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Automated blood analysis system with an integral centrifuge

  • US 5,578,269 A
  • Filed: 12/08/1993
  • Issued: 11/26/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An automated analysis system for analyzing aqueous solutions, comprising:

  • an incubator station for holding and incubating a plurality of containers;

    a sample station for holding a plurality of samples of aqueous solutions;

    a reagent station for holding a plurality of reagents;

    a pipette assembly for drawing aqueous solutions from the sample station, for drawing reagents from the reagent stations and for dispensing aqueous solutions and reagents into the containers at the incubator station;

    a centrifuge for centrifuging the containers;

    an analysis station for analyzing the containers to identify reactions therein; and

    a transport assembly for transporting the containers between the incubator station, the centrifuge, and the analysis station;

    wherein the centrifuge includes;

    a rotor including a rotatable body and a plurality of arms connected to and radially extending outward from the body;

    motor means connected to the rotor to rotate the rotor; and

    a plurality of container mounting brackets connected to the arms of the rotor, and forming container receiving means to hold the container on the rotor for rotary movement therewith and for pivotal movement relative to the arms of the rotor, wherein each of the mounting brackets is mounted on a respective one of the rotor arms and includesi) a left side member,ii) a right side member,iii) means pivotally mounting the left and right side members on opposite lateral sides of the respective one of the rotor arms, andiv) means connecting the left and right side members together for pivotal movement together, wherein said container receiving means are formed by adjacent left and right side members of each pair of adjacent mounting brackets.

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