Automatic sample testing machine

• US 5,762,873 A
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biomerieux Incorporated (Compagnie Merieux Alliance SAS)
• Original Assignee: Biomerieux Vitek Inc (Compagnie Merieux Alliance SAS)
• Inventors: Williams, Daniel Ray, Shine, David B., Chastain, David, Zeigler, Andrew, Bishop, James Clement, Burchard, Thomas, Fanning, Mark Joseph, Springer, Paul, Moore, Andrew, Porat, David, Robinson, Ron, Guerrera, Stephen, Meyer, Donald, Rousmaniere, Arthur, Gayral, Jean-Pierre Bernard, Seaton, William Ernest, Morris, Roger James, Karl, Clifford W., Limon, Bernard Jean Marie, Drager, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Application Number:
  US08/604,672
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/65, 422/64, 422/67, 422/68.1, 422/81, 422/100, 422/102, 422/103, 422/104, 436/43, 436/47, 436/48, 436/49, 436/54, 436/164, 436/165, 436/166, 436/174, 436/179, 436/180
• US Class Current: 422/65
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50 Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/38 Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00138 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00148 Test cards, e.g. Biomerieux or McDonnel multiwell test cards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/119163 with aspirator of claimed structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

An automatic sample testing machine for testing samples stored in test cards. The machine has a test sample positioning system for moving a tray containing a plurality of test sample cards and fluid receptacles among various stations in the machine. The machine has a diluting station for adding a predetermined quantity of diluent to the receptacles as needed. A pipetting station transfers fluid from one receptacle to another. A vacuum station is provided having a vacuum chamber moveable relative to the tray between upper and lower positions. The chamber cooperates with the tray to make a sealing engagement with the top surface of the tray when it is lowered to the lower position. A vacuum generator supplies vacuum to the chamber. When the vacuum is released from the chamber, the fluid samples are loaded into the cards from the receptacles. The test sample positioning system moves the tray to a cutting and sealing station and then to an incubation station and loads the cards one at a time into a carousel within the incubation station. A test card transport station transports the test cards from the incubation station to an optical reading station, where optical measurements (e.g., transmittance and/or fluorescence optical testing) is conducted on the wells of the card. When the card has been read, it is either moved back to the incubation station for additional incubation and reading or transferred to a card disposal system when the reading is complete.

Claims

1. A machine for automatically testing a sample delivered to a reagent-filled test card, comprising:

a loading station and a tray moveable within said machine for receiving at least one test sample and at least one test card, wherein at least one test sample is placed in fluid communication with at least one test card in said tray;

a vacuum station having a vacuum chamber moveable relative to said tray between upper and lower positions, said chamber cooperating with said tray to make a sealing engagement with said tray in said lower position, said vacuum station having means for supplying a vacuum to said chamber and releasing said vacuum to atmosphere, thereby loading said sample into said test card;

a sealing station for sealing said test card after loading of said test card;

an incubation station for incubating said test card;

an optical reading station for reading said test card;

a test sample positioning system for moving said test card from said loading station to said vacuum station, from said vacuum station to said incubation station, and for moving said test card from said tray into said incubation station; and

a test card transport station for transporting said test card from said incubation station to said optical reading station, said optical reading station conducting optical analysis of said sample loaded into said test card.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein said sample is carried by an open receptacle in said tray, and wherein said machine further comprises a fluid addition station supplying a predetermined volume of fluid to said receptacle.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein said fluid addition station adds a diluent to said receptacle.

4. The machine of claim 2, wherein said fluid addition station adds a reagent to said receptacle.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein said tray carries a plurality of samples supplied in a plurality of open receptacles, and wherein said machine further comprises a pipetting station for automatically transferring fluid from one receptacle to another receptacle in said tray.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein said pipetting station transfers said fluid with a disposable straw, and wherein said pipetting station has a hopper for storing said straws and means for automatically removing said straws one at a time from said hopper.

7. The machine of claim 5, wherein said machine further comprises a diluting station adding a predetermined quantity of diluent to at least one of said receptacles containing said samples.

8. An automated microbiological testing system for testing test sample fluids containing microbiological samples, said test sample fluids contained in open receptacles, said system for use in conjunction with test sample cards having a plurality of sample wells, said test sample cards comprising susceptibility cards and identification cards, the system comprising:

a base pan;

a tray for carrying said receptacles and said test sample cards across said base pan;

a diluting station for adding a predetermined volume of a fluid to at least one of said receptacles;

a pipetting station for transferring test sample fluid from one of said receptacles in said tray to another of said receptacles in said tray;

a vacuum station moveable with respect to said tray and cooperating with said tray to form a vacuum enclosure around said receptacles and said test sample cards, said vacuum station filter comprising a vacuum source for loading said test sample fluids into said wells of said test sample cards;

a sealing station for sealing said test sample cards after loading of said test sample cards;

an incubation station for incubating said test sample cards;

a reading system for conducting optical analysis of said wells in said test sample cards;

a positioning system for moving said tray over said base pan from said vacuum station to said incubation station and for loading said test sample cards from said tray into said incubation station; and

means for moving said cards from said incubation station to said reading station.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said diluting station adds a diluent to a first receptacle in fluid communication with a susceptibility card in said tray;

said pipetting station withdraws a fluid containing a microbiological sample from a second receptacle in said tray, said second receptacle in fluid communication with an identification card, and

said pipetting station transfers said fluid containing said microbiological sample to said first receptacle;

said vacuum station operative to load said identification card and said susceptibility card with said fluids in said first and second receptacles and said reading system operative to read said susceptibility and identification cards whereby identification and susceptibility analysis may be obtained of said microbiological sample automatically.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a stacking disposal station having a tray removable from said machine receiving said cards after reading of said cards by said optical system and means for maintaining said cards in a stacked condition in said magazine.