WO1993002348A1 - Systeme de manipulation de reactifs pour appareil d'analyse clinique automatisee - Google Patents

Systeme de manipulation de reactifs pour appareil d'analyse clinique automatisee Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1993002348A1
WO1993002348A1 PCT/US1992/006024 US9206024W WO9302348A1 WO 1993002348 A1 WO1993002348 A1 WO 1993002348A1 US 9206024 W US9206024 W US 9206024W WO 9302348 A1 WO9302348 A1 WO 9302348A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
reagent
carousel
pack
support
analyzer
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1992/006024
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Edwin M. Marker, Jr.
Raul O. Lasso
Laura A. Allen
Original Assignee
Abbott Laboratories
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Abbott Laboratories filed Critical Abbott Laboratories
Priority to JP5503000A priority Critical patent/JPH06509175A/ja
Publication of WO1993002348A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993002348A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/10—Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices
    • G01N35/1002—Reagent dispensers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
    • G01N35/025—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
    • G01N35/04—Details of the conveyor system
    • G01N2035/0439—Rotary sample carriers, i.e. carousels
    • G01N2035/0443—Rotary sample carriers, i.e. carousels for reagents

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a reagent handling system for automated clinical analyzer apparatus; and, more particularly, to a reagent handling system including a random access carousel for carrying a plurality of reagent packs in an automated clinical analyzer apparatus and a reagent pack therefor.
  • samples of body fluids such as serum, plasma, urine and the like are assayed for the presence of analytes such as drugs, viruses or bacteria by reacting the samples according to a specific test protocol with specific reagents which are selected to identify a particular analyte.
  • the protocol specifies the sequence in which sample and reagents are to be introduced, the timing for the introduction of sample and reagents, the volumes of each to be used, and other conditions to be controlled.
  • the resulting reaction mixture is typically allowed to incubate for a predetermined time and is then read, optically or otherwise, to determine the presence and concentration of the specific analyte which the as_.ay is designed to identify.
  • procedures and apparatus for preparing and reading immunoassays are well-known and are not described in detail herein.
  • the diagnostic testing of biological fluids is carried out in automated clinical analyzer apparatus which are capable of performing immunoassays on a plurality of samples simultaneously.
  • a batch of sample containers is 2 supported around the circumference of a rotatable carousel together with a corresponding number of reaction containers.
  • the carousel is then mounted' inside the analyzer, and is rotated stepwise to move each sample container and reaction container pair first to a position adjacent a preparation station, and then to a second position adjacent a reading station.
  • Mechanical apparatus having pipette means and typically operating under program control is located in proximity to the preparation station as are a plurality of reagent containers which contain the reagents required to perform a specific immunoassay on the batch of samples contained in the sample containers.
  • the reagent containers may be individual containers or may be configured as a unitary reagent pack containing vials of the required reagents.
  • the reagent containers contain sufficient amounts of each reagent to test a number of samples
  • the mechanical apparatus and pipette means operate to access and transfer volumes of samples from the sample container and reagents from the reagent containers into a reaction container according to the protocol established for the specific assay; and when the mechanical apparatus completes the preparation of the reaction mixture according to the test protocol, the carousel rotates to position the next sample container and reaction container pair adjacent the preparation station and to move the previous pair toward the reading station.
  • One limitation of many known analyzers is that they are capable of performing only one assay at a time on each batch of samples on the carousel. In order to perform different assays, it is necessary to physically remove the reagent containers from the analyzer and replace them with different reagent containers for the next assay to be run. This procedure decreases analyzer throughput, increases the cost associated with performing the assays and increases the chance of error in conducting the assays.
  • the present invention provides a reagent handling system for automated clinical analyzer apparatus which overcomes the limitations and drawbacks associated with the prior art.
  • the reagent handling system includes a plurality of reagent containment means, each carrying one or more reagents for performing a particular assay on a sample in the apparatus; and a support means for supporting one or a plurality of the reagent containment means in the analyzer, the support means having a plurality of support positions for supporting the reagent containment means, wherein each of the plurality of reagent containment means includes identification means thereon for permitting automatic identification of each reagent containment means, whereby any selected one of the plurality of reagent containment means may be randomly positioned at any one of the support positions on the support means and be automatically identified by the identification means to enable the particular assay to be automatically performed on the sample with the one or more reagents in the selected reagent containment means.
  • reagent handling system of the present invention an operator can randomly position each of the reagent containment means needed to perform a desired series of tests at any of the support positions on the support means quickly and easily without concern of inaccurate positioning.
  • the apparatus will automatically identify the position of each reagent containment means on the support means by the identification means thereon to ensure that the desired assays are properly carried out.
  • the set-up time for performing a series of assays is thus significantly reduced and apparatus throughput is significantly increased.
  • the support means comprises a carousel having a plurality of support areas around its circumference for supporting the reagent containment means and which is adapted to be mounted in the analyzer in proximity to a means for automatically reading the identification means.
  • the carousel includes means for rotating the carousel in a stepwise fashion to permit the identification means on each reagent containment means to be read by the reading means prior to running a series of assays to identify the position of each reagent containment means on the carousel.
  • the identification means preferably comprises bar code means or other known machine-readable indicia.
  • the reagent containment means preferably comprises a reagent pack consisting of a housing supporting a plurality of reagent-containing vials, and the identification means is preferably applied to a surface of the housing.
  • the reagent containment means and the carousel of the present invention preferably also include interlocking means for releasably mounting the reagent containment means at any support area on the carousel, and for permitting the reagent containment means to be quickly and easily mounted on or removed from the carousel as required.
  • the carousel can carry any ' desired number of reagent containment means from one to, for example, eight or more as required for a particular run.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates interior portions of an automated clinical analyzer apparatus incorporating a reagent handling system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are top, side and bottom views, respectively, of the random access carousel of the system of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the overall appearance of a reagent pack of the system.
  • Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are top, inner side and lateral side views, respectively, of the reagent pack housing to illustrate specific details thereof.
  • Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the interior of an automated clinical analyzer apparatus incorporating the reagent handling system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Only that structure of the analyzer needed to provide a clear understanding of the present invention is illustrated and described herein.
  • the analyzer is generally designated by reference number 20 and contains a sample carousel 10 adapted to contain a plurality of fluid samples, for example, biological fluids such as blood or like, to be tested.
  • the samples are contained in a plurality of sample containers 12 of known type positioned around the circumference of the carousel 10.
  • the carousel 10 may also include a plurality of reaction containers 15 and, as known to those skilled in the art, the carousel 10 is mounted for rotation in a stepwise fashion to move each sample container-reaction container pair to a first position adjacent a preparation station 13, and then to a second position adjacent a reaction mixture reading station 14.
  • a mechanical apparatus 16 which includes pipetting means and which typically operates under program control, is located in proximity to the preparation station and operates to transfer volumes of samples from the sample containers and reagents from reagent containers into reaction containers according to an established protocol for a particular test to be run. After the mechanical apparatus completes the preparation of the reaction mixture, the carousel 10 is rotated to position the next sample container-reaction container pair adjacent the preparation station and to move the previous pair toward the reaction mixture reading station 14 to be analyzed by suitable optics 17.
  • the apparatus also includes a reagent handling system comprising a reagent carousel 21 positioned adjacent the sample carousel 10.
  • the reagent carousel 21 is adapted to support a plurality of reagent containment means or reagent packs 22, each containing a plurality of vials containing all the reagents needed for a particular assay.
  • the reagent carousel 21 is also mounted for rotation in a stepwise fashion so as to position a desired reagent pack 22 at the preparation station 13 to permit the mechanical apparatus 16 to transfer the reagents therein to a reaction container on carousel 10.
  • a reading means 25 for automatically reading identification means provided on the reagent packs to identify each reagent pack and its position on carousel 21 as will be explained hereinafter.
  • Figs. 2-4 are top, side and bottom views, respectively, of the reagent carousel 21 according to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the carousel 21 comprises a circular base 31 adapted to support a plurality of reagent packs 22 around the circumference thereof.
  • the base includes a plurality of spaced, radially extending ribs 32 which define a plurality of generally wedge-shaped areas 33 for receiving the plurality of reagent packs.
  • eight areas are provided on the base to receive eight reagent packs. This is exemplary only, however, as the carousel can be designed to hold any desired number of appropriately shaped reagent packs thereon.
  • a knob or handle 34 extends upwardly from the center of the carousel to permit the carousel to be easily handled for placement on or removal from the analyzer and for mounting or removing the reagent packs therefrom.
  • a circular raised portion 36 Surrounding the base of the handle is a circular raised portion 36 which defines an outwardly facing shoulder 37 defining the inner edge of the wedge-shaped areas 33 on the base.
  • a plurality of slots 38 are formed in the shoulder 37 with each slot being substantially centrally positioned between a pair of radial ribs 32 defining each wedge-shaped area.
  • Each wedge-shaped area is preferably also identified with suitable indicia such as the letters A through H applied on the top surface of the raised portion 36 as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the outer periphery of the carousel base ' is provided with an upwardly extending rim 41 which defines the outer edge of the wedge-shaped areas.
  • a plurality of slots 42 are also provided in the base adjacent the rim 41 and, as shown in Fig. 2, the slots 42 are aligned with the radial ribs 32 on the base with each slot 42 extending into the areas 33 on either side of a rib.
  • the bottom of the carousel 21 includes a central cylindrical recess 46 to rotatably mount the carousel to a spindle on the analyzer apparatus, and a plurality of drive slots or grooves 47 arranged in a circle around the base (only a few of the grooves are shown in the Fig.) .
  • the plurality of grooves are adapted to be engaged by a suitable gear of a drive mechanism to rotate the carousel in stepwise fashion to position the reagent packs thereon at the preparation station 13 and adjacent the reading means 25 as will be explained hereinafter.
  • the structure of the drive mechanism can be conventional and need not be described herein.
  • a tab 49 extends downwardly from the bottom surface to identify the "home" position of the carousel to permit the position of the carousel to be monitored by the overall analyzer control (schematically shown at 50 in Fig. 1) as it is rotated.
  • the reagent carousel 21 preferably comprises a molded plastic member formed of any suitable rigid plastic material.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a reagent pack 22 for use with the reagent carousel 21 of the present invention.
  • the reagent pack comprises a molded plastic housing 51 having a plurality of wells or cavities 52 for receiving a plurality of reagent-containing vials 53.
  • the vials are preferably molded of a soft plastic material, but may also be formed of glass or other , suitable material.
  • the housing 51 is generally wedge-shaped and has dimensions which correspond with the wedge-shaped areas 33 on the carousel.
  • the reagent pack contains three vials 53 of reagent.
  • the three vial arrangement is best suited for use in assays of the type requiring a pre-treatment reagent, usually to bind the analyte of interest from certain proteins in a sample, an analyte complement for binding the unbound analyte, and a specifically tagged or labeled tracer reagent for indicating the presence of the analyte of interest.
  • each of the required reagents for this type of assay is contained in one of the vials 53 of a reagent pack.
  • a reagent pack containing a different number of vials may be desired.
  • a fourth vial is advantageously provided to contain a wash or buffer reagent that can be used to rinse the pipette heading means used for transferring reagents after it accesses the reagent. It should be understood, therefore, that it is not intended to limit the invention to a three vial reagent pack and that reagent packs containing various vial arrangements (several are schematically illustrated in Fig. 1) may be utilized.
  • the vials are provided with suitable means (not shown) for sealing the openings in the vials when a reagent pack is not in use.
  • the sealing means can comprise threaded covers or other suitable sealing structure which does not form a part of the present invention.
  • Figs. 6-8 illustrate specific details of reagent pack housing 51.
  • the inner surface 70 of the housing i.e., the surface that will face inwardly when the reagent pack is mounted in carousel 21
  • the inner surface 70 of the housing comprises a flat, narrow surface having a pair of parallel vertical slots 72 extending upwardly from the bottom to define a downwardly extending arm 73 therebetween.
  • the arm 73 is also formed to have a small tab 74 extending outwardly from the bottom end thereof.
  • Arm 73 functions as a flexible, spring member which is capable of being deflected inwardly during mounting and release of the reagent pack from the carousel, and the tab 74 is adapted to be received within an aligned slot 38 in the carousel to help retain the reagent pack on the carousel.
  • the outer surface of the housing comprises a curved surface 76 (see also Fig. 5) , the bottom edge of which is recessed slightly across the width thereof to define a recess 77 extending across the bottom of the outer surface of the housing.
  • a small outwardly extending tab 78 is provided on each side of the recess
  • the tabs 78 are adapted to be received within aligned slots 42 on the carousel to further assist in retaining the reagent pack on the carousel.
  • the reagent pack Upon being released, the reagent pack will be pushed outwardly from the center of the carousel by the flexible arm 73 causing the two tabs 78 on the outer surface of the pack to enter into the aligned slots 42 to secure the pack in place on.the carousel.
  • the various tabs and associated interlocking mounting structure of the reagent pack housing are preferably molded integrally with the housing to provide a low-cost structure that can be easily mass-produced and is readily disposable w__en the reagents carried therein are exhausted.
  • the flexibility of arm 73 can be controlled by controlling the length of the slots 72 and their thickness to provide a reagent pack that can be easily

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

Un système de manipulation de réactifs pour un appareil d'analyse clinique automatisée (20) comprend plusieurs ensembles de réactifs (22) portant chacun un ou plusieurs réactifs (53) afin d'effectuer une analyse particulière sur un échantillon (12) dans l'appareil (20), ainsi qu'un carrousel (21) portant un ou plusieurs ensebles de réactifs (22) dans l'appareil. Les ensembles de réactifs (22) comprennent chacun une identification (23) lisible par machine afin de permettre l'identification automatique dans l'appareil d'analyse (20) de l'ensemble de réactifs (22) et sa position sur le carrousel (21) de sorte que n'importe lequel des différents ensembles de réactifs (22) peut être placé au hasard dans n'importe quelle position sur le carrousel (21) et être identifié automatiquement afin d'effectuer automatiquement une analyse particulière sur l'échantillon (12). Le système de l'invention réduit de manière significative le temps de montage et d'équipement de l'appareil ainsi que le risque d'erreur de l'opérateur.
PCT/US1992/006024 1991-07-22 1992-07-21 Systeme de manipulation de reactifs pour appareil d'analyse clinique automatisee WO1993002348A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP5503000A JPH06509175A (ja) 1991-07-22 1992-07-21 医療用自動分析装置用試薬処理システム

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US73357091A 1991-07-22 1991-07-22
US733,570 1991-07-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993002348A1 true WO1993002348A1 (fr) 1993-02-04

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PCT/US1992/006024 WO1993002348A1 (fr) 1991-07-22 1992-07-21 Systeme de manipulation de reactifs pour appareil d'analyse clinique automatisee

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JP (1) JPH06509175A (fr)
AU (1) AU2428092A (fr)
CA (1) CA2102123A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1993002348A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100460785B1 (ko) * 1999-11-18 2004-12-09 르 라보레또레 쎄르비에르 캄프토세신 유사 화합물, 이들의 제조 방법, 및 이들을함유하는 약제 조성물
EP1503214A2 (fr) 2003-07-25 2005-02-02 Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation Systeme de supervision de orientation de flacons de reactif pour un appareil d'analyse
CN104107647A (zh) * 2013-04-16 2014-10-22 深圳迈瑞生物医疗电子股份有限公司 试剂瓶、试剂混匀装置及方法
US10081503B2 (en) 2010-11-22 2018-09-25 Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. Reagent store

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4795580B2 (ja) * 2001-08-30 2011-10-19 シスメックス株式会社 試薬管理方法および分析装置
JP5255399B2 (ja) * 2008-10-23 2013-08-07 古野電気株式会社 回転トレイ及びそれを備える生化学自動分析装置
CA3162684A1 (fr) * 2020-02-27 2021-09-02 Molarray Research Inc. Systeme et appareil d'extraction automatisee d'echantillons d'eprouvettes biologiques

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4287155A (en) * 1980-06-16 1981-09-01 Eastman Kodak Company Sample tray and carrier for chemical analyzer
US4647432A (en) * 1982-11-30 1987-03-03 Japan Tectron Instruments Corporation Tokuyama Soda Kabushiki Kaisha Automatic analysis apparatus
US4764342A (en) * 1985-02-27 1988-08-16 Fisher Scientific Company Reagent handling
US4849177A (en) * 1987-05-08 1989-07-18 Abbott Laboratories Reagent pack and carousel
US4933147A (en) * 1985-07-15 1990-06-12 Abbott Laboratories Unitized reagent containment system for clinical analyzer
US5005721A (en) * 1987-05-08 1991-04-09 Abbott Laboratories Vial seal

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4287155A (en) * 1980-06-16 1981-09-01 Eastman Kodak Company Sample tray and carrier for chemical analyzer
US4647432A (en) * 1982-11-30 1987-03-03 Japan Tectron Instruments Corporation Tokuyama Soda Kabushiki Kaisha Automatic analysis apparatus
US4764342A (en) * 1985-02-27 1988-08-16 Fisher Scientific Company Reagent handling
US4933147A (en) * 1985-07-15 1990-06-12 Abbott Laboratories Unitized reagent containment system for clinical analyzer
US4849177A (en) * 1987-05-08 1989-07-18 Abbott Laboratories Reagent pack and carousel
US5005721A (en) * 1987-05-08 1991-04-09 Abbott Laboratories Vial seal

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100460785B1 (ko) * 1999-11-18 2004-12-09 르 라보레또레 쎄르비에르 캄프토세신 유사 화합물, 이들의 제조 방법, 및 이들을함유하는 약제 조성물
EP1503214A2 (fr) 2003-07-25 2005-02-02 Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation Systeme de supervision de orientation de flacons de reactif pour un appareil d'analyse
EP1503214A3 (fr) * 2003-07-25 2008-06-04 Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation Systeme de supervision de orientation de flacons de reactif pour un appareil d'analyse
US7547414B2 (en) 2003-07-25 2009-06-16 Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation Automatic analyzer
US10081503B2 (en) 2010-11-22 2018-09-25 Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. Reagent store
US10081502B2 (en) 2010-11-22 2018-09-25 Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. Reagent store
CN104107647A (zh) * 2013-04-16 2014-10-22 深圳迈瑞生物医疗电子股份有限公司 试剂瓶、试剂混匀装置及方法
CN109939599A (zh) * 2013-04-16 2019-06-28 深圳迈瑞生物医疗电子股份有限公司 试剂瓶、试剂混匀装置及方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH06509175A (ja) 1994-10-13
AU2428092A (en) 1993-02-23
CA2102123A1 (fr) 1993-01-23

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