Unitized reagent containment system for clinical analyzer
First Claim
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1. A rotatable carousel for holding disposable containment means, each of which is characterized by a depending cylindrical cuvette holder, said carousel comprising:
- a plurality of cuvette cavities disposed in a circular pattern around a central axis of rotation thereof; and
rotatable locking means disposed co-axially about said central axis and inwardly of said cuvette cavities, said locking means having a plurality of alternating notches and tabs around its periphery,whereby for insertion of a containment means comprising a depending cylindrical cuvette holder into said carousel, said locking means can be rotated so that said notches radially allign with one of said cuvette cavities to allow said containment means to be mounted on said carousel with its cuvette holder received in said one cuvette cavity, and upon so mounting said containment means, said containment means can be locked to said carousel by rotating said locking means so that one of said tabs radially aligns with said one cuvette cavity and overlies a portion of said containment means.
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Abstract
Improvements in apparatus for performing an assay to determine the presence or amount of a substance in a test sample, which apparatus comprises means for dispensing one or more reagents from containment means therefor into a reaction vessel and means for dispensing the sample from a sample container into said vessel for reaction with the reagents during performance of the assay, are disclosed. The improvements reside in the apparatus further comprising containment means for the reagents integral and in combination with the sample container and the reaction vessel.
137 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A rotatable carousel for holding disposable containment means, each of which is characterized by a depending cylindrical cuvette holder, said carousel comprising:
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a plurality of cuvette cavities disposed in a circular pattern around a central axis of rotation thereof; and rotatable locking means disposed co-axially about said central axis and inwardly of said cuvette cavities, said locking means having a plurality of alternating notches and tabs around its periphery, whereby for insertion of a containment means comprising a depending cylindrical cuvette holder into said carousel, said locking means can be rotated so that said notches radially allign with one of said cuvette cavities to allow said containment means to be mounted on said carousel with its cuvette holder received in said one cuvette cavity, and upon so mounting said containment means, said containment means can be locked to said carousel by rotating said locking means so that one of said tabs radially aligns with said one cuvette cavity and overlies a portion of said containment means. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A disposable reagent containment means for use in a carousel with multiple cuvettes and locking means rotatable between two positions, said containment means comprising:
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an inner portion adapted to overlay a portion of a carousel comprising multiple cuvettes and locking means rotatable between two positions, said inner portion having an opening and a downwardly depending cylindrical member adjacent said opening, said cylindrical member being adapted for supporting one of the cuvettes in the carousel; at least one locking projection extending from said inner portion, said locking projection being engagable by the rotatable locking means in one rotatable postion thereof; spaced depending flange portions projecting downwardly from said inner portion; and an outer portion having a plurality of recesses therein adapted to hold reagents or samples. an inner portion with a depending cylindrical member open at both its upper and lower ends and insertable in one of said cuvette cavities provided in said carousel tray, said cylindrical member being engageable with a cuvette, said containment means each having depending flange means disposed radially outwardly of said cylindrical member and adapted to be received in one of said plurality of peripheral notches provided in said carousel, and said containment means each having an outer portion provided with a plurality of open-topped recessed for holding reagents and a sample to be tested. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. In combination, a rotatable carousel and a plurality of disposable reagent containment means removably mounted thereon, said carousel comprising a rotatable tray having a plurality of cuvette cavities disposed in a circular pattern around an axis of rotation thereof, and a plurality of upwardly opening notches provided in an outer periphery of said tray radially outwardly from said cuvette cavities, said disposable reagent containment means each having
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11. A carousel and reagent cassette for use in immunoassays, comprising:
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a carousel having a plurality of cuvette cavities disposed in a circular pattern thereon; a locking ring disposed inwardly of said cuvette cavities, said locking ring having a plurality of alternating notches and tabs, said locking ring being movable between a first position wherein said notches register with said cavities, and a second position wherein said tabs register with said cavities; at least one cuvette inserted into one of said cuvette cavities; and at least one reagent cassette comprising a support member with a plurality of recesses for holding reagents and sample, a downwardly depending cylindrical member insertable into one of said cuvette cavities and engaging said cuvette, and tab means projecting inwardly of said carousel, said cassette being insertable into said carousel by moving said locking ring to the first position and placing said cylindrical member into said one cuvette cavity, said cassette tab means passing through a locking ring notch, said cassette being lockable into said carousel by moving said ring to said second position wherein a locking ring tab overlays said cassette tab. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification