초록 ▼

The present invention is directed to an automatic chemical analytical apparatus for analyzing liquid samples. In order to provide a fully automatic transport of sample tubes containing samples to be analyzed, the apparatus includes a sample processing unit, a sample transport arrangement for transpo

The present invention is directed to an automatic chemical analytical apparatus for analyzing liquid samples. In order to provide a fully automatic transport of sample tubes containing samples to be analyzed, the apparatus includes a sample processing unit, a sample transport arrangement for transporting the sample racks from a rack supply unit to a rotatable sample rack carrier in the sample processing unit and vice versa, and a computer for controlling and coordinating the operation of the sample transport arrangement and an automatic pipetting unit. The sample processing unit includes the automatic pipetting unit and the rotatable sample rack carrier that accommodates a plurality of sample racks. Each sample rack, in turn, accommodates a plurality of sample tubes.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An automatic chemical analytical apparatus for analyzing liquid samples comprising: (a) a plurality of elongated sample racks, each of which has a length axis and accommodates a plurality of sample tubes, each sample tube being filled with a sample, each sample tube car

The invention claimed is: 1. An automatic chemical analytical apparatus for analyzing liquid samples comprising: (a) a plurality of elongated sample racks, each of which has a length axis and accommodates a plurality of sample tubes, each sample tube being filled with a sample, each sample tube carrying on it an identification readable by a reader device and each sample rack carrying on it an identification readable by a reader device, (b) first sample transport means including a rotatable sample rack carrier located in a sample tube area, said rotatable sample rack carrier accommodating a plurality of said sample racks within a space delimited by a circumference of the carrier, said sample racks being arranged along said circumference with the length axis of each of said sample racks orthogonal to said circumference, said first sample transport means further including means for rotating in a step-wise manner said rotatable sample rack carrier, said step-wise rotation comprising rotation intervals and rotation stop intervals, during which said sample rack carrier is at rest, (c) second sample transport means for transporting said sample racks from a rack input device of a rack supply unit to said rotatable sample rack carrier, and for selectively transporting said sample racks from said rotatable sample rack carrier to a rack output device of said rack supply unit, said rack input device and said rack output device each accommodating a plurality of said sample racks, (d) an automatic pipetting unit for aspirating a portion of a sample contained in any sample tube located in any sample rack carried by said sample rack carrier, said aspirating being effected during a rotation stop interval, and for delivering said aspirated sample portion to any reaction tube in a reaction tube area, said automatic pipetting unit comprising a pipetting needle and means for moving said needle in each one of 3 directions (X, Y, Z) which are orthogonal to each other, (e) means for controlling and coordinating the operation of said first sample transport means, said second sample transport means, and said automatic pipetting unit, so that a selected sample is delivered to a selected reaction tube; and (f) computer control means which control the operation of said automatic pipetting unit, said first sample transport means, and said second sample transport means, for minimizing the time interval during which each rack occupies a place on said rotatable sample rack carrier. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second sample transport means transport said sample racks one-by-one from said rack input device to said rotatable sample rack carrier. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second sample transport means selectively transport said sample racks one-by-one from said rotatable sample rack carrier to said rack output device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rack supply unit is a separate module which is not part of a sample processing unit and which comprises a stationary rack input device and a stationary rack output device. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second sample transport means further comprises: (i) a transfer line for transporting said sample racks from the rack supply unit to said rotatable sample rack carrier and from said rotatable sample rack carrier to the rack supply unit, (ii) means for moving serially and one-by-one sample racks from said rack input device to said transfer line, (iii) at the end of each rotation step of said step-wise rotation a selected one of the sample racks is aligned with and is ready to be transferred either a) to said transfer line for transport to said rack output device of said rack supply unit, or b) to a free position on said sample rack carrier aligned with said transfer line for receiving a sample rack from said transfer line, (iv) means for moving a selected sample rack from said transfer line to a free position on said sample rack carrier, during one of said rotation stop intervals, and for moving a selected sample rack from its position on the sample rack carrier to the transfer line, during another one of said rotation stop intervals, (v) means for moving sample racks one-by-one from said transfer line to said rack output device, and (vi) a reader device for reading the identification of each sample rack and the identification of each sample tube contained therein during transport from the rack supply unit to the rotatable sample rack carrier. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transfer line is a single transfer line for transporting said sample racks in two opposite directions, from said rack supply unit to said rotatable sample rack carrier and from said rotatable sample rack carrier to said rack supply unit. 7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second sample transport means further comprises means for moving a sample rack containing at least one sample that requires urgent analysis from a rack input position to said transfer line in order for that sample rack to be transferred to the rotatable sample rack carrier with high priority. 8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the angle of rotation of the sample rack carrier is such that at the end of each rotation step a selected one of the sample racks on said rotatable sample rack carrier is aligned with and is ready to be transferred to said transfer line for its transport to said rack output device, or a free position on said rotatable sample rack carrier is aligned with said transfer line, said free position being available for receiving a sample rack arriving to said sample rack carrier via said transfer line. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sample tubes are arranged substantially in a row along the length axis of each sample rack. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sample tube area includes space reserved for accommodating one or more sample tube racks manually positioned on a stationary support. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means are adapted for selecting a rack to be removed from said rotatable sample rack carrier as soon as possible after processing of all sample tubes on said rack is terminated. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means are adapted for determining the angle of rotation of said rotatable sample rack carrier for each rotation step. 13. An automatic chemical analytical apparatus for analyzing liquid samples comprising: (a) a plurality of elongated sample racks, each of which has a length axis and accommodates a plurality of sample tubes, each sample tube being filled with a sample, each sample tube carrying on it an identification readable by a reader device and each sample rack carrying on it an identification readable by a reader device, (b) a first sample transport arrangement including a rotatable sample rack carrier located in said sample tube area, said rotatable sample rack carrier accommodating a plurality of said sample racks within a space delimited by a circumference of the carrier, said sample racks being arranged along said circumference with the length axis of each of said sample racks orthogonal to said circumference, said first sample transport arrangement further including a motor for rotating in a step-wise manner said rotatable sample rack carrier, said step-wise rotation comprising rotation intervals and rotation stop intervals, during which said sample rack carrier is at rest, (c) second sample transport arrangement for transporting said sample racks from a rack input device of a rack supply unit to said rotatable sample rack carrier, and for selectively transporting said sample racks from said rotatable sample rack carrier to a rack output device of said rack supply unit, said rack input device and said rack output device each accommodating a plurality of said sample racks, (d) an automatic pipetting unit for aspirating a portion of a sample contained in any sample tube located in any sample rack carried by said sample rack carrier, said aspirating being effected during a rotation stop interval, and for delivering said aspirated sample portion to any reaction tube in a reaction tube area, said automatic pipetting unit comprising a pipetting needle and means for moving said needle in each one of 3 directions (X, Y, Z) which are orthogonal to each other, (e) a controller for controlling and coordinating the operation of said first sample transport arrangement, said second sample transport arrangement, and said automatic pipetting unit, so that a selected sample is delivered to a selected reaction tube; and (f) computer control means which control the operation of said automatic pipetting unit, said first sample transport means, and said second sample transport means, for minimizing the time interval during which each rack occupies a place on said rotatable sample rack carrier. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second sample transport arrangement transports said sample racks one-by-one from said rack input device to said rotatable sample rack carrier. 15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second sample transport arrangement selectively transports said sample racks one-by-one from said rotatable sample rack carrier to said rack output device. 16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said rack supply unit is a separate module that is not part of a sample processing unit and comprises a stationary rack input device and a stationary rack output device. 17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second sample transport arrangement further comprises: (i) a transfer line for transporting said sample racks from the rack supply unit to said rotatable sample rack carrier and from said rotatable sample rack carrier to said rack supply unit, (ii) means for moving serially and one-by-one sample racks from said rack input device to said transfer line, (iii) said motor rotating said rotatable sample rack carrier in a step-wise manner so that at the end of each rotation step a selected one of the sample racks is aligned with and is ready to be transferred either a) to said transfer line for transport to said rack output device of said rack supply unit, or b) to a free position on said sample rack carrier aligned with said transfer line for receiving a sample rack from said transfer line, (iv) means for moving a selected sample rack from said transfer line to a free position on said sample rack carrier, during one of said rotation stop intervals, and for moving a selected sample rack from its position on the sample rack carrier to the transfer line, during another one of said rotation stop intervals, (v) means for moving sample racks one-by-one from said transfer line to said rack output device, and (vi) a reader device for reading the identification of each sample rack and the identification of each sample tube contained therein during transport from the rack supply unit to the rotatable sample rack carrier. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said transfer line is a single transfer line for transporting said sample racks in two opposite directions, from said rack supply unit to said rotatable sample rack carrier and from said rotatable sample rack carrier to said rack supply unit. 19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said second sample transport arrangement further comprises means for moving a sample rack containing at least one sample that requires urgent analysis from a rack input position to said transfer line in order for that sample rack to be transferred to the rotatable sample rack carrier with high priority. 20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said second sample transport arrangement further comprises a carriage coupled to a selected sample rack and a transport chain operatively connected to the carriage for moving the carriage and the selected sample rack along the transfer line. 21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said second sample transport arrangement further comprises guiding rolls and a guiding rail positioned adjacent the carriage for guiding the movement of the carriage. 22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said second sample transport arrangement further comprises a chain guide positioned adjacent the transport chain for guiding the movement of the transport chain. 23. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the angle of rotation of the sample rack carrier is such that at the end of each rotation step a selected one of the sample racks on said rotatable sample rack carrier is aligned with and is ready to be transferred to said transfer line for its transport to said rack output device, or a free position on said rotatable sample rack carrier is aligned with said transfer line, said free position being available for receiving a sample rack arriving to said sample rack carrier via said transfer line. 24. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said sample tubes are arranged substantially in a row along the length axis of each sample rack. 25. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said sample tube area includes space reserved for accommodating one or more sample tube racks manually positioned on a stationary support. 26. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said control means are adapted for selecting a rack to be removed from said rotatable sample rack carrier as soon as possible after processing of all sample tubes on said rack is terminated. 27. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said control means are adapted for determining the angle of rotation of said rotatable sample rack carrier for each rotation step.