Random access reagent delivery system for use in an automatic clinical analyzer

• US 20050013735A1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Dade Behring, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Evers, Timothy Patrick, Gebrian, Peter Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,169,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers

Abstract

A random access reagent container handling system using a reagent container shuttle to move reagent containers between a loading tray and at least one linear reagent container tray and at least one circular reagent carousel. The reagent container tray is positioned as needed beneath the reagent container shuttle by a reagent tray shuttle.

Claims

1. A random access reagent supply system having a single bi-directional linear shuttle adapted to position different reagent containers at different locations within a clinical analyzer by moving reagent containers between a reagent container loading tray, at least one reagent server, and at least one reagent carousel.

2. The reagent supply system of claim 1 wherein the loading tray includes a motorized rake adapted to automatically position the containers beneath the linear shuttle.

3. The reagent supply system of claim 1 wherein the reagent server comprises a reagent container shuttle, a reagent container tray and a reagent storage area configured so that the reagent container shuttle moves the reagent container tray within the reagent storage area to position the reagent container tray beneath the linear shuttle.

4. The reagent supply system of claim 1 having first and second concentric reagent carousels, the first carousel being inwards of the second carousel, the linear shuttle adapted to move reagent containers between the first and second concentric reagent carousels.

5. The reagent supply system of claim 4 further including a first reagent container transfer device proximate the second concentric reagent carousel to transfer reagent containers from the second concentric reagent carousel to a reagent preparation station.

6. The reagent supply system of claim 4 further including a second reagent container transfer device proximate the second concentric reagent carousel to transfer reagent containers from the second concentric reagent carousel to a motorized belt shuttle.

7. An automatic chemical analyzer comprising the reagent supply system of claim 1 and further comprising a reaction carousel having cuvette ports formed therein to receive a plurality of reaction cuvettes, and reagent aspiration and dispense arms to aspirate reagents from reagent containers in the reagent carousel and in the reagent server and to dispense reagents into the reaction cuvettes.