GB1582117A

GB1582117A - Apparatus for automatically analysing one or more component in a liquid

Info

Publication number: GB1582117A
Application number: GB1831978A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SCLAVO INST SIEROTERAPEUT
Current assignee: SCLAVO INST SIEROTERAPEUT
Priority date: 1977-05-09
Filing date: 1978-05-08
Publication date: 1980-12-31
Also published as: IT1115472B; FR2390720A1; JPS53139596A; DE2820216A1

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ANALYSING ONE OR MORE COM PONENT IN A LIQUID (71) We, ISTITUTO SIEROTERAPICO E VACCINOGENO TOSCANO SCLAVO S.p.A., an Italian company, of Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment:- This invention relates to an apparatus suitable for use in automatic quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of a component in a liquid. More particularly, but not exclusively, the apparatus of the present invention may be used in the detection of the presence and/or in the measurement of a substance present in an organic liquid.

Recently, apparatuses for effecting automatic analysis have been used increasingly more successfully, particularly in the biological/medical field (especially for performing chemical and clinical analyses), in the field of environmental analyses (for example the analysis of water and for checking atmospheric pollution), and in the field of analysing foodstufEs. The justification for the automatic analysing apparatus is the saving in labour, the diminished likelihood of error, the greater reliability in the results, and the possibility of having considerable data available within a short period.

It is desirable and in some cases necessary that the apparatus should be reliable, straightforward from the constructional point of view, inexpensive and easy to maintain, capable of operating without supervision, and free from interference between various reactions.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus suitable for use in automatic quantitative analysis of a component in a liquid, the apparatus comprising: means for introducing samples of the liquid which contains the component to be analysed, into chambers of a container having the form of a rectangular parallelepiped being formed of a transparent material and being provided with a plurality of chambers in side-by-side relationship; means for causing agitation of the contents of the chambers of the container; means for holding the container for a pre determined, variable time; and means for detecting and/or recording the presence and/or quantity of the component in each sample.

The apparatus according to the present invention may also be provided with a system for diluting the samples, and/or also with a vessel for containing a specific reagent for the component to be analysed; the means for holding the container for a predetermined, variable time may include a timing system which operates in conjunction with a holding station. The vessel for the specific reagents can be linked with a system for introducing those reagents into the chambers. The means for causing agitation of the contents of the chambers of the container may be, for example, a stirring unit.

Our copending British Patent Application No. 16605/78 describes and claims a container suitable for use in qualitative and/or quantitative analysis, the container comprising a housing having the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, being formed of a transparent material and being provided with a plurality of chambers in side-by-side relationship.

When such a container is present in an apparatus according to the present invention, the chambers may each have the form of a generally rectangular parallelepiped, and the chambers may have a square or oblong cross-section. Those regions defining side walls of the chambers may be perpendicular to that region of the housing defining the top of the housing. Also the chambers may open onto the top face of the housing via openings which are frusto-pyramidal in shape. Hollow zones may be provided in the housing between a region defining a side wall of the chamber and a region defining a side wall of an adjacent chamber. Further, hollow zones may be provided in the housing in regions parallel to external side walls of the housing.The transparent material may be selected from ureic resins, polystyrene styrene copolymers, methacrylic resins, nitrates of cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate esters and ethers of cellulose polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonates, polyvinyl butyrates, polyethylene, polyvinylcarbazol and glass. Conveniently the chambers are arranged in a single row and the chambers may contain one or more reagents which are specific for a component being analysed.

The container can be regarded as a "cage strip" in so far as it is a strip provided with a series of cages for the samples.

In practice, when using the apparatus of the present invention, the following steps may be, but are not necessarily, employed: (a) taking samples of the liquid to be analysed, (b) diluting the samples, (c) mixing known quantities of the samples with the specific reagent, in respective chambers, (d) successively surveying the contents of each chamber and (e) ascertaining from the survey the presence or absence, or quantity, of relevant component in the liquid, possibly recording the resulting data in a convenient medium, such as a print-out.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing which illustrates schematically one embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention.

In the drawing there is shown a sampling dish 1 provided with a plurality of compartments from which samples may be withdrawn by a pump 2B and fed to a mixing vessel 4. Also shown is a vessel 3 for containing a diluent which may be pumped by a pump 2C to the mixing vessel 4.

Also present is a unit 5 for storing and distributing containers of the type described hereinabove. One of the containers 6, is shown below the unit 5, and a further container 7, released before container 6, is shown at a filling and agitation station 8 where each chamber of the container 7 is successively filled with mixture from the vessel 4 by means of a pump 2A, after which the container 7 is agitated. Adjacent the filling and agitation station 8 is a standing area 9 where the partially filled containers stand for a predetermined period.

Also present is a vessel 10 containing a reagent specific for the component to be analysed. Recently removed from the standing station 9 is a further container 11 which is at a further filling and agitation station 28 where each chamber successively has added to it reagent from the vessel 10 via the pump 22A. After each chamber has been completely filled, the container 11 is agitated at the station 28 after which the container is moved to a further standing station 12.

After a predetermined time the containers are removed from the standing station 12 and one such container is shown at 15, where each of the seven compartments are labelled A to G respectively. The container is moved past a light source 13 and screen 14 and, as shown in the drawing, light from the source 13 is passing through chamber E and being received in a receiver 16 from which a signal is sent to a processor 17 linked to a printing unit 19. The chambers A, B, C and D have already been subjected to the light beam, and the chambers F and G are yet to be subjected to that beam.

Once each chamber of the container 15 has been subjected to the beam, the container is passed to a discharge station 18.

The printing unit can be arranged so that each sample is identified by its own zip code and against this is printed the relevant technical data concerning the contents of each sample.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawing can be supplemented with ancillary equipment to ensure that the apparatus functions correctly. Thus, for example, the following may be provided: (a) means for ensuring that there is sufficient sample present; in the absence of sufficient sample, corresponding information may be sent to the processor 17 and a corresponding symbol may be printed by the printing unit 19 against that sample, (b) means for indicating when the last sample has been reached, regardlGs of whether or not the sampling dish is empty, with a luminous or acoustic signal or a printed symbol indicating this state of affairs; ; (c) means for indicating whether there are sufficient cage strips and reagents, with provision for a signal when the quantity of cage strips or reagents falls to a predetermined value, and (d) means for indicating when there is insufficient data in the printer, with provision for a sound or light signal or a printed signal, as the case may be.

By way of example only, there will now be described the operation of the apparatus illustrated in the drawing for use in the determination of anti-streptolysin antibodies by the method disclosed in our British Patent Application No. 51063/76 Patent No.

1,531,530. In this case, in the compartments of the sampling dish 1 there were placed blood samples to be analysed. Preselected amounts of blood sample were withdrawn from the dish 1, and the samples were diluted with a specially provided diluent stored in vessel 3, after which the diluted blood was distributed amongst the chambers of the container 7 which was automatically positioned in the correct station 8. In each of the chambers of the containers stored and distributed by the unit 5 were previously placed a known quantity of oxidised O- streptolysin. The container at the station 8 is agitated automatically and then passed to the standing station 9 where it remained for from 15 to 25 minutes.After this period the container was withdrawn from the standing station 9 and passed to the second mixing and agitation station 28 where a preselected quantity of reducing solution was fed to each chamber from the vessel 10 via the pump 22A. After this, the container 11 was passed to the standing station 12 where is stood for 60 minutes, before it was sent to the photometric station 13, 14, 16. Here an appropriate calculation system converted the optical density of the haemolyzed solution contained in the first chamber into a number which corresponded to the properly defined IU of the antibodies contained in the analysed sample.Clearly, by changing the dilution ratio of the blood tested and by maintaining constant the volume of the diluted blood added to each chamber, several fields of titration of anti-streptolysinic IU could be assayed.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. An apparatus suitable for use in automatic quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of a component in a liquid, the apparatus comprising: means for introducing samples of a liquid which contains the component to be analysed, into chambers of a container comprising a housing having the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, being formed of a transparent material and being provided with a plurality of chambers in side-by-side relationship; means for causing agitation of the contents of the chambers of the container; means for holding the container for a predetermined, variable time; and means for detecting and/or recording the presence and/or quantity of the component in each sample.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, which includes means for adding a reagent to each chamber of the container.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each chamber already contains a reagent before the introduction into the chamber of the sample.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which also includes means for diluting the sample prior to its introduction into the chamber.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, which also includes a unit for storing and dispensing containers.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the means for holding the container for a predetermined variable time including a timing system which operates in conjunction with a holding station.

7 An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each container has chambers each in the form of a generally rectangular parallelepiped and each with a square or oblong cross-section.

8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein, in respect of the or each container, those regions defining side walls of the chambers are perpendicular to that region of the housing defining the top of the housing.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein, in respect of the or each container, the chambers open onto the top face of the housing via openings which are frusto-pyramidal in shape.

10. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein in respect of the or each container, hollow zones are provided in the housing between a region defining a side wall of a chamber and a region defining a side wall of an adjacent chamber.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein, in respect of the or each container, hollow zones are provided in the housing in regions parallel to external side walls of the housing.

12. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, where, in respect of the or each container, the transparent material is selected from ureic resins, polystyrene, styrene copolymers, methacrylic resins, nitrates of cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, esters and ethers of cellulose polyvinyl chloride, polyvarbonates, polyvinyl butyrates, polyethylene, polyvinylcarbazol and glass.

13. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. stored in vessel 3, after which the diluted blood was distributed amongst the chambers of the container 7 which was automatically positioned in the correct station 8. In each of the chambers of the containers stored and distributed by the unit 5 were previously placed a known quantity of oxidised O- streptolysin. The container at the station 8 is agitated automatically and then passed to the standing station 9 where it remained for from 15 to 25 minutes. After this period the container was withdrawn from the standing station 9 and passed to the second mixing and agitation station 28 where a preselected quantity of reducing solution was fed to each chamber from the vessel 10 via the pump 22A.After this, the container 11 was passed to the standing station 12 where is stood for 60 minutes, before it was sent to the photometric station 13, 14, 16. Here an appropriate calculation system converted the optical density of the haemolyzed solution contained in the first chamber into a number which corresponded to the properly defined IU of the antibodies contained in the analysed sample. Clearly, by changing the dilution ratio of the blood tested and by maintaining constant the volume of the diluted blood added to each chamber, several fields of titration of anti-streptolysinic IU could be assayed. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. An apparatus suitable for use in automatic quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of a component in a liquid, the apparatus comprising: means for introducing samples of a liquid which contains the component to be analysed, into chambers of a container comprising a housing having the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, being formed of a transparent material and being provided with a plurality of chambers in side-by-side relationship; means for causing agitation of the contents of the chambers of the container; means for holding the container for a predetermined, variable time; and means for detecting and/or recording the presence and/or quantity of the component in each sample.