WO2007116418A1

WO2007116418A1 - An analysis apparatus with multiple planetary carousels

Info

Publication number: WO2007116418A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Gagliarducci
Original assignee: Ams S.R.L.-Analyzer Medical System
Priority date: 2006-04-10
Filing date: 2006-04-10
Publication date: 2007-10-18

Abstract

A chemical analysis apparatus (1) of the type comprising a sample-holding set (2), a reactive- holding set (3), a reaction cuvette-holding set (4), a sampling device (5) for transferring a sample and a reactive into a reaction cuvette (260) and a system (8) for moving said sets (2, 3, 4), wherein the sample set and the reactive set (2, 3) comprise each a main supporting element (6, 23) pivotable about an axis of symmetry (61, 231) thereof and a plurality of secondary supporting elements (7, 24) received onto the main supporting element (6, T) so as to be pivotable integrally thereto and moreover pivotable each about an axis of symmetry (71 , 241 ) thereof so as to constitute a substantially satellite configuration (Fig. 1 ).

Description

AN ANALYSIS APPARATUS WITH MULTIPLE PLANETARY CAROUSELS

Description The present invention relates to a chemical analysis apparatus, and in particular to an apparatus of the type comprising a sample holding disc, a reactive-holding disc, a reaction cuvette-holding disc and a sampling device bearing a collection needle apt to transfer a sample and a reactive into a reaction cuvette.

In known apparatuses of the abovementioned type, the discs for supporting samples and reactives typically rotate about their own axis to position the sample or the reactive in correspondence of said collection needle.

In the last years, in the field of such analyzers, in particular for clinical chemistry, vast progresses have been attained for all that concerns the electronic and control aspects. In particular, component miniaturization has attained levels unforeseeable until a few years ago. However, the advantages associated to such improvements cannot be fully exploited due to the increase in the dimensions of the apparatuses linked to the need to have analyzers with an ever greater number of reactives and samples. In particular, the diameter of the discs for supporting the reactives and samples cannot be increased beyond a certain limit; this need entailed an increase in the number of independent supporting discs, typically employing two discs for the reactives and two discs for the samples. Moreover, it being no longer possible to reach the various collection points with a single sampling arm, so as not to increase the manoeuvring times and not to run into mechanical problems linked to the excessive length of a single arm, there has been required the use of two or more arms, and accordingly of plural mixers with related plural washing wells, of a greater number of measuring devices, etc. Furthermore, owing to the increased dimensions of the apparatus, also the system for cooling the reactives has become bulkier and more expensive.

Ultimately, such an increase of dimensions and components has substantially wasted, or risks wasting, these apparatuses' peculiarity of being of laboratory bench size.

Hence, the technical problem set and solved by the present invention is to provide a chemical analysis apparatus overcoming the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the known art.

Such a problem is solved by an apparatus according to claim 1 and by a device according to claim 25. Preferred features of the present invention are present in the dependent claims thereof.

The present invention provides several relevant advantages. As it will be better appreciated also on the basis of the following detailed description, the main advantage lies in that the satellite-like moving of the sample-holding and/or reactive-holding supports, in particular with an epicycloidal motion system, allows a reduction of the overall dimensions and an exponential decrease of energy consumptions, analyses that can be carried out over the same time period being equal. In addition, such a satellite-like moving provides the option of loading and unloading the containers of samples and of reactives to and from the discs with no need to stop the work cycle, allowing to rapidly and easily insert any "urgencies". Hence, the apparatus of the invention may anyhow keep a peculiar laboratory bench configuration (and dimensions) though being capable of carrying out a greater number of analyses in the time unit with respect to known apparatuses of the same type. In particular, as it will be detailed hereinafter, the overall reduction of surface dimensions is equal to about the 50%.

Moreover, the invention allows to reduce costs and use containers easier to handle and safer for the operator. Other advantages, features and the operation modes of the present invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of a non-limiting example. Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a schematic top plan view related to an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of some components related to means for moving the sample-holding supports and the reactive-holding supports of the apparatus of Figure 1 , section taken along lines A-A and B-B of the latter figure; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view and a partial plan view of some components of sample-holding supporting means of the apparatus of Figure 1 , section taken along line A-A of the latter figure;

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view and a partial plan view of some components of reactive-holding supporting means of the apparatus of Figure 1 , section taken along line B- B of the latter figure;

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of some components related to reaction cuvette- holding supporting means of the apparatus of Figure 1 , section taken along line C-C of the latter figure;

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of some components related to a sampling device of the apparatus of Figure 1 , section taken along line D-D of the latter figure;

Figure 7 shows a schematic depiction of a power supply set and of additional electronic components of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

Figure 8 shows a schematic depiction of an analysis module of the apparatus of Figure 1 ; Figure 9 refers to a dimensional calculation related to the system of Figure 1 ; Figure 10 shows a graph comparing the dimensions of the system of Figure 1 to those of the known ones;

Figure 11 shows a graph comparing the energy of the system of Figure 1 to those of the known ones;

Figure 12A shows an overall front view of the apparatus of Figure 1 ; and Figures 12B and 12C show each an overall side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with the top plane lowered and lifted, respectively.

Initially referring to Figure 1 , a chemical analysis apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention is generally denoted by 1. The apparatus 1 mainly comprises:

- a sample set, based on sample-holding supporting means 2 bearing just the test tubes (for simplicity's sake in the drawing, not depicted in Figure 1 ) containing the liquid samples, e.g., blood, collected from patients, or drinkable water from a determined spring, and on which there has to be carried out a predetermined kind of chemical analysis;

- a reactive set, based on reactive-holding supporting means 3 bearing just the containers for the reactives (them also not depicted in Figure 1) to be mixed with said samples in order to carry out the required analysis;

- a reaction set, based on reaction cuvette-holding supporting means 4 bearing just the reaction cuvettes (them also not depicted in Figure 1) in each of which there takes place the reaction between sample and respective reactive;

- a sampling device 5, bearing a needle or other collection element and apt to collect a sample and a reactive from the respective supporting means 2 and 3;

- one or more modules or means for detecting and analyzing the sample-reactive set contained in a cuvette, which will be detailed hereinafter;

- a set of means for positively identifying the samples 40 and the reactives 41 , which will be detailed hereinafter;

- a control unit and means for power-supplying the apparatus 1 , them also detailed hereinafter. As it is schematically illustrated in Figures 12A-12C, all of the components introduced hereto are mounted on a chassis 10 in the form of a unitized body, preferably bearing a pivoting cover panel 102, preferably of a see-through plastics material, hinged at a rear edge 201 thereof to a corresponding rear edge 11 of the chassis 10, said panel being just closeable onto the working plane of the apparatus 1 in order to protect the sample-holding test tubes, the reactives and the reaction cuvettes. Preferably, as it is shown in Figures 12B-12C, the top plane of the machine 103, containing all the elements with the exception of the power-supplying means and the boards of the control unit, can be lifted up; such a lifting up is assisted by suitable means, in the present embodiment two gas springs 104. The adoption of this solution proves particularly advantageous both in the assembling step and for the accessibility in case of any repair. Each of the components introduced above will now be detailed.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view and a corresponding partial plan view of the sample- holding supporting means 2. Referring to the latter Figure, the sample-holding supporting means 2 comprises a main supporting element 6 symmetrical with respect to an orthogonal axis 61 thereof and pivoting about the latter. In the present embodiment, the element 6 is in the form of a disc or cross-piece.

The disc 6 peripherally bears a plurality of secondary supporting elements 7, each apt to receive a plurality of test tubes, each of the latter denoted by 70 in Figure 3, and each pivotable integrally to the disc 6 and moreover pivotable about an orthogonal axis of symmetry 71 thereof. Each secondary element 7 is in the form of a disc bearing receptacles 72 implementing housings for receiving the test tubes 70.

Hence, the overall arrangement is such that the secondary elements 7 and the main element 6 constitute a so-called satellite or carousel configuration. In the present embodiment, it is provided that the disc 6 bears four secondary supporting elements 7 and that each of them in turn bears ten test tube housings; yet, of course, variants of the present embodiment may provide a different number thereof.

The present embodiment further provides positive identification means for positively identifying the sample, denoted by 40, apt just to identify each specific test tube 70 and the position thereof. In the present embodiment such means 40 is of optical type and implemented by a bar code reader, and therefore each test tube 70 bears a respective identification label bearing a bar code.

In order to carry out said moving of the main supporting element 6 and the secondary elements 7, the apparatus comprises means for moving, depicted in greater detail in Figure 2 and generally denoted by 8. Referring to the latter figure, the moving means 8 comprises a first and a second motor drive independent therebetween, denoted by 81 and 82, respectively. The second motor drive 82 is apt to transmit to the main supporting element 6, through the interposition of suitable motion transmitting means, said rotary motion about the axis 61. The first motor drive 81 is apt to transmit to the secondary supporting elements 7, also in this case through the interposition of suitable motion transmitting means, said rotary motion about the axes 71. In particular, in the present embodiment the second motor drive 82 transmits motion to the disc 6 by a toothed belt 12 and an associated toothed pulley 13 splined directly on a shaft 14 developing along the axis 61 of the disc 6 itself, and made integral to the latter at an end thereof by a shape coupling, a key or other conventional means.

The first motor drive 81 transmits motion to the secondary elements 7 by a toothed belt 15 and an associated toothed pulley 16, the latter splined on a sleeve 17. Preferably, the pulleys 13 and 16 have the same number of teeth. The sleeve 17 is circumscribed to the shaft 14 and pivotally connected thereto by interposition of ball bearings or equivalent elements. Moreover, the sleeve 17 crosses the chassis 10 of the apparatus 1 by interposition of ball bearings or equivalent elements. The sleeve 17 in turn has, at one end portion thereof, a toothed profile 18 engaging toothed belts 19 each in turn engaged also to a respective toothed pulley 20 splined on a respective spindle 21 that develops along the axis 71 of a respective secondary supporting element 7 and is integral to the latter. Preferably, the pulleys 20 and the profile 18 have the same number of teeth, thereby implementing a 1:1 transmission ratio. As it is shown always in Figures 2 and 3, the secondary supporting elements 7 are mounted onto the main element 6 by bushings 22, pivotally receiving each a respective spindle 21.

The rotation of the secondary supporting elements 7 integrally to the main element 6 is attained through conventional-type motion transmitting means, in the present embodiment toothed belts 9 and meshing profiles thereof (generally shown in Figure 3) obtained onto the elements concerned. In particular, by driving the second motor drive 82 the (satellite-holding) disc 6 pivots about its own axis 61 , and the secondary supporting elements 7 (satellites) describe a circumference centered onto the axis 61 and passing through the axes 71.

Preferably, any reduction ratio implemented by the connection between motor drives 81 and 82 and respective pulleys 16 and 13 is the same.

Hence, it will be understood that the moving means 8 implement an epicycloidal mechanism controlled by two independent motor drives allowing eight different main motions of the system, better summarized in the following table.

In which the abbreviation "CW" denotes the clockwise direction, the abbreviation "CCW" the anticlockwise direction, the wording "+1 rev." denotes one clockwise revolution and "-1 rev." one counterclockwise revolution.

Referring now to Figure 4, the reactive-holding supporting means 3 has a structure analogous to that of the sample-holding supporting means 2 and analogous moving means based on two independent motor drives. Therefore, the latter means will not be described (again) and the supporting means 3 at issue will be described only in connection with the differences with respect to the means 2.

In particular, also the supporting means 3 comprises a main supporting element, in this case denoted by 23, symmetrical with respect to an orthogonal axis 231 thereof and pivotable about the latter. In the present embodiment, also the element 23 is in the form of a disc or cross-piece.

The disc 23 peripherally bears a plurality of secondary supporting elements 24, each apt to receive a plurality of reactive containers, each denoted by 240 in Figure 4, and each pivotable integrally to the disc 23 and further pivotable about an orthogonal axis of symmetry 241 thereof. Each secondary element 24 is in the form of a disk bearing orthogonal spindles 242 engaging corresponding seats of the containers 240.

In this case as well, in the present embodiment it is provided that the disc 23 bears four secondary supporting elements 24 and that each of those bears eight housings for reactive containers, yet, of course, variants of said embodiment may provide a different number thereof.

In this case as well, there is provided means for positively identifying (type and position of) the reactives, here denoted by 41 , apt just to identify each a specific container 340 and the position thereof. In the present embodiment, such means 41 is of optical type and implemented by a bar code reader, and therefore each container 340 has a respective identification label bearing a bar code.

Unlike the sample set, the compartment for the reactives should be kept at a controlled temperature generally lower than the room one and typically comprised in a range of about 8- 10 °C. Figure 4 schematically shows a related cooling system implemented with thermoelectric modules. The system is split into four individual sets 25 for dimensions and efficiency reasons. In particular, four fans circulate air in the environment of the reactives, flowing it close to a desorption device (cold side) and other four fans, intaking air from the inside of the machine, expel heat to the outside by transiting into an exchanger (hot side). As the structure of such a system is conventional for the apparatuses of the type at issue, a further description thereof will be omitted.

Figure 5 schematically shows the cross section of the cuvette-holding supporting means 4. In this case as well, it is provided a main supporting element 26 in the form of a disc having circular geometry, symmetrical with respect to an orthogonal axis 261 thereof, peripherally receiving a plurality of reaction cuvettes 260 arranged equidistant in correspondence of a peripheral circumference onto which there are just obtained suitable individual housings. The chamber in which the cuvettes move is thermostated at about 37 ⁰C ± 0.1 , bearing conventional means for controlling the temperature of the apparatuses of the type considered here. The motion of the cuvette-holding disc 26 is controlled by a dedicated motor drive thereof (not shown for simplicity's sake).

Moreover, it is provided a means 27 for detecting the reaction outcome in the individual cuvette, in particular, a photometer of interference filter-reference channel type, which may read reactions from about 340 nm to 880 nm. Also such detecting means is known and a further description thereof will be omitted.

The apparatus further provides additional detecting means, in particular an ISE module denoted by 39, whose location is indicated in Figure 1 and that is depicted in greater detail in Figure 8. It is an independent ion-selective module for measuring the concentration of Li+, Na+, K+, Cl-, which is connected to the apparatus for the power-supplying and the output signals. This module comprises a measuring well 50, inside which the sampling device 5 lays a sample. Since also said module is of a conventional type and already known, a further description thereof will be omitted.

Returning to Figure 5, the apparatus further comprises means 28 for washing the cuvettes, comprising a movable washing element 281 , moving vertically and, in the present embodiment, providing three coaxial needles, a suction tube and a drying pad. The means 28 is capable of concomitantly carrying out acid washing, basic washing and neutral washing. Since also said means is known, a further description thereof is omitted.

Figure 6 schematically shows the cross section of the sampling device 5. Such a device 5 provides a collection element 51 in the form of a needle, arranged at the end of an upturned

L-shaped arm 29. The vertical branch of the "L" has an axially grooved external sleeve 30. A toothed bushing 31 engages said sleeve 30 at the crossing of a supporting plate 101 so as to allow the vertical sliding thereof. Moreover, the same bushing 31 is splined on a toothed pulley which is connected by a toothed belt 33 to another stationary pulley on the axis of a first rotational motor drive 32 allowing just the rotation of the arm 29 about a vertical axis 291.

Internally to the sleeve 30 there develops, by interposition of ball bearings or equivalent means, a hollow shaft 34, in turn engaged with a stationary gear of a translational motor drive 35 allowing the vertical translation of the collection arm 29.

The horizontal branch of the "L" receives a capacitive level sensor and the electronics thereof, as well as preheating means apt to rapidly bring the temperature of the reactive + sample set to a desired temperature, typically of about 37 ⁰C. Such components, being already known, are indicated only schematically in Figure 6 and generally denoted by 36.

Moreover, the apparatus provides a measuring device 37 of the type having a plunger with a screw translation controlled by a dedicated motor drive 38 thereof. Of course, the device incorporates a suction system, which is of a conventional type and therefore not depicted.

The measuring device conventionally houses a so-called thrust liquid in the form of an inert solution. Since also said means and the hydraulic circuit thereof are of known type, a further description thereof will be omitted.

Referring again also to Figure 1 , the apparatus 1 further provides means for washing the collection needle 51, which in the present embodiment comprises a washing well 510 arranged along the circular path of the needle 51 itself and in particular between the supporting discs 6 and 23. According to a variant embodiment, in order to optimize the cycle times it is possible to insert an additional well, with associated washing means, positioned between the supporting disc 6 and the reaction plate 4. Figure 7 schematically shows a power supply 44, preferably of about 300 W, and the electronics aboard, constituting part of the control unit of the apparatus 1 and comprising two boards, a so-called "stepper motors driver board" 45 and a so-called "analytical control board' 46. The location of said components, generally denoted by 47, is indicated also in Figure 1. The control unit of the apparatus 1 (not depicted) commands the coordinated motion of the sample-holding, reactive-holding and cuvette-holding supporting means, also on the basis of the signals received by the corresponding positive identification means 40 and 41 and further receives the data of the results of the analysis carried out by the detecting means 27 and 39. Furthermore, said unit controls the cooling and temperature-controlling systems in general and the condition of the power-supplying means.

The operation modes of the apparatus 1 will hereinafter be described with reference to the figures introduced hereto.

The sampling device 5 is directed by the control unit to the collecting of a pre-defined aliquot of reactive from a container 240, which will have been positioned in the position denoted by (ii) in Figure 1. Then, it is collected a pre-defined volume of sample contained in a specific test tube 70, which will have been positioned in the position denoted by (i) in Figure 1. Finally, the sample + reactive set is poured into a cuvette 260 brought in position (iii). In the cuvette at issue, once any reaction time has elapsed, the parameters of interest are read by the detecting means 27, which transmits the value of said parameters or the data required for their calculation to the control unit. Alternatively, the device 5 brings the sole sample into the well 50 of the module 39, and therein the quantities of interest are detected and transmitted to the control unit.

Moreover, the control unit is capable of managing the treatment of urgent samples; to analyze them, the above-described cycle is interrupted, just to give priority to the urgencies and resumed once the analysis related to the latter has ended.

Upon carrying out all of the analyses required for a determined sample, the respective secondary supporting element 7 rotates about its own axis 71 (in the present embodiment of 36° and simultaneously to the other secondary elements present on the same main element) so as to bring the subsequent sample in said position (i). Once all samples of a certain secondary supporting element 7 have been collected, the main supporting element 6 rotates about its own axis 61 (in the present embodiment of 90°), so as to bring into collecting position the test tubes of the next secondary supporting element.

It will be appreciated that, as already mentioned above, during the time taken by the needle 51 of the device 5 to suck the sample and the reactive, it is possible to replace the containers of the processed samples with the new ones. This latter feature allows to prevent stopping the usual work to load new samples.

It will further be appreciated that, as detailed hereinafter as well, with the "satellite motion" solution the distances among the three sets (reactive, sample, reaction) concerned by the sampling device have been reduced. This condition allows the use of a sole sampling arm of reduced dimensions and with only two motions, vertical and rotational. By reducing the rotation radius of the sampling arm, peripheral velocities being equal, the angular velocity of the motor can be increased.

Hereinafter, there will be illustrated in further detail and in quantitative terms some of the advantages the invention attains with respect to the existing single-disc systems.

Dimensional comparison with the existing systems

Since both the samples and the reactives move according to a circumferential path, the periphery of the circumference will determine the number of samples and reactives that it may contain. Given a satellite radius AO', Figure 9 allows to calculate the radius AO of the circumference circumscribing the four satellites. In this case, the following applies:

AQO¹B o^ιo=Aσ>4ϊ

AO = AO+ AO-Jl = _4O'{l + -Jϊ) Therefore, in case of four satellites, there is the following ratio among circumferences:

The value of 1.66 is constant between the diameters of the two sample-holding and reactive- holding systems for any radius value. E.g., given r = AO' = 50 mm, the sum of the four circumferences of the satellites is given by 2 π • 50 • 4 ≤ 1256 mm. The diameter of the circle circumscribing the satellites is given by:

representing the diameter of a 4-satellite disc.

To make a single-disc system exhibiting the same circumference development, there should be had a disc radius equal to:

The graph in Figure 10 resumes what has been disclosed above.

Energetic comparison with the existing systems

Substantially, velocities of the two systems being equal, energy depends only from the mass moment of inertia J, given by:

J = m *r²(Kg >m²) where m is the mass and r the radius. Assuming for the two systems a mass m = 1 kg, the difference remains only that of the square of the distance between the center of rotation and the center of mass. For uniformity's sake, by using the preceding example it is obtained:

J₁ (satellites) = 0.250 kg ■ (0.050m)² ■ 4 = 0.0025 kg ■ m² (motor 81) J₂ (cross-piece) = 1 kg ■ (0.0707m)² = 0.0050 kg ■ m² (motor 82) J₃ (single disc) = 1 kg ■ (0.200m)² = 0.0400kg ■ m² (motor 81 )

J₁ + J₂ (in case of combined motion) = 0.0075kg ■ m² (motor 81 +82)

By comparing the momentums of the satellite system to that of the single-disc system, it is obtained:

- motion with the sole satellites: 0.0400/0.0025 = 16 - motion with the sole cross-piece : 0.0400/0.0050 = 8

- combined cross - piece-satellite motion : 0.0400/0.0075 = 5.3333 Even these values are constant for any satellite radius value.

The graph in Figure 11 resumes what has been disclosed above.

Economical comparison with the existing systems

Disregarding the reaction set, common to both solutions, an apparatus is constituted by a container for the reactives and a container for the samples. By setting side-by-side the two containers made according to the satellite system, having e.g. the diameter equal to 300 mm, surface dimensions of (600 x 300) mm are obtained.

Instead, by setting side-by-side the two containers made with the single-disc system, there are obtained:

(300 - 1.66) x 2 = 996 mm (300 - 1.66) = 498 mm, with surface dimensions of (996 x 498) mm.

The marked reduction in dimensions attainable by adopting the satellite system entails a lower cost of the piece and, accordingly, a lower cost of the molds.

Moreover, it has to be pointed out that the relatively high cost of the apparatuses at issue that the market may take in. From this standpoint, the satellite system is further convenient, as it allows to replace the big and costly discs with eight small-sized, low-cost satellites, alike thereamong to the extent of four or eight of them. A single disc, having a 400-mm diameter, is replaced by four alike satellites, having a 100-mm diameter. Thus, the cost of the individual piece, as well as that of the molds, plummets. From a purely technical standpoint, a reduction in the overall dimensions of the pieces allows remarkable simplification in the control of planarity, orthogonality and eccentricity, and allows to implement details having stricter dimensional tolerances, with a marked benefit with regard to operation accuracy. E.g., should the same angular error be assumed for both of the systems, the positioning error measurable at the periphery of each disc will be four times greater for the single-disc system.

Operative comparison

With the satellite system, sample replacement may occur without stopping the machine operation, i.e., while the needle collects serum from a satellite, the other three may be inserted or removed, an operation impossible to carry out on the single-disc system.

Moreover, the modest dimensions of the satellites ensure practicalness and operator's safety during the sample loading and unloading steps.

Variant embodiments could provide also or only the cuvette-holding supporting means to have the above-described satellite embodiment. Likewise, such a satellite embodiment may involve only the sample-holding supporting means or only the reactive-holding ones.

Moreover, it is understood that the invention also refers to a supporting device comprising the above-described supporting means.

The present invention has hereto been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that there could be other embodiments referable to the same inventive kernel, all falling within the protective scope of the claims hereinafter.

Claims

1. A chemical analysis apparatus (1) of the type comprising sample-holding supporting means (2), reactive-holding supporting means (3) and/or reaction cuvette - holding supporting means (4) and means (8) for moving at least one of said supporting means (2; 3), characterized in that at least one of said supporting means (2; 3; 4) comprises a main supporting element (6; 23) pivotable about an axis (61 ; 231) thereof and a plurality of secondary supporting elements (7; 24) received on said main supporting element (6; 23) so as to be pivotable integrally thereto and moreover pivotable each about an axis (71 ; 241) thereof so as to implement a substantially satellite configuration.

2. The apparatus (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said moving means (8) is apt to carry out a substantially epicycloidal overall motion of said secondary supporting elements (7; 24).

3. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said moving means (8) is apt to carry out a coordinated motion of said secondary supporting elements (7; 24).

4. The apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said moving means (8) is apt to determine the same and simultaneous rotary motion of said secondary supporting means

(7; 24) about said respective axis (71 ; 241).

5. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said moving means (8) comprises a first motor drive (81) apt to drive said secondary supporting elements (7; 24) and a second motor drive (82), independent from the first one, apt to drive said main supporting element (6; 23).

6. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said main supporting element (6; 23) has a substantially disc-shaped holding body.

7. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said main supporting element (6; 23) has a substantially cross-piece-shaped holding structure, supporting four secondary supporting elements (7; 24).

8. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said secondary supporting elements (7; 24) has a substantially disc-shaped holding body.

9. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said secondary supporting elements (7) has eight or ten housings for as many samples/reactives.

10.The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sample- holding supporting means (2) has said satellite configuration.

11. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said reactive- holding supporting means (3) has said satellite configuration.

12.The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a movable sampling device (5) apt to transfer a sample and/or a reactive from said respective supporting means (2, 3) into a reaction cuvette (260).

13.The apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said sampling device (5) comprises a collection element (51) movable in a direction nearing to / away from a single sample/reactive/cuvette.

14.The apparatus (1) according to claim 12 or 13, comprising means (30-38) for moving said sampling device (5) having two independent motor drives (32, 35), one (32) apt to drive in rotation said device (5) and the other one (35) apt to drive in translation said device (5) and/or said collection element (51).

15.The apparatus (1) according to any one of the claims 12 to 14, comprising means (510) for washing said movable sampling device (5) arranged along the trajectory of the latter.

16.The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means (25) for cooling the reactives.

17.The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for controlling the temperature of the reaction cuvettes (260).

18.The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising positive identification means (40, 41) for positively identifying the samples and/or the reactives.

19.The apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said positive identification means (40, 41) is of optical type.

2O.The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means (27) for analyzing the content of a reaction cuvette (260).

21.The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a module (39) for analyzing the samples and wherein said sampling device (5) is movable between said sample-holding supporting means (2) and said module (39) so as to collect a sample from the former and provide it to the latter.

22.The apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said module (39) for analyzing the samples is apt to detect the concentration of selected ions.

23.The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means (28) for washing the reaction cuvettes.

24.The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a holding chassis (10) bearing a liftable portion receiving said supporting means (2; 3; 4).

25. A supporting device (2; 3) apt to receive samples, reactives or reaction cuvettes and for use in an apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a main supporting element (6; 23) pivotable about an axis (61 ; 231) thereof and a plurality of secondary supporting elements (7; 24) received on said main supporting element (6; 23) so as to be pivotable integrally thereto and moreover pivotable each about an axis (71; 241) thereof so as to constitute a substantially satellite configuration.