Test module
First Claim
1. A clinical analyzer instrument for spectrophotometrically assaying a liquid blood serum sample having;
- a reaction vessel, a sample vessel, a dilution vessel, a transport means for carrying the reaction vessel to a reading station, a dispensing probe, a means to withdraw and deposit a sample, and a microprocessor control means for dispensing serum samples, dilution materials, and liquid reagents into and out of these vessels;
the improvement being a serial analyzer comprising;
(a) a control valve means having a plurality of connection ports wherein a main connection port can communicate with any other single port;
(b) a means connecting the valve means to the dispensing probe;
(c) a means for connecting a diluent source to the control valve means;
(d) a means for connecting at least one reagent source to the control valve means which is separate from the diluent source connection means;
(e) a means for connecting the main port of the control valve means to the sample withdrawal and deposit means;
(f) the transport means having a rotary motion, and separate serum, dilution, and reaction vessels being positioned thereon in a radial relationship;
(g) a means for horizontally and vertically moving the dispensing probe whereby it can be positioned into a radially-spaced serum vessel to withdraw a sample, into a radially-spaced dilution vessel, first to deposit the sample and diluents, then to withdraw the diluted sample, and finally, into a radially-spaced reaction vessel to deposit at least a reagent and the diluted sample; and
(h) a valve actuation means.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A test module or reagent handling device for use with a clinical analyzer for conducting body serum assays and/or immunoassays; the test module coacting with the analyzer to selectively provide a plurality of liquid dilution and reagent materials to a serum sample, the test module having programmable valve means coacting with a dispense probe to serially: select a serum sample and to deposit said sample and liquid dilution material into a dilution cup or vessel; subsequentially withdraw a portion of the diluted serum from the dilution cup and to dispense said diluted serum portion along with at least one liquid reagent material into a reaction cup or vessel.
52 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A clinical analyzer instrument for spectrophotometrically assaying a liquid blood serum sample having;
- a reaction vessel, a sample vessel, a dilution vessel, a transport means for carrying the reaction vessel to a reading station, a dispensing probe, a means to withdraw and deposit a sample, and a microprocessor control means for dispensing serum samples, dilution materials, and liquid reagents into and out of these vessels;
the improvement being a serial analyzer comprising;(a) a control valve means having a plurality of connection ports wherein a main connection port can communicate with any other single port; (b) a means connecting the valve means to the dispensing probe; (c) a means for connecting a diluent source to the control valve means; (d) a means for connecting at least one reagent source to the control valve means which is separate from the diluent source connection means; (e) a means for connecting the main port of the control valve means to the sample withdrawal and deposit means; (f) the transport means having a rotary motion, and separate serum, dilution, and reaction vessels being positioned thereon in a radial relationship; (g) a means for horizontally and vertically moving the dispensing probe whereby it can be positioned into a radially-spaced serum vessel to withdraw a sample, into a radially-spaced dilution vessel, first to deposit the sample and diluents, then to withdraw the diluted sample, and finally, into a radially-spaced reaction vessel to deposit at least a reagent and the diluted sample; and (h) a valve actuation means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a reaction vessel, a sample vessel, a dilution vessel, a transport means for carrying the reaction vessel to a reading station, a dispensing probe, a means to withdraw and deposit a sample, and a microprocessor control means for dispensing serum samples, dilution materials, and liquid reagents into and out of these vessels;
Specification