Chemistry system for clinical analyzer

• US 20080145939A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Incorporated (The Carlyle Group LP (Corporate Private Equity))
• Original Assignee: Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Incorporated (The Carlyle Group LP (Corporate Private Equity))
• Inventors: Shaw, James David, LaCourt, Michael W., Jakubowicz, Raymond Francis, Tomasso, David Angelo
• Granted Patent: US 7,855,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/54
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/103 using disposable tips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• 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 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A clinical analyzer for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample includes at least one reagent supply and at least one reaction containment device for containing a volume of sample and a volume of said at least one reagent from said at least one reagent supply. A wash-free delivery system introduces reagent into at least one reaction containment device without requiring washing of delivery components.

Claims

1. A method for determining the amount or presence of an analyze in a sample using a clinical analyzer, said method including the steps of:

delivering a volume of sample to a reaction containment device;

delivering a volume of at least one reagent from a reagent supply to said reaction containment device using wash-free delivery means for introducing said at least one reagent to said reaction containment device thereby forming a detectable species in said containment device; and

determining the formed species.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said sample delivering step includes the steps of:

aspirating a volume of sample from a sample supply into a fluid dispensing member;

dispensing aspirated sample into said reaction containment device using said dispensing member.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, including the step of disposing of said dispensing member following said dispensing step.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said reagent delivering step includes the steps of:

aspirating a volume of a reagent from said reagent supply into a fluid dispensing member; and

dispensing said volume of aspirated reagent from said fluid dispensing member into said reaction vessel.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, including the step of disposing of said fluid dispensing member following said dispensing step.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said reagent delivering step includes the additional steps of:

aspirating a first volume of a reagent into a first fluid dispensing element;

dispensing said reagent from said first fluid dispensing element into said reaction containment device;

disposing of said first fluid dispensing element;

aspirating a second volume of a reagent into a second fluid dispensing element; and

dispensing said reagent from said second fluid dispensing element into said reaction containment device.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said first volume is taken from a first reagent and said second volume is taken from a second reagent which is different than the first reagent.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said second reagent aspirating and dispensing steps and said first reagent aspirating and dispensing steps are performed using a common metering mechanism.

9. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said reagent aspirating and dispensing steps further include the steps of:

repeatably using said fluid dispensing member to aspirate and dispense reagent into more than one reaction containment device, wherein said fluid dispensing member is dedicated for use with a first reagent container.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one reagent fluid container includes a mechanism capable of dispensing a predetermined volume of reagent, said reagent delivering step includes the step of:

pumping a predetermined volume of reagent from said reagent supply into at least one reaction containment device.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said reagent supply includes a mechanism capable of dispensing a predetermined amount of reagent, said reagent delivering step including the step of:

actuating said supply so as to cause a predetermined volume of reagent to be dispensed into at least one reaction containment device.

12. A method for conducting at least one assay in a clinical analyzer, said method including the steps of:

i) delivering a volume of sample into at least one reaction containment device;

ii) delivering a volume of at least one reagent from a reagent supply into said reaction containment device; and

iii) repeating at least one of steps i) and ii) wherein a washing operation is not required between any of said delivering steps.