US3700089A

US3700089A - Analyzer apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3700089A
Application number: US145152A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ingomar Halbartschlager; Alfred Heim
Original assignee: F Hoffmann La Roche AG
Current assignee: F Hoffmann La Roche AG; Hoffmann La Roche Inc
Priority date: 1970-06-01
Filing date: 1971-05-20
Publication date: 1972-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-24
Also published as: BE767802A; FR2093958A7; FR2093958B3; NL7105786A; DE2125966A1; CH524524A

Abstract

An analytical apparatus for use in transporting in an automatic analyzer, a plurality of individual analytical samples having several transport bands each band including one or more receptacles for containing samples alternating with one or more apertures, the bands being offset with respect to one another to display at a position on one band a receptacle where all other bands have apertures thereby enabling the bands to be married to each other to form a continuous series of receptacles for passage by a sample transfer station and further enabling the bands to be individually passed through separate analyzing stations.

Description

United States Patent Halbartschlager et al.

54] ANALYZER APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Ingomar Halbartschlager, Basel; Alfred Heim, Mohlin, both of Switzerland [73] Assignee: Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., Nutley,

[22] Filed: May 20,1971 30 E si fl499 mm?yfiQFiiXPi'i.M,

June 1, 1970 Switzerland ..8161/ 21 Appl.No.: 145,152

[52] US. Cl. ..198/1, 206/56 AB [51] Int. Cl. ..B65g B65d 83/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..198/13l,29, l;53/1l;

206/56 A, 56 AB, 65 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,465,874 9/1969 Hugle ..198/131 Oct. 24, 1972 Leon and Jacob Frank [57] ABSTRACT An analytical apparatus for use in transporting in an automatic analyzer, a plurality of individual analytical samples having several transport bands each band including one or more receptacles for containing samples alternating with one or more apertures, the bands being offset with respect to one another to display at a position on one band a receptacle vwhere all other bands have apertures thereby enabling the bands to be married to each other to form a continuous series of receptacles for passage by a sample transfer station and further enabling the bands to be individually passed through separate analyzing stations.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATE NTEflnm 24 I972 I 3.700 089 sum 1 are 'PATENTEnum 24 I912 3. 700 0853 saw 2 0F 3 nnnunnnnulnnnnunnu uunnunnunuuuunnunr.

nthFILM I 2ndFILM I nth FILM I 1 I uunununuuuuunnnnuunuunuu uunnuciunnununnnuuuuuuuun FIG; 3

"iununnnunnnnuuuunnnnuununnuunuu "unuununuununnunun [QEJJE JEIU'EJUU- DDUDDDODDDUDDDUDDDDDDUDDUDDDDD DUDDDDDDDDODDDDDD DOCIDDOODDUDDDDDODDDDDDDDDDDDDDOD DUUDCIJDIIDDD DDDDDO .UODCIDDUDUDDDDDDDUDDDUDDDUDODUUUO DODDUCIIDODDUDCIDDD I DOODODDUDDUDDDDHJ DODDDDOODDGD IDODDUDDDDDDDD DUDDUDD nnouuunnnuuuuuuununnnunuuuunu mnuuuununuuunnunnuun FIG, 4

PATENTEIJom 24 I972 v I sum 3 or 3 r-- I ISY F mcus CHAMBER i k REAGENT MIXING STATION 45 SAMPLE PUMPS PUMPS T "l I/ DRIVE 49 I MOTOR I I I 4 FIG. 5 J r r v mcua g--- CHAMBER L j ANALYZER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with the automatic analyses of specimens and more particularly to a technique for transporting individual receptacles or containers in automatic analyzer for individual analyses.

In connection with apparatus for automatically carrying out a series of analyses, it is known to conduct the specimens or samples to be analyzed through the various analysis stations (reagent addition, incubation, measurement) with a continuously working conveying device.

Such systems normally entail a strict order of succession of the individual samples, which, of course, dictates a loss in theflexibility of a system. This disadvantage essentially arises from the fact that for one passage of a series of samples only a single incubation time and temperature or a single specific sequence of incubation times and temperatures (in the case of several incubation chambers arranged in series) can be chosen. A separate sample passage has to be provided for each analysis requiring another incubation time or temperature. For example, in a case in which perhaps analyses are carried out for each sample, for the first incubation chamber alone there may amount to five different time-temperature combinations which correspondingly make five passages necessary. Disadvantages flowing from such circumstances are obvious: between every two passages, the incubation chambers have to operate empty and their temperature has to be readjusted, and; the new incubation time has to be monitored. The latter, of course, involves an increased expenditure of time, and consequently uneconomic idling times of other equipment. This also means that storage of samples for the different passages must be provided preceding the measurement operation and storage of results must be provided subsequently. The final results for a sample can thus only be issued after completion of the last passage. Such type storage installations must fulfill high requirements with respect to access time, which is very expensive, particularly in the case of storage for samples.

A further disadvantage of this system consists in that the result of urgent individual analyses (which can be interpolated between two passages) is only available after prolonged waiting time, however, it is often desired (e.g. in emergencies) to obtain such results rapidly.

SUMMARY The object of the present invention is to provide a conveying means which overcomes the disadvantages of the aforedescribed known conveying means. This is achieved by a conveying means which comprises several synchronously running transport bands, parallel at least in places, in that on each of these transport bands one or more receptacles alternate with one or more apertures, in that in each instance at a position at which one transport band displays a receptable all other transport bands have apertures, and in that the transport bands either can be conducted flatly on top of or behind each other, the receptacles of all transport hands together forming a continuous series, or can be conducted separately at a distance from each other, for

example through different analyzing stations. The transport bands on which one or more receptacles alternate with one or more window-shaped apertures are therefore a particular feature of the invention.

A further object consists of undertaking several incubations by repeated passage of a transport hand through an incubation chamber and undertaking measurements at any given time between the individual incubations.

Further objects of the invention become evident from the description hereinafter, undertaken with reference to the attached drawing, of 'a conveying means for analytical samples as a working example of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF Tl-IEDRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a conveying means in accordance with the invention, composed of three transport bands, for the transport of samples through an automatic analyzer.

FIGS. 2-4 represent various combination possibilities of transport and receptacle and aperture arrangements.

FIGS. 5, 6 is schematic flow diagram of an analysis run using the conveying means in accordance with the invention.

The conveying means shown in FIG. 1 consists of three

transport bands

11, 21, 31 which are combined to run together at point 10, are conducted closely beside each other between the

points

10 and 20 and are separated at point 20.

Each transport band displays receptacles or containers arranged at regular intervals. The receptacles of the first transport band 11 which can be seen in FIG. 1 are denoted by 12, 13, 14, those of the second transportband 21 by 22, 23, 24 and those of third transport band 31 by 32, 33, 34. Between each two receptacles or containers of a transport band there are empty spaces the number of which is generally dependent on the desired number of transport bands to be implemented and, in the present case amounts to two. For example, the empty spaces Hand 16 accordingly lie between the

receptacles

12 and 13 of the transport band 11. Such an empty space (e.g. '15) essentially has the form of an aperture or of a window in the transport band. It is so dimensioned and disposed that when the transport bands are brought together or married at point 10, a receptacle of a transport band lying behind can readily fit in. Thus, for example, the receptacle 22 of transport band 21 fits into the aperture 15 and the receptacle 32 of transport band 31 similarly fits into the aperture 26 of the second band 21 and the aperture 16 of the first band 11, and so on.

After being temporarily combined or married at point 10, the receptacles project through the apertures on the front side of the group of combined bands between the

points

10 and 20 to take on the appearance and operational characteristics of a single transport band with a continuous series of receptacles. At point 20 the bands are separated into individual transport bands which can then perhaps be subjected to different procedures.

The construction of the individual bands by way of the examples of the transport band 11, may be comprised of two strip-

shaped layers

17, 18 each consisting of a transparent, flexible and heat-weldable foil of synthetic material. Before being mated, bulges are pressed in one of the two foil strips (e.g. 18) at fixed intervals determined by the receptacle disposition already described, while the second strip 17 is used in the unaltered flat state. These two strips are so welded with each other than the bulges form sealed pocket-shape receptacles. In a further step, windows with suitable dimensions are stamped at intervals which are likewise determined by the hereinbefore described manner of formation of groups of bands. At the same time, there can be stamped in the transport band perforations 19, which, however, can also already be present in the starting material. According to a slightly modified method of production, continuous series of receptacles can be formed in the transport bands which can then be stamped out as occasion demands.

The combination of three transport bands 11, 21 31, with receptacles at regular intervals, is particularly suitable for the simultaneous carrying out of three separate series of analyses with different incubation times and/or temperatures, as is evident from the description of the course of a series of analyses with reference to FIG. 5. However, there are cases in which considerably more than three analyses per sample are carried out, in which more than three different incubation times and temperatures also have. to be provided for. However, the conveying means in accordance with the invention is very readily adaptable to such conditions, as is shown with reference to FIGS. 2-4.

In a first case, it is assumed that n analyses,'all of which require different incubation conditions, are carried out with one sample. The group of bands must therefore have n individual transport bands, each of which provides a receptacle for an amount of each sample. There results an arrangement in which, as is evident from FIG. 2, in the first transport band in each case a sample receptacle 41 alternates with n-l empty spaces 42, in the second transport band, displaced by one space, a sample receptacle 43 alternates with n-l empty spaces 44, and so on. In a second example, shown in FIG. 3, 2 n analyses are to be carried out with each sample, whereby pairs of which require the same incubation conditions. Accordingly each of n transport bands has two chambers for each sample, alternating with 2(n-l apertures.

A further example, which reproduces a frequently occurring case, is shown in FIG. 4. Here it is assumed that the individual incubation conditions are in each case suitable for a different number of analyses, and therefore individual transport bands must provide a different number of successively disposed receptacles for each sample. Accordingly all desired or necessary combinations are possible. The combinations can be readily adapted to the immediate requirements by a suitable control of the stamping apparatus and/or of the apparatus for producing the receptacles which can, for example, be programmed.

The passage of a group of a transport bands through the various stations of a conventional automatic analyzer is shown in FIG. 5. The individual transport bands are produced at the input of the system or are unwound from storage reels and driven by a suitable drive motor so to be brought together at a point'45 so that the chambers form a continuous series (corresponds to point 10 in FIG. 1). The transport band group thus formed, passes through a series of filling stations in which predetermined amounts of samples and reagents are filled into the receptacles. The receptacles subsequently pass a mixing station in which the samples are mixed with the reagents, for example by application of acoustic vibrations. The mixing station is the last station which is passed through by all transport bands together. Before the subsequent incubation, the trans port bands are separated at point 49 and individually conducted to the incubation chambers 51, in which case the incubation times and/or temperatures can be different. After the incubation, the reactions effected have to be measured. For this purpose, depending on the requirements of the measurement either all or a part of the transport bands can again be brought together and conducted through a measuring apparatus or each band can be individually assigned to a separate measuring apparatus. After the measurement, the bands are usually immediately destroyed.

In the case of kinetic or enzymatic measurements, the samples are repeatedly incubated, usually under the same conditions, and the reaction is measured between the individual incubations. As is evident from FIG. 6, the transport bands in accordance with the invention are suitable for such enzymatic measurements. A transport band 54, which contains the samples and reagents intended for the enzymatic measurements, passes during the time t, through the incubation chamber 55 which is specially constructed for several incubation passages. After the first incubation for t, a first measurement is effected in the measuring apparatus 56 (e.g. a photometer). The band is subsequently directed back into the incubation chamber and passes through this for a second incubation during the time t After a further, second measurement, a third and possibly further incubation passages are effected. Since the transport band displays receptacles and apertures alternately, the individual loops of the band resulting from the repeated passages can run together at the point 57 before the measuring apparatus 56 in the same way as the individual transport bands forming the conveying means in accordance with the invention (corresponding to the procedure at point 10 of FIG. 1) and thus be measured in a measuring apparatus.

The operation can be further clarified with reference to FIG. 1. Between the

points

10 and 20, by means of a suitable filling device three predetermined amounts of each sample can in each case be filled into three receptacles arriving successively at the filling device, that is in time order a sample A into the

receptacles

14, 24, 34, a sample B into

receptacles

13, 23, 33, a sample C into

receptacles

12, 22, 32 and so on. The reagents are subsequently added with similar devices, that is a first reagent successively into

receptacles

14, 13, 12 a second reagent into

receptacles

24, 23, 22 and so on.

We claim:

1. An analytical apparatus for transporting in an automatic analyzer, a plurality of analytical samples where each sample is adapted to be contained in a spatially separated individual receptacle comprising,

at least a pair of transport bands, each bandincluding one or more of such receptacles alternating with one or more apertures each having an opening configuration adapted for receiving a receptacle, and

said bands when offset with respect to one another, displaying on one band a receptacle at a position where all other bands have apertures enabling said bands to be married on top of or behind each other whereby the receptacles of bands lying behind project through the apertures of the bands lying ahead to form a continuous series of receptacles for sample receiving purposes.

2. An analytical apparatus according to claim 1, where each transport band is comprised of substantially flat foil strips provided with pocket-shaped receptacles.

3. An analytical apparatus according to claim 2 where each transport band comprises two strip-shaped foils of synthetic material joined flatly with each other, between which pocket-shaped receptacles are formed by the bulging of one foil strip.

4. An analytical apparatus in accordance with claim 1, where one or more receptacles alternate with one or more apertures the dimensions of which apertures are equal to or greater than the corresponding external dimensions of the receptacles.

5. In a system for automatically analyzing a plurality of analytical samples each adapted to be spatially separated and contained in individual receptacles, comprising:

at least a pair of separate transport bands;

each of said bands including one or more of such receptacles alternating with one or more apertures having an opening configuration adapted for receiving a receptacle;

said bands when offset with respect to one another, displaying on one band a receptacle at a position where all other bands have apertures, enabling said bands to be married to each other whereby the receptacles of bands lying behind project through the apertures of the bands lying ahead to form a continuous series of receptacles; and,

conveying means adapted for driving said bands in synchronism in such married relationship past a sample transfer station.

6. In a system according to claim 5 whereby said conveying means also includes means for individually driving said bands by separate sample analyzing stations.

7. In a system according to claim 1 where each transport band is comprised of substantially flat foil strips provided with pocket-shaped receptacles.

8. In a system according to claim 5, where each transport band comprises two strip-shaped foils of synthetic material welded flatly with each other, between which receptacles are formed by the bulging of one foil strip.

9. In a system according to claim 5 where one or more receptacles alternate with one or more apertures the dimensions of which apertures are equal to or greater than the corresponding external dimensions of the receptacles.

Claims

1. An analytical apparatus for transporting in an automatic analyzer, a plurality of analytical samples where each sample is adapted to be contained in a spatially separated individual receptacle comprising, at least a pair of transport bands, each band including one or more of such receptacles alternating with one or more apertures each having an opening configuration adapted for receiving a receptacle, and said bands when offset with respect to one another, displaying on one band a receptacle at a position where all other bands have apertures enabling said bands to be married on top of or behind each other whereby the receptacles of bands lying behind project through the apertures of the bands lying ahead to form a continuous series of receptacles for sample receiving purposes.

5. In a system for automatically analyzing a plurality of analytical samples each adapted to be spatially separated and contained in individual receptacles, comprising: at least a pair of separate transport bands; each of said bands including one or more of such receptacles alternating with one or more apertures having an opening configuration adapted for receiving a receptacle; said bands when offset with respect to one another, displaying on one band a receptacle at a position where all other bands have apertures, enabling said bands to be married to each other whereby the receptacles of bands lying behinD project through the apertures of the bands lying ahead to form a continuous series of receptacles; and, conveying means adapted for driving said bands in synchronism in such married relationship past a sample transfer station.