DE2237263A1 - TEST DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

Dr.-ir

Our reference: S 1442

Sherwood Medical Industries Inc., St. Louis / Miss. (V.St.A.)

Test device

The invention relates to an experimental device for the automatic determination of prothrombin times or other samples with similar ones Factors. A rotatable conveyor moves blood plasma samples sequentially in containers to a test station where each Sample is tested, relevant information is scanned and sent to a printing unit for evaluation.

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In front of the test station there can be a first reagent dispenser, which adds a reagent to each sample, and a second reagent dispenser is at the test station for adding a second reagent. A sample heating device is located between the two reagent dispensers, which directly touches each container in order to transfer heat and that contained therein To heat sample. Each reagent dispenser is provided with a reagent container and an associated magnetic stirring system. It is a specific system for decoupling the magnetic agitation system from a magnetic agitator and for moving of the magnetic stirrer from the path of a pipette which forms part of each reagent dispenser. At the Tectstation a special photosensitive scanning device is provided for scanning the formation of lumps after the second reagent is added.

The invention relates to medical test equipment. and relates to medical testing facilities, in which "change of optical Charakteristis the sample eü scanned v / ill be, for example, in the determination of Prothombinzeiten ·

Increasingly, the population has the right to expert medical help in solving individual problems Problems. This pactor, in conjunction with the

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ever-increasing amount of medical knowledge resulted in one extensive increase in the number of tests of various types, as part of diagnosis or observation procedures for the health being carried out and an increase in the lack of trained personnel to carry out these experiments. As a result of the increase in demand after such services are the costs of 'implementation increased in the same yfeise »In this way it is not only difficult to have qualified personnel to carry out to maintain such attempts, but the cost of these services prevent them from being performed more frequently and even in the best of circumstances, there is always the human factor to consider, thereby creating the possibility is increased so that the test is carried out inaccurately or the result is inexactly determined.

This results in an increase in the need for apparatus to carry out such experiments in a cheap way, the apparatus being intended to be operated by relatively unskilled personnel and most opportunities for inaccuracies of outcomes due to human error are avoided. . . ·

Ss is the v / es public object of the invention, a novel

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and to provide improved test apparatus for automatically performing tests on samples in the medical field. More precisely, it is an object of the invention to create a test device which is used in particular for the automatic determination of prothrombin units or similar tests.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and to provide an improved optical scanning system for detecting optical changes in the sample, a new improved sample heating mechanism, a new improved reagent pipetting system and a new improved reagent storage container with stirring system, all for use in various forms of test equipment.

The basic embodiment achieves the above objects with a construction which has a sample conveyor in the form of a turntable, which has a plurality of sample receiving containers and gradually guides these samples through a first reagent dispenser station, a sample heating station and a second combined reagent dispenser station and part station. An optical scanning system is used for determining optical changes in the sample at the Testatation such as Klumpchenfeststellung thrombin in a Pro

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attempt. The time necessary for such clumping after adding the second reagent to the sample is then recorded and printed by a printing unit.

The optical system at the test station uses a light source on one side of the specimen path and a photosensitive element on the opposite side of the web. At the light source text is a high frequency red filter provided, to the effect of changes in visual To eliminate absorption from one plasma sample to the other. On the side of the photosensitive element of the web a bundle of boreholes is provided, which acts as a diaphragm for the passage of light through the sample and a diffuser in the form of an elongated light tube. The photosensitive Element arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the light tube and the system is to increase the reliability an accurate scan of the optical changes is generally insensitive to optical disturbance.

The new processing arrangement used consists of an arc-shaped thermally conductive block made of a material E.g. Aluminum is formed, which is mounted movably in and out of the path of movement of the sample container. Of the Block closes a large number of recesses for receiving

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single sample container, and has an electric heating element · A solenoid is used _for the block into and out of the path of movement of the containers to move and is operated in conjunction with a Betättgungsanordnung for the turntable in such a way that, when the rotary table, the next sample at the test station adjusts, the block is pulled out of the path of travel until this adjustment is completed, whereupon it moves back into the path. In the track, sample containers are received in the recesses in the block and uniformly heated to the desired temperature.

The reagent pipetting device includes a pipette attached to a rotatable and reciprocating shaft for 1. a rotary movement between a position over a sample container on the turntable and a position over a reagent container and 2. a reciprocating motion Movement between the last-mentioned position and a position in the container in which the reagent is drawn into the pipette for the subsequent dispensing into the sample.

A piston pump is connected to the pipette and operated by a Nooke so that the reagent is drawn into the pipette .

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is pulled when the pipette is in the container and ^ out The pipette is dispensed when the pipette is over the sample lies. Biese Nooke drives the pipette in her steering motion between the three above-mentioned positions by means of of a · Eolgeglied-.es ", which is connected to a ·" lever which in turn is connected to the pipette carrying the shaft in order to move the shaft back and forth. One . · further cam arrangement with a squat member, which attached to the shaft, carries the pipette and a stationary one Nooke 'speaks to the Yfelle to and fro in such a way that it transmits a rotation to this in order to move the pipette between the first two positions mentioned above to move" . .

The magnetic stirring system is particularly useful for operation suitable in connection with the reagent pipetting system. A container in the form of a submerged frustoconical; Cone is used and in the area of its bottom a movable magnet is provided for setting up a movable Iviagnetf eldes, so that a magnetic stir bar is agitated in the container to stir the contents of the container. Arrangements are made to the device to. The build-up of the movable magnetic field out of action and the magnetic stirrer. off the track .; the. Pipette closed

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move when it is lowered into the container. the Assemblies contain a lever with a magnetic shield that sits between the movable magnet and the floor of the container is retractable to the magnetic coupling between the movable magnet and the magnetic To interrupt stir bar. The lever also carries a substantially perpendicular magnet, which is in a Position in the area of the container can be moved in order to pull the magnetic stirring rod to one side of it · The lever is operated by a cam follower which can be brought into engagement with a member that is associated with the Pipette-carrying shaft is movable, as explained in the preceding paragraph.

The invention is illustrated below with reference to the drawings explained in more detail.

In the drawings show:

Pig. 1 is an oblique view of a test device according to the invention, essentially in a housing lies;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the sample conveyor, two

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Pipetting systems, two magnetic stirring systems and the heating block, with parts broken away for clarity; · '

a vertical cut through the sample conveyor;

Pig. 4 is a vertical section taken approximately along line 4-4 in Pig. 2y

Pig. 5 is a side view of a reagent pipetting system j

Pig. β shows a side view of the reagent pipetting system by approximately 90 ° compared to the representation in Pig. 5 moved?

Pig. 7 is a vertical section taken approximately along line 7-7 in Pig. 2;

Pig. 8 is a vertical section taken approximately along line 8-8 in Pig. 2, and

Pig. 9 is a block diagram of one aspect of the control system; which can be used according to the invention.

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As generally stated above, a test device according to the invention ideally suited for carrying out and recording the results of prothrombin experiments or other similar experiments, even if the expert determines that a large number of different mechanisms and constructions, as described below " are, for use in other experimental devices or systems are suitable, which of the prothrombin or corresponding experiments are completely different and also with nichtchemieeheη experiments. Hence if the invention is also described in connection with a prothrombin time experiment, it is of course not limited to that.

Prothombin time experiments measure the clumping time of blood plasma and can either be done with a reagent or with the variant can be performed with two reagents. A plasma sample is used especially when carrying out the prothrombin time experiments both calcium chloride solution and thromboplastin are supplied. In a single-reagent experiment, the calcium and the Tiironuoplaatin combined and a desired kenge of the combined solution introduced into the sample * Pure many For purposes of this, the one-weight attempt is sufficient. However, the stability of the thromboplastin is important, e.g.

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if the tests "in ungleichf örmigen Zeitäbständenodär ^:: - · in big" batches "are carried out, it is wishing - worth" the ihromboplastin and öle.Kal2iümohl <>ridl.öSii'ng overall '■ ""trenni;to' thinks it is necessary to extend the stability of the woman. "" - ""'■"-" - ■■ · ■■ - ·. .

To achieve this, the device is ideally suited for every species from Tef looking j 'however, it will specifically be in connection with the Zv / ei-Heägenzversuch ", which is a bigger one Number of 'systems' required than the one-reagent attempt *

In detail, a conveyor is loaded with cuvettes which contain the plasma samples to be examined and the conveyor is automatically advanced step by step from an exit point to a “first reagent station, where the first reagent is vigorously supplied at room temperature and at the same time the sample is mixed - when the "conveyor" is advanced ^: each subsequent sample receives the first "reagent"^; at the reagent dispensing station, while the "who have already received the first reagent" are passed on to the processing station, where each sample is heated to a predetermined temperature, before it is advanced -in-a second reagent dispenser station, which is the same as the test station "If every sample is the.

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When a wide transmitter station is reached, the second reagent is heated to the desired processing temperature, vigorously supplied and thereby mixed with the sample and a Timing started. After changing the optical Density of the sample due to the formation of fibrin strands, an optical scanning system scans the change and stops the timer, whereupon the result is printed out and the turntable is set to examine the next subsequent sample. The optical scanning system will turned off for an initial period, so that the optical turbulence created by the powerful injection of Heagenz is not determined.

An exemplary embodiment of the test facility according to the invention is in Pig. I and, as seen, includes a housing 20 with a control panel 22. A rotary conveyor 24 is substantially flush with the top of the housing 20 and serves to carry a number of Advance samples through the various stages mentioned above as shown. The top of the case 20 also contains two containers 26 and 28, each of which is suitable for receiving 3 different loads, which is used in the two-unit reagent experiment. With everybody

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The container is a corresponding seagent pipetting system 30 and 32 assigned, each of which has a volume adjustment knob 33 and a pipette 34 includes.

The housing 20 also includes a cutout 36 with a Sehwenkdeckel 41, of which a Aufzeiehnungsband with the printed results of the experiments. Furthermore, a manual control 40 is provided for the belt 38. The cover 41 can be opened to exchange the tape 38 will.

Like in Pig. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the turntable 24 is formed from a disk 42 with a plurality of recesses 44 around the whole, but 60 °, of its circumference. According to one embodiment of the invention, sixty recesses are provided and the disk 42 is provided with numbers 46 which identify each recess 44. The recesses accommodate cuvettes * which contain the samples to be examined.

The disk 42 is attached to a honing plate by means of screws 48 50 attached, which lies under the washer 42 and is provided with a cap 52 to cover the screws 48. The resulting assembly is mounted on a shaft 54 which is supported in bearings 56 and a large, driven one

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Gear 58 carries, which meshes with a narrow Drive gear 60 (Fig. 2) is on the drive shaft 62 of an electric motor 64 · with a built-in reduction gear is appropriate. The arrangement is such that

a start of the engine 4-4- at the same time the disk 42 in Counterclockwise in Pig. 2 sets in rotation.

The bearings 56 are in the central recess of an assembly. Platform SS mounted, which is raised above the bottom of the housing 20 by means of stands 68. A portion of the vane 54 extends through the lowermost bearing 56 and forms a shaft extension 70 of reduced diameter. Attached to the reduced diameter shaft 70 is a hub 72 which in turn carries an encoder plate 74 which has printed contact segments 76 (Fig. 2) on its upper surface. The coding plate 74 rotates with the turntable 24 and by forming the printed circuit segments 76 in a known manner in various techniques, a binary coded signal is obtained which indicates which of the recesses 44 is at the test station to relate the sample number to the test time bring. For this purpose, the underside of the platform 66 carries an insulated bracket 78, which in turn carries a number of downwardly projecting electrical brushes 80 which are attached to the printed circuit board.

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Segments 76 attack the information for the sample division for use anywhere in the system to compare the results with the sample number.

In addition to the drive gear 60, the motor shaft 62 carries a timer key 82, which is designed essentially as shown in S ¹ Ig.2 and which is in engagement with holding actuators 84 and 86 of microswitches 88 and 90, respectively. Microswitch 88 can be used in a conventional motor control system to keep motor 64 energized when it is initiated by the completion of an experiment or by manual means, and to terminate motor 64 energization when the next cuvette enters the test station is moved. The micro switch 90 can be used in a conventional motor control system to initiate the pipette operation when the above pipettes move into the pipetting stations.

A "preferred form of heap receptacle and magnetic stirring system is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 Now described. As previously stated, two systems 26 and 28 are used and the two are the same, with the exception of that one is the mirror image of the other and the reagent container 26 with a heating element and a not shown

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The controller is equipped to keep the contents of the container at a desired temperature. Specifically, the reagent consists of it and the magnetic pipe system 26 of a container block 100 with an inverted, frustoconical recess 102 on its upper surface. The recess 102 can receive a similarly designed reagent tray 104 which contains a reagent which in turn receives a magnetic stirring rod 106 which can be coated with Teflon or the like in order to be inert to a reagent in the container.

An electric motor 112 is mounted on the underside of the block 100 by means of cap screws 108 and a mounting bracket 110, which has a rotating output shaft 114 which carries a permanent magnet 116 which is positioned just above the Bottom of the recess 102 rotatably jst. As is known, when the Hotor 112 is turned on, the resulting Rotation of the magnet 116 creates a rotating magnetic field in the Recess 102, which in turn rotates the magnetic stirring rod 106 to stir the contents of the recess

As mentioned generally above, the pipettes 34 can be moved in the respective containers 26 or 28, to take up reagent from this and the reagent to a

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Transfer point of use, if necessary in a sample containing euvette on the turntable 24 -will be dispensed. To get the amount of Heagenz required in a container to be reduced to such an extent that automatic operation of the Pipetting system is possible, and to achieve a maximum stirring effect to produce, the container recess 102 is frustoconical, me mentioned above. However, the presence of the magnetic stir bar 106 in the container does not allow that the pipette 34 moves full "to the bottom of the container

without contact, which may damage the pipette There is also the possibility of such contact by limiting the downward movement of the pipette into the container, so requires However, this requires the use of more reagent than is necessary to maintain the level in the container at a level at which the Heagenz can be reached by the pipette 34 is.

Correspondingly, arrangements are made to simultaneously decouple the movable magnet 160 and the stirring rod 106, while the latter is drawn into the area of the side wall of the container when the pipette 34 is in it The latter occurs. Like in Pig. 2 and 4, a pivot pin 118 is provided in a bore 120 in block 100.

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see and carries a lever 122 for pivoting movement about a vertical axis at a height at which a magnetic shield 124, 'formed in one piece with the lever 122 is, can be inserted between the bottom of the container and the movable magnet 116. The shield 124 breaks the magnetic coupling between the magnet 116 and the magnetic stir bar 106, so that the latter its rotation with .dem magnet 116 interrupts.

The lever 122 also supports a substantially upstanding magnet 126 by means of a bracket 128 and a Screw 130 for moving into a position in a groove 132 in the area of one side of the recess 102. On this Way is when the magnetic coupling between the magnet 116 and the magnetic stir bar 106 is pushed in of the shield 124 is interrupted, the magnet 126 simultaneously in a stationary magnetic field in the container 102 introduced, which pulls the magnetic stir bar to the side of the container and holds it in this position, so that the pipette 134 into the Container can be moved to the bottom.

The control of the position of the lever 122 is by means of a Reached squat follower projection 134, which is a wear piece 13C

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which engages on a drying element, ' that is "movable" with the pipette, as detailed below ". As shown in particular in Pig. 2 on the system 26, when the pipette system 30 in FIG Operation is set to move the corresponding pipette 34 into a position above the container 26, a associated cam on wear piece 136 to to pivot the lever 122 clockwise to achieve the Insert the shield 124 between the magnet 116 and the magnetic stir bar 106 and at the same time the magnet set so that it pulls stir bar 106 to the side of the container. If the pipetting system 30 is a reagent

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from the container and into the in Pig. 2 has returned to the position shown, set a spring 138 Lever 122 in the in Pig. 2 back position, whereby the stirring is initiated again.

The reagent system can best be determined from the Pig. 2, 5 and 6 can be understood. As mentioned above, are two such systems 30 and 32 are provided and each is dem the same as others, with the exception that one is arranged in mirror image to the other. As in Pig. 5 and 6 As shown, each weight transmitter has a base 150 which has a mounting plate 152 raised by means of spacer posts 154

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includes. The mounting plate 152 in turn carries an electric motor 156 with a reduction gear 158, which is connected to the drive shaft. An output shaft 160 of the reduction gear 158 runs through a Bore 162 in plate 152 down to a squatting wool 164. The camshaft 164 is rotatable between the Base 150 and the mounting plate 152 by means of bearings 166

supports and supports a cylinder cam 168.

The cylinder cam 168 has two guide curves for actuating a pump for the reagent dispenser and for moving an associated one Pipette between a first position in which this over the container containing a sample or The cuvette lies in the turntable and a second position in which this pipette lies over the associated container and a third position in which the pipette is in the container. In detail, the cylinder cam 168 is im essentially cylindrical and has a first guide cam 170 at its upper end, which with a cam follower 172 at the lower end of a shaft 174 a Piston pump 176 cooperates.

The piston pump 176 can be of any conventional construction the type in which the shaft 174 down through a

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The spring is pretensioned, so that if the "shaft 174 is moved by the curve 170 according to Olsen", material must be pressed out of the system, while if the shaft 174 is moved "downwards" by the preload of the "spring", Material is drawn into the pipette system

For the purpose described above is the top end of the pump 176 in fluid communication with a f lexLblen Hose 17δ, v / eleher can be made of polyvinyl chloride or the like and which is supported by a buffer 180 in an inverted can type construction 182. In the area of the upper end of the can-like Structure 182 is an outwardly projecting arm 184 is provided in a downwardly. Connector 186 ends to which one of the pipette tips 34 is attached is. A line 188 is provided in the arm 184, which by means of a connecting piece 190 provides a fluid connection between the connecting piece 186 and the hose .178 manufactures. In this way, when a pipette connected to arm 188 is in the container and the pump shaft 174 is moved down, reagent in the pipette drawn up while when a pipette connected to the arm 188 is over a cuvette containing a sample in the turntable 24 lies and the pump shaft 174 is moved upwards,

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the reagent in the pipette is emptied into the cuvette.

To ensure that an exact amount of the reagent is exact

is dispensed, an adjustment arrangement is provided to control the available stroke of the pump shaft 174. Since prothrombin attempts are often ml ml carried out using O ₁ I of 0.2 reagent or reagent, means are provided for independent adjustment of the stroke of the pump shaft 174 between two positions for the corresponding amounts. In particular, an L-shaped bracket 192 is attached to the top surface of the mounting plate 152 and includes a clamping slot 194 that receives the pump 176. To secure the pump at a desired height relative to bracket 192, a cap screw 196 is used to close the boundary of slot 194 around the periphery of pump 196 and hold it in place.

On 7 / elle 174 of pump 176 is between the cam follower An adjustable ring 200 is mounted 172 and the lower end 198 of the pump. The ring can be made in any desired Position to be attached to the shaft 174 by means of devices not shown.

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The I-shaped bracket 192 supports in addition to the pump 176 a rotatable shaft 202 in which a volume control knob 33 is received. The lower end of the shaft 202 extends through a corresponding hole in the mounting plate 152 and carries a laterally projecting stop arm 204 The arrangement jsb such that for a rotational position of the Shaft 202 of the arm 204 lies in the path of the ring 200, around the downward movement of the shaft 174 under the influence of the inner spring the Pampe 176 to "limit. This way you can to To ensure delivery of 0.1 ml of reagent, the ring 200 on the shaft 174 should be adjusted so that the on the Shaft 174 applied by the guide cam 170 stroke the corresponding Volume dispenses ο

In the other rotational position of the shaft 202 of the stopper 204 does not affect the movement of the ring 200 downwards, so that the discharge of a larger volume of the reagent, such as those mentioned above are _e 0.2 mL, possible. In order to control the exact volume of such a larger dispensing amount, a second adjustment mechanism is provided. For this purpose, a threaded hole is provided in the plate on one side of the shaft 174, which can receive a cap screw 206. In the area of the lower end of the cap screw 206, a nut 208 is provided which holds a stop disk 210 which

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has such a large diameter that it prevents the downward movement of ring 220, as best from Piß. 5 can be seen. In this way, by appropriately setting the cap screw 206 and thus the position of the stop disk 210 a second larger delivery quantity is precisely controlled. ,

The cylinder cam 168 has a second guide surface in the form a guide cam 220 which a cam follower 222 receives. The cam follower 222 is attached to a lever 224 between the ends thereof. As best shown in Fig. 5 too As can be seen, the left end of the lever 224 is pivotable on an upright yoke 228 by means of a pin 226 attached, which is attached to the base plate 150. The opposite end of the lever 224 terminates in one Yoke 230 with inwardly projecting pins 232 (only one of which is shown) which fit into a groove 234 in FIG a thread reel-like structure 236 are added. The spool-like structure 236 is in turn at the bottom Attached to the end of a shaft 238 which extends upwardly through a bore in the plate 252 and is slidable in a vertical sleeve 240 is received, which is attached to the I'ontagoplatte 152. The top of the Shaft'238 runs through the sleeve 240 and is in one

Mounting bracket 242 added to the can-like Construction 182 is attached. The bracket 242 is attached to the pipette arm 186 and is vertical and in its angular position adjustable on the shaft 238 in order to precisely divide the pipette with respect to the reagent container and the sample cells. As a result, the rotation of the cylinder cam 168 transmits an oscillatory motion to the lever 224 the pivot pin 226, causing a reciprocating motion of the shaft 2j8 in the sleeve 240 is reached to the end a pipette 34 'attached to arm 188, upward and to move down, e.g. in and out of a reagent container.

To move the pipette from a position above the cuvette on a turntable to the position above a To effect the container, a cam system with a sleeve 240 is provided, which is responsive to the reciprocating movement the shaft 238 responds. Like from IPig. 5 and 6, Bt an outwardly projecting pin 244 is attached to the shaft 23q and lies in a substantially vertical position Slot 246 in the sleeve 240. The upper end of the slot 246 terminates in an angular projection 248 which, when the Pin 244 is moved up into the extension 248, the shaft 240 and thus the arm 188 from the position above the

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The container pivots into a position above the cuvette.
Of course, as the pin 240 "moves down" in the slot, the pivoting action is reversed.

In order to ensure the interaction of the reagent dispenser, the reagent container and the stirring system, an outwardly projecting arm 250 is attached to the shaft 238 for rotation therewith The arrangement is such that during the initial downward movement of the pin 244- in the slot 248 when the pipette
from the first position above the cuvette into the
second position above the reagent container moves the
Simultaneous pivoting of the arm 250 "causes the iTockenarm 252 to engage the lever 122 and pivot it into a position in which the magnetic stirrer is kept out of operation and the stirring rod is pulled to the side of the container.

The encoder system is completed by a pair of cams 254 and 256 on the cylindrical periphery of the cylinder cam 168, which can attack the actuators of microswitches 258 and 260, respectively. The microscope holder

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is a part; one -liblicfreh S ^ euerschsliäxiig ftfrc Sen; Mö-tor:. <. {, ■■ 156. i) .h; y "if the Md-ter ·" 156 read through ugly> cSys ^ -em. ange- '■■. ■ .. ": let is'" and · ■ -vtöriau'sges'et'spfc · »''that'the; Kuv.ette i-ii-.d'er. AEE -: .- ,, '"borstation is, the switching Mikfco can he used 258 to the power supply" .erhalten .to the motor to right. naohde ^: m he initially _; Stroi'ii ^: receives en'hat and .umLden Betrieix -: - ,. the Kotörs 156-according to-'beändenf wenn.dieser die.Zy -. relieving cam, "· * has turned a full, Üiädrehung ^ 168 * ^1. .: The micro switch · 260 · - creates an electrical impulse .2Ur ': ·' - ■; Signal completion 'of the pipette circle and starts., The · .-. . Test counter j -if he> works on the -Nooke .256. . . . . -; .. ·.

The heating system is based on the '5 ¹ Ig. , 2, 7 -and: 8-explained, and has, as shown, "an elongated ^ V / ar laele it" block 27-0, which is made of a "material." - ¹ such as aluminum can be shaped * Due to the circular. the type of traction through which the ProTDenkuvetten ^ hewegt, _r is the block 270 "arcuate as seen to-and best of Pig ... 2 in. Pig. 7, it includes a plurality of upwardly opening recesses 272, which are below the disk 42, which the rotary table 24 receives _k 'The Ausnehmungen-. ■ Dind-ß so designed that they, the lower iind of a sample cuvette take up tightly and around a slight correspondence K: ic'horzusstc; llon ·, - oind they run obliquely with the feet

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- 28 upper ends 274 provided.

The block 270 is received in a channel-like housing 276 such that it can be moved up and down. That is, while the turntable 24 is rotating, the block 270 is moved down the channel so that the sample-containing cuvettes can freely pass over the upper surface of the block 270, while when the turntable 24 is motionless, the block 270 moves up so that cuvette would be received in the recesses 272 sur 2r ~: au3 &. To achieve such movement, the center of the block 270 includes a downwardly extending yoke 278 which passes through a sleeve 280 and is connected to the core 282 of a solenoid 284. The arrangement is that when solenoid 284 is actuated, its core 282 is moved downward from the position shown in FIG. 7 to move block 270 downward. To the back division of the block 270 in its raised position, a coil spring 286 is around the core 282 to exert a biasing force upward against the shaft 278. . · ...,.

The block 270 is set in its exact raised position by moving an adjustable stop ring 271 on the shaft extension 290.

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ring 271 has such a large diameter that it has the ■ Passage through the bore of the sleeve 273 on the solenoid 284 is prevented. .Therefore ', if the stop ring 2.71-on the Shaft extension 290 attached by means of a set screw " is, the upward movement of the block 270, in the return by the spring 286 limited by the stop ring 271, if.-this comes into contact with the sleeve 273. When the block 270 is in its exact raised position is set; ,, the recess 272 lies in the test site 322 so that if a sample cuvette is contained therein, that sample cuvette is slightly above the surface of the disk 42 is raised. For this purpose, the recess 272 at the test site 322 is not as deep as the other recesses to lift the cuvette over the turntable 42 only at station 322. ,

Raising the sample cuvette above the face of disk 42 mechanically isolates the cuvette from the disk 42 and prevents it a movement or a mechanical shock which is transmitted through the disk 42 to the sample cuvette and Can cause changes in optical density in the scanning system.

Y / enn the block 270 down and out of the trajectory of the

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Cuvette "is moved, it is desirable that it do so quickly occurs while it "moves in opposite directions Direction for engaging the cuvettes is desirable that this movement takes place much more slowly, so that the upward movement of block 270 does not cause it to hit the underside of those carried in turntable 24 Strikes cuvettes. This purpose is combined by a corresponding link mechanism, as shown schematically at 288, the lower end of a projection 290 of the solenoid core 282 with a one-way damper 292 of conventional design. The shock absorber 292 usually includes a one-way valve, which with a Compression chamber is connected, while the lever mechanism 288 is connected to a piston of the damper, so that at Downward movement of the piston into the chamber gas is not compressed, but can exit freely through the valve from the comb. However, during the upward movement of the piston As a result of the bias by the spring 286, the valve closes and the gas flow into the chamber is through a drain line generally adjustable throttled so that a partial vacuum builds up, which the upward movement speed delayed. The slow speed of the upward movement prevents striking, as mentioned above, and stops accurate alignment of the bottom of each cuvette with the corresponding one Recess 272 safe.

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12372 & 3

To ' ¹ ' heat on 'the samples

are Siiiionkaiitä'c & tkstr ^ ifen ^ elements ^; 29 # am ^ de'r * ΐίη- ''^;' ^Λ underside "of the"' Biacksr 270 ^ Meötigt ^ iid ^ MönMii ifikuri- ^ " ^: - see power" over lines '29 6 supplied,'"of'uenen ^J only -'one is shown, welOiie"' % u ^: the ileiiäeiementen ^: 2B4'dure ^ · 'one ^: "3öiiruhg' 298 run, 'soft''through · a' Mans ehett'ö - · 30Ö" eiektrisoh is'olier't. Foam cushions · 299 are between - * "" see- the heating elements' 294 and the housing '276 ■ inserted V "around the case to insulate thermally and' ^a: zUsätzliiöhe ■ damping to be created en if the Blocü: ■ * 270, the · enclosur e 27 ^ ■ ■ touched. ■. · - ■■■ -. ■■ '"' - ■■"'■■■'' ^; - '■ ■ ■ ·'

A typical temper aircraft element, e.g. a thermister 302 attached to the block 270 * From the block 270 runs a protective tube 304- ^ oh below, which runs through a hole 306 in the housing and which is an electrical "conductor ¹ 308 for the connection of a control unit 'for' the -strip heating elements; 29: 4 um- .- ..

_r shown in FIG. "7 ^. Is. a multitude of recesses ·. , the number of which in .connection with / the. . ■ V ^ er.wellzie.it,

2237261

of individual samples in one of the points of soft it is moved by the turntable 24 "ensures that each sample * is lacking in the desired Erwärmungst emper atüi ^1, before it is transferred to the test station"

The arrangement of the test station as well as the cuvette scanner can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 8. Looking at the cuvette scanner first, we see that there are two Stations 320 and 322 in Pig. 2 reagents can be added to the cuvette. Of course, if none The cuvette is present, the reagent has not been dispensed and in addition each of the stations is provided with a cuvette sensor. Like in Pig. 8, each cell sensor closes a light source 324 which is located in a horizontally extending bore 326 of the housing 276 which is in a ends narrow horizontally directed opening 328, which lies on the channel delimited by the housing 276 * in alignment with the opening 328 but on the opposite side of the Channel is a similar opening 330, which lies in front of a bore 322, which is through a photosensitive element e.g. a photosensitive resistor 334 is terminated * between the recess 330 and the photosensitive element 334 is an orifice 336 included as a wellbundle construction (commercially available from Brunswick Corp.),

3 0 9 B Π 7/1? 0 1

Polygamy towards the end of the hole 232 by a small one Spring ring 338 is held, which is inserted between the photosensitive element 334 and the diaphragm 336.

The bundle of bores 336 is a narrow cylindrical body with a multitude of very narrow through openings in one Direction essentially parallel to the cylinder axis ο For example, a 6 mm (1/4 inch) diameter disc may have more than 5,000 such passages. The purpose of this it is to serve as a diaphragm for the photosensitive element 3.34 in such a way that it changes the light conditions as a result Does not accurately sense changes in incident light. That is, the diaphragm 336 blocks out light rays that are not exactly are parallel so that the rays from any source other than lamp 234 are in passage to the photosensitive element 334 can be prevented. To continue To ensure accurate scanning, the lamp 324 may have a lens 340 integral with its envelope in order to ensure that substantially parallel rays of light

directed at the diaphragm 336 and the photosensitive element 334 will. .

The upper edges of the cuvettes be ground to scatter light from source 324 and its passage into the photosensitive element 334

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prevent. In this way the state of affairs accomplishes a little Incidence of light on the latter indicates the presence of a cuvette on · On the other hand, if there is no cuvette, the light goes through freely and causes a substantial Incidence of light on photosensitive element 334, indicating that no reagent should be dispensed a corresponding lock control circuit of the usual type can be used to display the photosensitive element 334, to prevent actuation of the assigned reagent dispenser.

The test station only exists at point 322 and is also shown in detail in FIG. At point 322 is the housing 276 is provided with a receiving bore 350 for a second light source, which receives an incandescent lamp 332 which, in turn, is the type that has a lens 354 integral with the envelope to provide a source which generated substantially parallel light rays in the beam emanating therefrom. The bore 350 ends in a Opening 356 with a slightly reduced diameter and between the opening 356 and the incandescent lamp 352 is a high frequency filter 358 used. In prothrombin time experiments, the filter 358 can be a hot filter such that it eliminates the passage of wavelengths below 600 nanometers does not allow, so

309807/1201

^Γ ■ ·· - ^ 12 3 7263

that "the result is the. -WirlEüirig-, caused by changes in, u different .blood plasma, · · _Γ; -

■; ■ λ j <.. '.. if.

In flight _; with the opening 356, -jedoch at, _v gegenüiDerIie> ■, gende.n side of the channel-like opening -is a | 60 ·· a 'second as a diaphragm serving, Bohrungsbundel, 362 in front overall, see.. The aperture 362 is "in a bore .364, .which at one end, at 366 _r clogged JST und.einen diffuser in Porm a portion of a light pipe 368 einsehließt". Here, too, the puncture of the bundle of bores is to prevent imprecise scanning of light change conditions as a result of changes in the incident light. A fetosensitive element 370, again preferably a photosensitive resistor, is located in a bore 372 which is transverse to the bore 364, so that the photosensitive element 370 on one side of the light tube 368 is exposed to prevent local changes in the total beam of the light passing through the sample from resulting in an incorrect evaluation of the lump formation. For example, a photosensitive resistor, such as the V / iderestand 370, usually has a light-sensitive surface, which is built up in the form of a latticework. ensitive element 370 lengthened,

9 807 /

results in a much larger change in the electrical output characteristics of the element 370, than if _t this is exposed to a diffuse light beam, if the sampled light corresponds to the mean of the passage through the sample, as is achieved by the light pipe 368th

The control system for the test facility jsfc as a simplified one Block diagram in Pig. 9 as an example of one type of control system that can be used. This uses fundamental Logic techniques that are known in a large number of electronic techniques and are therefore only functionally described is, as it is in the skill of the art, the actual circuit to achieve the specific to create explained punctures.

A common "part-by-six" circuit 390 is given a common one Line signal at 60 Hertz around an output with 10 pulses per second on both a counter 292 and on to create a clock gate 394. In addition, the signal, which e.g. from one of the first pipette jersystem 26 connected microswitch is received, placed on the counter 392 for resetting. That is, the arrangement is such that when the first pipette system 26,

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which, as explained, is a keagent at the test station releases into the sample, the counter 392 is reset will. At this point in time, the effects of the "part-by-six shift" 390 generated pulses that the counter starts counting until the time when it stops, whereupon the received counting result shows the clumping time of the Sample in l / lO seconds. The result from the counter 292 is applied to a shift register 396, which is advanced by pulses transmitted through the counting gate 394 go if this in turn has a decoder drive 398 of the usual construction, which in turn has a printing unit 400 for printing the results on the belt 38 drives.

Even if in I ¹ Ig. 9, the brushes 80 connected to the printed circuit segments 76 can also provide an input to the shift register 396 to display the sample numbers so that the results can be compared to the sample number and printed out.

According to one embodiment, the counter 392 has a "four-decade binary-coded" Decimal counter, which.a result creates up to 999 »9 seconds, even if, as a rule, significantly less maximum capacity is required. The Ver-

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Shift register 398 can contain 32 places ("bits) in total, where the first eight digits are used for the information of the sample number, the next four digits can be used as the distance in the printed result between the sample number and the clumping time while the next 16 digits for t & e clumping time and the the last four digits are used for a print command.

This means that if clumping has occurred, the shift register already contains the information for the clumping time, as well as for the sample number and after clumping, switching on the counting gate results in 394 a shift of the contents of the shift register 396 in the decoder drive, the last four stages of the Give information a print command to the printing unit 400.

The counter gate 394 is put into operation by the output of a comparator. The comparator 402 is supplied with a connection input from a connection gate 404, as well as with a reference signal on a line 306 and a test input signal from a differentiating circuit 409. The differentiating circuit receives its input from an amplifier 410, which in turn is fed by the photosensitive element 370 (Pig. 8) is started. From the

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In the foregoing, the comparator 402 finds an input voltage potential at the rate of change
of the output signal from the photocell 37P wit. the reference ^
signal compares, with the result that if the total change is greater than the reference voltage, the evaluation process / begins o Since the system responds to the rate of change rather than to a change from one level to another
the effects of changes from one plasma to another, as well as possible changes in line voltage, are eliminated and a more uniform result is achieved.

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- 4ο -

The counter 392 also provides an output signal a time decoder 412. This has an output to the connected gate 4o4, so that the latter Turn on the comparator approximately 9 seconds after adding a reagent to a sample at the test station. The purpose of this arrangement is to allow the comparator to respond to changes or changes To prevent turbulence which occurs when the reagent is introduced into the cuvette at the test station will.

In addition, the time decoder provides at least two different time outputs including one 30 second output on an automatic display control circuit 414. This also receives an input signal from the comparator 4o2, and the arrangement is such that the display circuit 414 provides a display of the Turntable every 30 seconds or whenever a lump is detected, whichever is longer take. For this purpose, the display circuit connects an output to a rotary device drive circuit to switch on the operation, whereupon it is controlled by the microswitches described above and to a block drive system 418 for controlling the

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position of the heating block in relation to the movement

path of the cuvettes. In addition, the index circuit 414 provides signals to the pipette systems 26 and 28 to identify them to turn on to dispense reagent to a cuvette when the turntable has stopped moving. Sin such delivery comes o from the display circuit 414 can be overwritten if an assigned cuvette scanning circle 42o does not indicate the presence of a cuvette in the manner described above.

Finally the system is through a container heater 422 for the encoder system 26 and a block heater 424 for the heating block, as mentioned above in general, completed. From the above it can be seen that a test device constructed in accordance with the invention creates complete automation for certain types of medical tests and the requirement of trained personnel decreased for performing these tests. In addition, the system enables precise test results in conjunction Hit improved repeatability of results.

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Claims (7)

1442 claims: 1. Test device in which a number of samples in containers are sent one after the other along a path to a test station are advanced, characterized in combination by a device for forming a conveyor for carrying a number of sample-containing containers along the track, an arrangement on the track which includes a Test station forms a device for moving the conveyor in such a way as to successively each To move the sample containing container to the test station, a heating device for heating the Samples in the containers in front of the test station, the heating device having a thermally conductive block Includes recesses for receiving at least a portion of a sample containing container, a Means for heating the block in such a way that the heat from the block to the sample in the in the recess Received container is transferred in order to heat it, the block can be moved in and out of the path supporting device and one operatively connected to the operating device for the conveyor Means to remove the block during the movement of the sample-containing container through the conveyor 309807/1201 to move the train and to get the block into the train move when the conveyor is stopped so that a container is received in the recess and the sample is heated in it '. -. · .... 2. Test device according to claim T, characterized in that that the block contains a plurality of recesses, the conveyor including a turntable and the block has a plurality of recesses and wherein the block is further formed in an arc shape Aluminum is formed and the means for moving the block also include a solenoid, whose core is attached to the block in order to move it out of the way and a spring arrangement secures the block biased in the direction of the web and being finally the system having a temperature control in the block and with it having this movable. 3. Test device according to claim 1, characterized in that the block is elongated and has a number of recesses includes, the device around the block in and To move off the track has a solenoid, the core of which is operatively attached to the block .. 309807/1? Η-1 4. Test device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the moving means includes a reversible ba-k-amotor connected to the block and also Has means to limit the speed of movement of the block au, the operationally the Block or the motor for decelerating the speed of movement of the block in the path are assigned. 5. Test device according to claim 4, characterized in that that the device for limiting the speed of movement of the block has a one-way damper, which is operable to free movement of the block off the track during operation of the motor and restricts the speed of movement of the block in the path to prevent the block strikes against a container containing samples. 6. Test device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the block has a plurality of recesses for the sample-containing containers and devices are provided to the container off at the tea station the conveyor to lift the container under test mechanical, to isolate. 7. Test device in which a large number of samples in 309807/1? 0 1 Containers are advanced in succession along a path to a test station, characterized ia combination by a conveyor uia a number of sample behaltern along the path to wear, an arrangement of a ^ eststatioii to the web with an elongated channel that partially ¹⁵ SUe web surrounds and having at one end means for scanning a predetermined state of a sample in a container, drive means for actuating the conveyor step by step so that each sample container is moved to the scanning device one after the other, heating means for heating the samples in the containers before Sampling device, wherein the heating device includes a thermally conductive block in the channel and has at least one recess for receiving at least a portion of a sample container, a heating device for the block, so that γ / poor is transferred from the block into the sample, which is in the in the Recess open taken container lies to heat it, means which carries the block in the channel movably in and out of the track and means responsive to the conveyor to quickly move the block off the track before the movement of the conveyor begins and to move the block slowly into the track after the conveyor has stopped moving so that a container is picked up in the recess 309807/1201 - 4b - and the sample is heated in it without hitting the container. left Test device according to claim 7, characterized in that the block has a number of recesses, and the means for moving the block out of the path is a solenoid fixed with its core to the block and the means for slowly moving the block into the path , a spring operatively connected to the block and a damper connected to the block or solenoid, respectively. ca-iW'p ^. ^ '. vii ^ -jj 9 0 0 7/120