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Structure for determination of item of interest in a sample

  • US 6,562,298 B1
  • Filed: 04/23/1999
  • Issued: 05/13/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A structure for performing a process for determining an item of interest in a sample, the structure comprising:

  • (a) a process path, the process path comprising;

    (i) a process lane in which a reaction container is moved, the process lane diverging into (ii) a process step performance lane where a process step of a process for determining the item of interest in the sample is performed, and (iii) a process step avoidance lane where no process step of the process for determining the item of interest in the sample is performed, the process step performance lane and the process step avoidance lane being disposed substantially side by side, both the process step performance lane and the process step avoidance lane converging to the process lane;

    (b) a first prime mover operatively connected with the process path for moving the reaction container along the process lane, said first prime mover, by itself, being (i) capable of moving the reaction container so as to enable the reaction container to simultaneously pass through the process step performance lane and along side of the process step avoidance lane and being (ii) capable of moving the reaction container so as to enable the reaction container to simultaneously pass along side of the process step performance lane and through the process step avoidance lane;

    (c) a first pipetting system operatively associated with the process step performance lane for introducing the sample to the reaction container moved along the process lane;

    (d) a second pipetting system operatively associated with the process step performance lane for introducing a reagent to the reaction container moved along the process lane;

    (e) a device operatively connected with the process step performance lane and selectively engagable with the reaction container for mixing the sample and the reagent in the reaction container moved along the process lane;

    (f) a second prime mover operatively connected with the process path for selectively positioning the reaction container in the process step performance lane or the process step avoidance lane; and

    (g) a reader operatively connected with the process step performance lane for determining the item of interest in the sample based upon a reaction between the sample and the reagent contained within the reaction container.

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