초록 ▼

A blood analysis system or instrument, generally, including an incubator station, a sample and reagent holding station, a pipette assembly, a centrifuge, an analysis station, and a transport assembly. Generally, the incubation station holds containers while reagents and fluids are being dispensed in

A blood analysis system or instrument, generally, including an incubator station, a sample and reagent holding station, a pipette assembly, a centrifuge, an analysis station, and a transport assembly. Generally, the incubation station holds containers while reagents and fluids are being dispensed in those containers, and, if desired, for incubating the containers. The sample and reagent holding station holds samples and a plurality of reagents, and the pipette assembly transfers fluids from that sample and reagent holding station to containers in the incubation station. The centrifuge is provided for centrifuging the container, and the analysis station is provided to analyze the containers optically to identify reactions therein. The transport assembly carries the containers between the incubator station, the centrifuge, and the analysis station. Preferably, the pipette assembly is automatically operated to draw fluids and preselected reagents from the sample and reagent holding station, and to dispense fluids into the containers held in the incubation station to produce predetermined solutions therein. Also, the transport subassembly is automatically operated to carry containers from the incubator station to the centrifuge after the predetermined solutions have been produced in the containers, and then to carry the containers from the centrifuge to the analysis station.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for automatically analyzing aqueous solutions, comprising depositing a multitude of containers in a first station said first station having (i) a multitude of container holders for simultaneously holding a multitude of containers, (ii) a container receiving and discharging position, and (ii

A method for automatically analyzing aqueous solutions, comprising depositing a multitude of containers in a first station said first station having (i) a multitude of container holders for simultaneously holding a multitude of containers, (ii) a container receiving and discharging position, and (iii) a fluid receiving position, said depositing step including the steps of, for each of the multitude of containers. (i) moving one of the container holders of the first station to the container receiving and discharging position, and (ii) depositing one of the containers into said one of the container holders; holding reagents and sample solutions at a second station; supporting a pipette assembly for three dimensional movement between the first and second stations; for each of the multitude of containers, i) moving the first station to move the container to the fluid receiving position, ii) operating the pipette assembly to draw reagent and sample solution from the second station, and to dispense the drawn reagent and sample solution into the container to form a test solution therein when the container is in the fluid receiving position, iii) after the container has received reagent and sample solution, moving the first station to move the container to the container receiving and discharging position, and iv) when the container is in the container receiving and discharging position, removing the container from the first station; positioning the removed containers in a centrifuge; centrifuging the containers in the centrifuge; positioning the containers in an auto reader station; analyzing the containers to identify reactions therein at the auto reader station; supporting a transport assembly for three dimensional movement between the first station, the centrifuge and the auto reader station; and operating the transport assembly to transport the containers from the first station to the centrifuge after the test solutions have been formed in the containers, and to transport the containers from the centrifuge to the auto reader station.