Reagent container for automated analyzer

• US 6,063,340 A
• Filed: 06/01/1995
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Chiron Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Whitesel, Mary Beth, Lewis, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Application Number:
  US08/457,702
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 422/102, 422/104, 436/43, 436/47, 366/306, 366/307, 220/306
• US Class Current: 422/549
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0854 Double walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00386 using fluid heat transfer medium
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00396 where the fluid is a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00524 Mixing by agitating sample carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00752 bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0441 for samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0443 for reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0465 Loading or unloading the conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0484 Belt or chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0486 Gearing, cams
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0098 involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/021 having a flexible chain, e.g. "cartridge belt", conveyor for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1065 Multiple transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/01 Fins
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/03 : Medical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/08 : Mixing
• 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 436/119163 : with aspirator of claimed structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

An analyzer for performing automated assay testing. The analyzer includes a storage and conveyor system for conveying cuvettes to an incubation or processing conveyor, a storage and selection system for test sample containers, a storage and selection system for reagent containers, sample and reagent aspirating and dispensing probes, a separation system for separating bound from unbound tracer or labeled reagent, a detection system and date collection/processing system All of the sub-units of the machine are controlled by a central processing unit to coordinate the activity of all of the subunits of the analyze. The analyzer is specifically suited for performing heterogeneous binding assay protocols, particularly immunoassays.

Claims

1. A reagent container for use in an automated assay analysis system comprising:

a bottom wall;

a tubular vertical side wall which defines an inner chamber;

a top opening;

a tubular outer skirt surrounding and attached to said side wall near a top of said side wall and extending downwardly spaced from said side wall and terminating in a free bottom edge, said skirt defining a tubular area surrounding said side wall and wherein the bottom edge of said skirt extends below said bottom wall; and

at least one fin which is located in said chamber and extends from said bottom wall and from a substantial portion of said sidewall for agitating fluid within said chamber upon rotation of said container about a vertical axis.

2. A reagent container as recited in claim 1, wherein said side wall has an inner surface and an outer surface and there are two fins which extend toward each other from opposite sides of said inner surface, each fin having a terminal inner edge which is spaced from the inner terminal edge of the other of said fins.

3. A reagent container for use in an automated assay analysis system comprising:

a bottom wall,

a vertical side wall which defines an inner chamber;

a top opening; and

an outer skirt comprising;

(a) a first flat side,

(b) a second flat side which is parallel with said first flat side and is equal in length to said first flat side,

(c) a third flat side which extends from one end of said first flat side to one end of said second flat side which is at a right angle to each of said first and second flat sides, and

(d) an outwardly curving side which extends from the opposite end of said first flat side to the opposite end of said second flat side, said skirt being attached to said side wall near a top of said side wall and extending downwardly substantially spaced from said side wall and terminating in a free bottom edge, said skirt defining an area surrounding said vertical side wall.

4. A reagent container as recited in claim 3, wherein the bottom edge of said skirt extends below said bottom wall.