Automated analyzer having magnetic isolation device and method using the same
First Claim
1. An automated analyzer having a cuvette conveyed along an event path, said analyzer comprising a means for isolating a detectable product, wherein said detectable product is present in said cuvette having a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top and said detectable product is formed by a reaction between a test sample, a labeled reagent and a solid-phase reagent which has paramagnetic particles, said means for isolating said detectable product comprising:
- (a) first magnetic means along said event path for attracting said paramagnetic particles against the side wall of said cuvette, said magnetic means comprising a first upstream magnet for creating a first magnetic field at a first level along the side wall of the cuvette, and a second downstream magnet for creating a second magnetic field at a second level along the side of the cuvette which is below said first level for positioning said paramagnetic particles below an upper level of a re-suspend liquid;
(b) liquid evacuating means for aspirating a liquid from said cuvette while said paramagnetic particles are held against the side wall of said cuvette;
(c) liquid dispensing means which are located downstream of said magnetic means for dispensing the re-suspend liquid into said cuvette for re-suspending said paramagnetic particles in said re-suspend liquid,(d) second magnetic means disposed proximate said liquid dispensing means for assisting migration of said paramagnetic particles into said re-suspend liquid, and(e) control means including a central processing unit for coordinating said liquid evacuating means, said liquid dispensing means and means for conveying said cuvette along said event path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An analyzer for performing automated assay testing. The analyzer includes a storage and conveyor system for conveying cuvettes to an incubation or processing conveyor, a storage and selection system for test sample containers, a storage and selection system for reagent containers, sample and reagent aspirating and dispensing probes, a separation system for separating bound from unbound tracer or labeled reagent, a detection system and date collection/processing system. All of the subunits of the machine are controlled by a central processing unit to coordinate the activity of all of the subunits of the analyzer. The analyzer is specifically suited for performing heterogeneous binding assay protocols, particularly immunoassays.
139 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An automated analyzer having a cuvette conveyed along an event path, said analyzer comprising a means for isolating a detectable product, wherein said detectable product is present in said cuvette having a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top and said detectable product is formed by a reaction between a test sample, a labeled reagent and a solid-phase reagent which has paramagnetic particles, said means for isolating said detectable product comprising:
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(a) first magnetic means along said event path for attracting said paramagnetic particles against the side wall of said cuvette, said magnetic means comprising a first upstream magnet for creating a first magnetic field at a first level along the side wall of the cuvette, and a second downstream magnet for creating a second magnetic field at a second level along the side of the cuvette which is below said first level for positioning said paramagnetic particles below an upper level of a re-suspend liquid; (b) liquid evacuating means for aspirating a liquid from said cuvette while said paramagnetic particles are held against the side wall of said cuvette; (c) liquid dispensing means which are located downstream of said magnetic means for dispensing the re-suspend liquid into said cuvette for re-suspending said paramagnetic particles in said re-suspend liquid, (d) second magnetic means disposed proximate said liquid dispensing means for assisting migration of said paramagnetic particles into said re-suspend liquid, and (e) control means including a central processing unit for coordinating said liquid evacuating means, said liquid dispensing means and means for conveying said cuvette along said event path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of evacuating liquid from a cuvette in an automated analyzer having a cuvette conveyed along an event path, said analyzer comprising a means for isolating a detectable product, wherein said detectable product is present in said cuvette having a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top said detectable product is formed by a reaction between a test sample, a labeled reagent and a solid-phase reagent which has paramagnetic particles, said method comprising:
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(a) attracting the paramagnetic particles of said reagent against the first side wall of the cuvette by first magnetic means, said first magnetic means comprising a first upstream magnet for creating a first magnetic field at a first level along the side wall of the cuvette and a second downstream magnet for creating a second magnetic field at a second level along the side of the cuvette which is below said first level for positioning said paramagnetic particles below an upper level of a re-suspend liquid; (b) evacuating the liquid from said cuvette while said paramagnetic particles are held against the first side wall of the cuvette, (c) dispensing the re-suspend liquid into said cuvette after aspiration of the test sample, labeled reagent and solid phase reagent mixture for re-suspending said paramagnetic particles, (d) assisting migration of said paramagnetic particles into said re-suspend liquid by second magnetic means disposed proximate said liquid dispensing means, and (e) control means including a central processing unit for control means including a central processing unit for coordinating said evacuating means, said liquid dispensing means and means for conveying said cuvette along said event path. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification