Analysis device for analyzing samples

• US 20010026772A1
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Fuerst, Otto, Jansen, Paul, Jaeck, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,623,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00277 Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/02 using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations G01N35/0098 and G01N35/0099 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4807 Tank type manifold [i.e., one tank supplies or receives from at least two others]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4857 With manifold or grouped outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Analysis device for analyzing samples, in particular of body liquids, with respect to components contained therein. It comprises a plurality of liquid handling (LH) stations. At at least a part of the LH stations there is a production of liquid waste whereby said LH-station form liquid waste sources. The liquid waste is evacuated, with at least one pump, from the liquid waste sources, with different proportions of air, via a liquid waste conducting system, into a liquid waste container.

A substantial reduction of foam production is obtained by connecting at least two liquid waste sources to the liquid waste container via at least two liquid waste lines leading separately into the liquid waste container, whereas liquid waste sources with a higher average air proportion are connected to a first liquid waste line and liquid waste sources with a lower average air proportion are connected to a second liquid waste line.

Claims

1. Analysis device for analyzing samples, in particular of body liquids, with respect to components contained therein, with a plurality of liquid handling (LH) stations, which include processing stations, at which processing steps are performed to liquids contained in containers, by means of processing tools, as e.g. a dosing needle or a stirrer wherein

at least at a part of the LH stations liquid waste is produced, whereby said LH stations form liquid waste sources, and the liquid waste is evacuated, with at least one pump, from the liquid waste sources, with different proportions of air, via a liquid waste conducting system, into a liquid waste container,

the liquid waste conducting system comprises at least two separate lines leading into the liquid waste container, and

a plurality of liquid waste sources are connected to at least one of said separated lines leading into the liquid waste container, via separate lines leading as secondary lines from the respective liquid waste container to a line junction, and via a common line leading as primary line from the line junction to the liquid waste container,

whereas the secondary lines are grouped together in such a way that in one of the at least two lines leading into the liquid waste container, liquid waste with a higher air proportion is transported and in a second of the at least two lines leading into the liquid waste container, liquid waste with a lower air proportion is transported.

2. Analysis device according to

claim 1

, wherein the liquid waste of a plurality of liquid waste sources is evacuated by means of a common, continuously driven pump.

3. Analysis device according to

claim 2

, wherein the liquid waste is pumped by means of a multichannel pump in a plurality of separated lines driven by a common drive.

4. Analysis device according to

claim 3

, wherein the pump is located in the secondary lines upstream from the line junction.

5. Analysis device according to

claim 1

, wherein at least one of the liquid waste sources is a washing station, for cleaning a processing tool by means of a washing liquid.

6. Analysis device according to

claim 5

, wherein the plurality of liquid waste sources connected to a primary line via secondary lines and a line junction includes at least two washing stations.

7. Analysis device according

claim 5

, wherein at least one washing station comprises a washing liquid container with a first evacuation point at the bottom of the washing liquid container and a second evacuation point at the overflow of the washing liquid container.

8. Analysis device according to

claim 7

, wherein the evacuation points can be connected alternately to one of the secondary lines by means of a switch valve.

9. Analysis device according to

claim 1

, wherein exit openings of the separate lines leading into the liquid waste container are arranged with very small distance from each other.