Cartridge and analyzing system

• US 8,313,697 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Sato, Yoshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, In Suk
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kingan, Timothy G
• Application Number:
  US12/312,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20100196201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 422/401, 422/554, 435/4, 436/150, 436/151, 206/223
• US Class Current: 422/82.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/203332 Hydroxyl containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/212 Aromatic

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartridge 1 including a plurality of analyzing tools 3 arranged lined in a plane direction and a case 2 for accommodating the plurality of analyzing tools 3, and being configured to take out the analyzing tool 3 one at a time from the case 2. The plurality of analyzing tools 3 further include engagement means 32, 33 for restricting the analyzing tools 3 adjacent to each other in the plane direction and allowing removable attachment in a thickness direction D1, D2 of the analyzing tool 3. The present invention further relates to an analyzer and an analyzing system for analyzing a sample using the cartridge 1.

Claims

1. A cartridge comprising a plurality of analyzing tools including at least a first analyzing tool and a second analyzing tool arranged lined in a plane direction, and a case for accommodating the plurality of analyzing tools, the cartridge being configured to have each of the plurality of analyzing tools taken out one at a time from the case;

wherein

the first analyzing tool includes a projecting portion projecting out in a thickness direction of the plurality of analyzing tools,

the second analyzing tool includes a recessed portion with which the projecting portion of the first analyzing tools engages, and

the second analyzing tool is arranged adjacent to the first analyzing tool in the plane direction.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising holding means for putting one of the analyzing tools to be taken out in standby at a target position.

3. The cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the holding means includes a cutout portion arranged in the one of the analyzing tools to be taken out, and a hook arranged in the case.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of analyzing tools includes an engagement portion having a surface opposite to a load in a direction in which each of the plurality of analyzing tools is configured to be taken out from the cartridge.

5. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the engagement portion is a through-hole.

6. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the case includes a slit through which an acting body is inserted, the acting body engaging with the engagement portion and putting the load in the direction in which each of the plurality of analyzing tools is configured to be taken out from the cartridge.

7. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the case further includes a recessed portion for allowing displacement of a position in the thickness direction of the analyzing tool when the analyzing tool is relatively moved in a take-out direction with respect to the case.

8. An analyzing system comprising:

a cartridge having a plurality of analyzing tools arranged lined in a plane direction accommodated in a case; and

an analyzer, to which the cartridge is attached, for analyzing a sample using the analyzing tool taken out from the cartridge;

wherein

the plurality of analyzing tools include at least a first analyzing tool and a second analyzing tool, the first analyzing tool including a projecting portion projecting out in a thickness direction of the plurality of analyzing tools and the second analyzing tool including a recessed portion with which the projecting portion of the first analyzing tools engages, the second analyzing tool being arranged adjacent to the first analyzing tool in the plane direction,

each of the plurality of analyzing tools includes an engagement portion having a surface opposite to a load in a direction in which each of the plurality of analyzing tools is configured to be taken out from the cartridge; and

the analyzer includes an acting body engaging with the engagement portion and putting the load on the engagement portion in a direction in which the analyzing tool is taken out from the cartridge.

9. The analyzing system according to claim 8, wherein the acting body reciprocates in the thickness direction of the analyzing tool, and is configured to select a state the load can be acted on the engagement portion and a state the load cannot be acted.

10. The analyzing system according to claim 9, wherein the engagement portion is a engagement recessed portion, and the acting body is an engagement projecting portion.

11. The analyzing system according to claim 10, wherein the engagement recessed portion is a through-hole, and the engagement projecting portion is a pin.

12. The analyzing system according to claim 8, wherein

the case further includes a recessed portion allowing displacement of a position in the thickness direction of the analyzing tool when the analyzing tool is relatively moved in a take-out direction with respect to the case;

and

the analyzer further includes a pressing body for pressing the analyzing tool in the thickness direction and holding the analyzing tool.

13. The analyzing system according to claim 12, wherein the pressing body is movable in the thickness direction with the acting body.