초록 ▼

An improved automated immunoassay analyzer including a high throughput automated immunoassay system which can perform high volume testing on a broad range of analytes while selecting from among a diverse set of immunoassays for any given sample. The immunoanalyzer has the capacity to perform a wide

An improved automated immunoassay analyzer including a high throughput automated immunoassay system which can perform high volume testing on a broad range of analytes while selecting from among a diverse set of immunoassays for any given sample. The immunoanalyzer has the capacity to perform a wide range of different types of immunoassays by facile storage and automated combination aboard the instrument among a wide variety of different types of reagents and heterogenous immunoassay beads stored on-board the instrument. The automated design allows reduced user interface (e.g., tests are performed automatically from computer input) including the ability to order, perform and reassay tests reflexively based on test results without operator intervention. Further, the inventive analyzer is not sample tube specific; that is, an instrument that can accept sample tube sizes within a broad size range. The inventive automated immunoassay analyzer also provides a re-useable sample dilution well, and a high speed bead washing station that eliminates the need for assay tubes having integral, waste fluid collection chambers.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An automated immunoassay analyzer, comprising:(I) means for receiving a plurality of sample tubes containing a fluid sample to be assayed;(II) means for supplying a plurality of reaction tubes in which an assay on said samples can be performed;(III) inert support and disp

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An automated immunoassay analyzer, comprising:(I) means for receiving a plurality of sample tubes containing a fluid sample to be assayed;(II) means for supplying a plurality of reaction tubes in which an assay on said samples can be performed;(III) inert support and dispensing means for receiving a plurality of inert support dispensing packs each storing a single type of biomaterial-coated inert support, said biomaterial capable of selectively binding an analyte of interest in a sample, and said dispensing packs capable of storing and dispensing said supports, individually, into a reaction tube at a support dispensing station, whereby a plurality of different biomaterial coated supports stored on-board said analyzer can be selected from for addition to said reaction tube for performing a particular assay in said reaction tube, said inert support supply and dispensing means comprising(1) a plurality of bead dispenser devices supported on a common bead dispenser device carousel capable of rotation, wherein each dispenser device comprises(a) a track capable of storing and feeding a plurality of substantially spherical beads by effect of gravity to a lower track end,(b) an enclosure sealingly housing said track comprisinga side wall enclosing outer lateral surfaces of said track,a cover sealingly enclosing an upper track end of said track and upper end of said side wall, anda base including upper and lower sections defining a plunger chamber, and a first bead chamber defined in said upper section communicating with said lower track end and said first bead chamber being offset along said plunger chamber relative to a bead exit opening in said lower section,c) a plunger sealingly provided in said plunger chamber and being capable of horizontal reciprocal movement within said plunger chamber, said plunger having a throughhole defining a second bead chamber normally aligned with said first bead chamber at said lower track end and with a plunger portion concurrently blocking said exit opening via a biasing means imposing a normal horizontal bias force on said plunger, wherein when a horizontal force is exerted in opposition to and adequate to overcome said normal bias force, said plunger being capable of horizontal movement to align said second bead chamber with said exit opening, said normal horizontal biasing force of said biasing means capable of horizontally moving said plunger effective to reblock said exit opening upon removal of said opposing force, and wherein said plunger further comprises first and second resilient rings spaced apart and seated on respective first and second collar portions of said plunger, and said plunger chamber having first and second flanges capable of sealingly engaging said first and second resilient sealing rings, respectively, where said first flange is located between said exit opening and said first bead chamber and said second flange is located between said biasing means and a distal end of said plunger at which said horizontal force is exerted, and(2) identifying means for identifying each of said bead dispenser devices;(IV) means for receiving a plurality of reagent storage packs capable of storing and permitting reagent withdrawal, in a self-sealing manner, whereby a plurality of different reagents stored on-board said analyzer can be selected from for addition to said reaction tube for performing a particular assay in said reaction tube;(V) means for pipetting sample and means for pipetting reagent into a support-containing reaction tube at a reaction tube pipetting station;(VI) an incubating station for incubating reaction tubes received from said reaction tube pipetting station containing sample, reagent and inert support;(VII) a washing station for washing bound biomaterial in said reaction tube after said reaction tubes have been incubated at said incubating station;(VIII) a detection station for detecting a quantity of analyte bound to said biomaterial in said reaction tubes after said reaction tubes have been washed at said washing station, said detection station producing a signal proportional to the quantity of analyte for each reaction tube;(IX) a reaction tube transport pathway connecting, in this sequence, said reaction tube supply means, said inert support supply and dispensing means, said reaction tube pipetting station, said incubating station, said washing station and said detection station;(X) means for identifying said sample tubes, said reagent packs, and said inert support dispensing packs on-board the analyzer;(XI) control means for automatic controlling of various components of said analyzer in a coordinated manner and being capable of executing assay selection orders for a given sample by selecting and coordinating the introduction of a particular type of reagent and particular type of biomaterial-coated inert support effective to perform a particular requested assay on said sample in a reaction tube; and(XII) means for determining and displaying and/or recording the concentration of analyte in a particular sample based on said signal produced and detected at said detection station.