System for analyzing compounds contained in liquid samples

• US 5,489,414 A
• Filed: 04/22/1994
• Issued: 02/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Mannheim GmbH (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Mannheim GmbH (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Eikmeier, Heino, Schreiber, Joerg, Schmid, Wilfried, Sacherer, Klaus-Dieter, Kuhr, Hans-Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Housel, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Application Number:
  US08/231,712
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63, 422/64, 422/66, 422/65, 422/68.1, 422/58, 422/82.05, 422/104, 436/43, 436/44, 436/45, 436/46, 436/47, 436/48, 436/49, 436/164, 436/805, 436/808, 435/808
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00039 Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines
• 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 2035/00782 reprogrammmable code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/808 Optical sensing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/805 Optical property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/808 Automated or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line

Abstract

A system for analyzing sample liquids using dry reagents which is particularly suitable for the determination of clinical parameters. The system includes an analysis instrument containing the individually sealed test elements to carry out an analytical test. Shape and nature of the test elements were designed to match the analysis system. The system is particularly suitable for analyses where the available test elements exhibit a low storage stability when brought into contact with the environment.

Claims

1. System for analyzing sample liquids, comprising:

disc-shaped array of a plurality of test elements, said array having said test elements being circularly arranged on a common plane, each test element of said plurality of test elements having a test field wherein detectable changes can occur upon the addition of sample liquid hereto, the test elements being provided inside of the system and being initially individually sealed against water vapor by an individual seal;

pushing means for transporting a test element from said array to a site of measurement and for removing said test element from the individual seal; and

a radiation source; and

a radiation detection means for detecting changes occurring on a test field of the test element.

2. System of claim 1, wherein the pushing means comprises a radial transportation mechanism including a lever and a rotatable support to move the disc shaped array of test elements.

3. System of claim 1, wherein the pushing means transports the test elements to the site of measurements and removes individual test elements from the test element array.

4. System of claim 1, wherein the pushing means includes thorn means for piercing the test element array and for pushing an element out of the array.

5. System of claim 1, further including a reading means for reading data concerning the test elements.

6. System of claim 1, wherein the disc-shaped array is an array of test elements wherein each of the test elements is individually sealed within a blister.