquot into a reaction vessel;
D. moving at least one predetermined reagent position from one of a plurality of first reagent positions containing a reagent to a first reagent pick up location;
E. picking up a predetermined aliquot of said reagent in the first reagent pick up location and dispensing said reagent aliquot into said reaction vessel;
F. testing at least the resulting combination of sample and reagent aliquots in said reaction vessel; and
G. interrupting said sequential testing by picking up an aliquot of an auxiliary sample from a second pick up location separated from said sequenced sample positions and dispensing said auxiliary aliquot into a reaction vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and program for measuring progressively the absorbance changes of a large number of aliquots from a plurality of different samples in a continuous processing mode. A plurality of routine samples are maintained in an ordered sequence in a sample tray which may be moved to a first sample pick up position. Emergency samples (stats) and controls (standards) are positioned in a second plurality of auxiliary positions which may be moved to a second sample position. A first and second plurality of reagents are maintained, moved to respective reagent pick up positions, picked up, moved and dispensed in respective dispensing positions by respective single reagent dispensing arms in a similar manner to the sample operation. The chemical reaction is then monitored by photometer means preferably having a plurality of photometric detectors such that radiation passes through each of the cuvettes and the fluids therein during each cycle of the system. Just prior to the sample dispensing position the cuvette is cleaned and tested to ensure that all the previously added fluids have been removed prior to receiving a new sample. Any one sample may be tested with different reagents or reagent mixtures in different aliquots placed in separate cuvettes at each wavelength as desired. Each sample aliquot and reagent mixture may be measured to determine the rate of the chemical reaction and the equilibrium or end point of the reaction or both, if desired. The array of cuvettes is continuous, because it is replenished at the end of each sequence prior to the addition of the new sample.
153 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method of testing samples comprising:
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A. arranging a first plurality of samples into a sequence of sample positions for sequential testing; B. moving a predetermined one of said sequenced sample positions to a first sample pick up location; C. picking up at least a first sample aliquot in the first sample pick up location and dispensing the aliquot into a reaction vessel; D. moving at least one predetermined reagent position from one of a plurality of first reagent positions containing a reagent to a first reagent pick up location; E. picking up a predetermined aliquot of said reagent in the first reagent pick up location and dispensing said reagent aliquot into said reaction vessel; F. testing at least the resulting combination of sample and reagent aliquots in said reaction vessel; and G. interrupting said sequential testing by picking up an aliquot of an auxiliary sample from a second pick up location separated from said sequenced sample positions and dispensing said auxiliary aliquot into a reaction vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of testing samples comprising:
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A. moving a predetermined sample position from one of a plurality of sample positions containing a sample to a first sample pick up location; B. picking up at least a first sample aliquot in the first sample pick up location and dispensing the aliquot into a reaction vessel; C. moving at least one predetermined reagent position from one of a plurality of first reagent positions containing a reagent to a first reagent pick up location; D. picking up a predetermined aliquot of said reagent in the first reagent pick up location and dispensing said reagent aliquot into said reaction vessel; E. testing at least the resulting combination of sample and reagent aliquots in said reaction vessel; F. moving said reaction vessel to a separate wash position after said combination of sample and reagent aliquots has been tested; and G. evacuating said combination of sample and reagent aliquots from said reaction vessel, washing said reaction vessel, adding a blanking solution to said vessel and thereafter testing said vessel to determine whether said vessel is clean prior to reusing said reaction vessel. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 55)
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26. A method of testing samples comprising:
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A. moving a predetermined sample position from one of a plurality of sample positions containing a sample to a first sample pick up location; B. picking up at least a first sample aliquot in the first sample pick up location and dispensing the aliquot into a reaction vessel; C. moving at least one predetermined reagent position from one of a plurality of first reagent positions containing a reagent to a first reagent pick up location; D. picking up a predetermined aliquot of said reagent in the first reagent pick up location and dispensing said reagent aliquot into said reaction vessel; E. testing at least the resulting combination of sample and reagent aliquots in said reaction vessel; and F. testing said reagent aliquot in said reaction vessel and evacuating said aliquot prior to adding said sample aliquot to determine the test value of the reagent aliquot in said reaction vessel to form a reagent blank. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A sample testing apparatus comprising:
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A. means for arranging a first plurality of samples into a sequence of sample positions for sequential testing; B. means for moving a predetermined one of said sequenced sample positions to a first sample pick up location; C. means for picking up at least a first sample aliquot in the first sample pick up location and dispensing the aliquot into a reaction vessel; D. means for moving at least one predetermined reagent position from one of a plurality of first reagent positions containing a reagent to a first reagent pick up location; E. means for picking up a predetermined aliquot of said reagent in the first reagent pick up location and dispensing said reagent aliquot into said reaction vessel; F. means for testing at least the resulting combination of sample and reagent aliquots in said reaction vessel; and G. means for interrupting said sequential testing by picking up an aliquot of an auxiliary sample from a second pick up location separated from said sequenced sample positions and dispensing said auxiliary aliquot into a reaction vessel. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A sample testing apparatus comprising:
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A. means for moving a predetermined sample position from one of a plurality of sample positions containing a sample to a first sample pick up location B. means for picking up at least a first sample aliquot in the first sample pick up location and dispensing the aliquot into a reaction vessel; C. means for moving at least one predetermined reagent position from one of a plurality of first reagent positions containing a reagent to a first reagent pick up location; D. means for picking up a predetermined aliquot of said reagent in the first reagent pick up location and dispensing said reagent aliquot into said reaction vessel; E. means for testing at least the resulting combination of sample and reagent aliquots in said reaction vessel; F. means for moving said reaction vessel to a separate wash position after said combination of sample and reagent aliquots has been tested; and G. means for evacuating said combination of sample and reagent aliquots from said reaction vessel, means for washing said reaction vessel, means for adding a blanking solution to said vessel and thereafter testing said vessel to determine whether said vessel is clean prior to reusing said reaction vessel. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 56)
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53. A sample testing apparatus comprising:
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A. means for moving a predetermined sample position from one of a plurality of sample positions containing a sample to a first sample pick up location; B. means for picking up at least a first sample aliquot in the first sample pick up location and dispensing the aliquot into a reaction vessel; C. means for moving at least one predetermined reagent position from one of a plurality of first reagent positions containing a reagent to a first reagent pick up location; D. means for picking up a predetermined aliquot of said reagent in the first reagent pick up location and dispensing said reagent aliquot into said reaction vessel; E. means for testing at least the resulting combination of sample and reagent aliquots in said reaction vessel; and F. means for testing said reagent aliquot in said reaction vessel and evacuating said aliquot prior to adding said sample aliquot to determine the test value of the reagent aliquot in said reaction vessel to form a reaction blank. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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57. A method for continuous testing of samples comprising:
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(A) rotating a plurality of reaction vessel in stepwise manner on an axis; (B) rotating a plurality of photometers on said axis at higher speed than the stepwise rotation of said reaction vessels; (C) sequentially picking up sample aliquots from a sequence of said samples arranged for a program of testing and sequentially depositing said samples in said stepped reaction vessels; (D) picking up predetermined reagent aliquots from a plurality of reagent positions and dispensing said reagent aliquots into said reaction vessels; (E) scanning the resulting combinations of sample and reagent aliquots in said reaction vessels with said plurality of photometers, and processing the results of said photometric scanning to determine the reaction rate or end point produced by combination of said sample and reagent aliquots; (F) interrupting said sequential program of testing by picking up an aliquot of an auxiliary sample from a position separated from said arrangement of sequenced samples and dispensing said auxiliary aliquot into a reaction vessel; and
thereafter,(G) continuing said scanning of said vessels including said vessel containing said auxiliary sample aliquot.
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Specification