Automated patient sample analysis instrument
First Claim
1. An automated patient sample analysis instrument for positively identifying and maintaining the identity of a plurality of patient samples contained in individual sample containers, comprising:
- a container holder having a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving a plurality of sample containers in discrete locations;
identifying means for identifying a sample container with a patient;
control means, cooperatively associated with the identifying means, for designating a selected receptacle;
sensing means for sensing the receipt of an identified sample container in a designated, selected receptacle; and
preventing means, responsive to the control means and operatively associated with the identifying means and sensing means, for preventing identification of another sample container until the identified sample container is sensed as having been received in the designated, selected receptacle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated sample analysis instrument positively identifies and maintains the identity of a plurality of patient samples contained in individual sample containers. The invention prevents sample misidentification, especially when patient sample must be transferred from one sample container to reaction wells in Microtiter® plates. Rows of reaction wells in Microtiter® plates are processed in parallel so the difference in reaction time between any two wells on a plate is four minutes or less. Reaction wells are washed with high-pressure jets of wash solution and are aspirated so as to advantageously utilize fluid meniscus on top of fluid contained in the wells. The apparatus can be adjusted to perform a variety of different ELISA-type tests.
150 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An automated patient sample analysis instrument for positively identifying and maintaining the identity of a plurality of patient samples contained in individual sample containers, comprising:
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a container holder having a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving a plurality of sample containers in discrete locations; identifying means for identifying a sample container with a patient; control means, cooperatively associated with the identifying means, for designating a selected receptacle; sensing means for sensing the receipt of an identified sample container in a designated, selected receptacle; and preventing means, responsive to the control means and operatively associated with the identifying means and sensing means, for preventing identification of another sample container until the identified sample container is sensed as having been received in the designated, selected receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An automatic patient sample analysis instrument for positively identifying and maintaining the identity of a plurality of patient samples contained in individual sample containers, comprising:
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a container holder having indexing portions and a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving the sample containers in discrete locations; an identifying device generating a unique signal, indicative of an identified sample container, wherein the identified sample container is to be received in a selected receptacle; a sensor array having indexing portions matable with the container indexing portions for orienting the container holder on the sensor array, and having a plurality of sensors positioned at the discrete locations to detect the receipt of the identified sample container in the selected receptacle; and a control system, operatively associated with the identifying device and sensor array, having a signal processor processing the unique signals and preventing identification of another sample until the identified sample is sensed as having been received in the selected receptacle, a memory remembering the discrete location of the received sample container, and an indicator indicating to an operator that the identified sample container has been received in the selected receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An automated patient sample analysis instrument for positively identifying and maintaining the identity of a plurality of patient samples contained in individual sample containers for use with reaction plates having a plurality of reaction wells having open tops, located in a regular matrix array of rows and columns, comprising:
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a container holder having a plurality of receptacles for removably receiving the sample containers in discrete locations; identifying means for identifying a sample container with a patient; sensing means for sensing the receipt of an identified sample container in a selected receptacle; preventing means, operatively associated with the identifying means and sensing means, for preventing identification of another sample container until the identified sample container is sensed as having been received in the selected receptacle; two independent processing lines having means for independently processing two reaction plates; transferring means for automatically transferring a portion of each patient sample from each received sample container to a corresponding reaction well in each of the two reaction plates; memory means, operatively associated with the transferring means, for remembering the matrix location of each corresponding reaction well of each of the two plates containing a transferred patient sample portion.
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Specification