Compact high volume analytical instrument architecture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016245835-A1
Application number	US-201415027683-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 15, 2014
Priority date	Oct 17, 2013
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An analytical instrument architecture provides high analytical test throughput in a compact footprint. A dilution section creates dilutions of a sample, a reaction processing section contains containers for assay reaction and measurement, and a reagent storage section supports reagent storage and supply. Transfer probes move the dilution and reagents to reaction containers. The dilution processing section includes concentric, independently driven rings of dilution containers; the reaction processing section includes concentric rings of reaction containers driven by the same mechanism for parallel processing of assays.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A compact high volume automated clinical analyzer, comprising:
an access position for access of samples; a diluting turntable comprising a plurality of diluting containers arranged in a plurality of diluting rings concentric and independently-driven and controllable with respect to one another; a diluting probe for transferring sample from the access position and creating a dilution in one or more of the plurality of diluting containers on any of the plurality of diluting rings; a reaction turntable comprising a plurality of reaction containers arranged in a plurality of reaction rings concentric and operating in parallel with respect to one another; a plurality of sample transfer probes, each dedicated to a respective one of the plurality of reaction rings for transferring the dilution from the one or more of the plurality of diluting containers on any of the plurality of diluting rings to one or more of the plurality of reaction containers on the respective one of the plurality of reaction rings, the plurality of sample transfer probes independently-driven and controllable with respect to one another; a reagent storage section comprising a plurality of reagent storage areas, each of the plurality of reagent storage areas dedicated to storage and supply of a respective reagent, each reagent storage area comprising a plurality of reagent containers arranged in a plurality of reagent rings concentric and independently-driven and controllable with respect to one another, wherein each of the plurality of reagent rings is dedicated to a respective one of the plurality of reaction rings; a plurality of reagent transfer probes, each dedicated to a respective one of the plurality of reagent rings for transferring a reagent from one or more of the plurality of reagent containers on the respective one of the plurality of reagent rings to one or more of the plurality of reaction containers on a corresponding one of the plurality of reaction rings, the plurality of reagent transfer probes independently-driven and controllable with respect to one another; and a controller for controlling operation of the diluting probe, the diluting turntable, the reaction turntable, the plurality of sample transfer probes, the reagent storage section, and the plurality of reagent transfer probes.

2 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 1 , further comprising a detector configured to measure a reaction in the reaction container.

3 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 2 , wherein the detector comprises one or more photometric detectors arranged to measure the absorbance of the reaction in the reaction container.

4 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the reaction container is moved from the corresponding one of the plurality of reaction rings to another location for measurement by a detector.

5 . The automatic clinical analyzer of claim 4 , wherein the detector comprises a luminometer.

6 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 1 , wherein during synchronous diluting ring operation, each diluting ring has a dedicated one of the plurality of sample transfer probes.

7 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 1 , wherein during asynchronous diluting ring operation, any of the plurality of sample transfer probes accesses one or more of the plurality of diluting containers on any of the plurality of diluting rings.

8 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of diluting rings operates synchronously during a given cycle.

9 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diluting rings operate asynchronously at the same time.

10 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 1 , wherein, when one of the plurality of diluting rings returns to synchronous operation after running asynchronously, the one of the plurality of diluting rings resumes a synchronous cycle at a previous left-off position.

11 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the transferring of the reagent and transferring of the dilution are done at fixed times with respect to one another.

12 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 1 , further comprising:
an ion-selective electrode (ISE) port; an ISE access position for access of samples to the ISE port; and an ISE diluting probe for transferring sample from the ISE access position and creating a dilution in the ISE port.

13 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 12 , wherein the ISE port operates independently of the diluting probe, the diluting turntable, the reaction turntable, the plurality of sample transfer probes, the reagent storage section, and the plurality of reagent transfer probes.

14 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 12 , wherein the access position and the ISE access position comprise the same physical location, and wherein the diluting probe and the ISE diluting probe alternate turns for accessing the sample.

15 . A compact high volume automated clinical analyzer, comprising:
an access position for access of samples; a diluting turntable comprising a plurality of diluting containers arranged in two diluting rings concentric and independently-driven and controllable with respect to one another; a diluting probe for transferring sample from the access position and creating a dilution in one or more of the plurality of diluting containers on either of the diluting rings; a reaction turntable comprising a plurality of reaction containers arranged in two reaction rings concentric and operating in parallel with respect to one another; two sample transfer probes, each dedicated to a respective one of the reaction rings for transferring the dilution from the one or more of the plurality of diluting containers on either of the diluting rings to one or more of the plurality of reaction containers on the respective one of the reaction rings, the sample transfer probes independently-driven and controllable with respect to one another; a reagent storage section comprising two reagent storage areas, each of the reagent storage areas dedicated to storage and supply of a respective reagent, each reagent storage area comprising a plurality of reagent containers arranged in two reagent rings concentric and independently-driven and controllable with respect to one another, wherein each of the reagent rings in a given reagent storage area is dedicated to a respective one of the reaction rings; four reagent transfer probes, each dedicated to a respective one of the reagent rings for transferring a reagent from one or more of the plurality of reagent containers on the respective reagent ring to one or more of the plurality of reaction containers on a corresponding one of the reaction rings, the reagent transfer probes independently-driven and controllable with respect to one another; and a controller for controlling operation of the diluting probe, the diluting turntable, the reaction turntable, the plurality of sample transfer probes, the reagent storage section, and the plurality of reagent transfer probes.

16 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 15 , further comprising a detector configured to measure a reaction in the reaction container.

17 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 16 , wherein the detector comprises one or more photometric detectors arranged to measure the absorbance of the reaction in the reaction container.

18 . The automated clinical analyzer of claim 15 , wherein the reaction container is moved from the corresponding one of the reaction rings to another location for measurement

Assignees

• Siemens Helathcare Diagnostics Inc
• Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc

Inventors

• Evers Timothy P
• Ariff Gregory D
• Nuzzaci Edward A
• Farina Edward F

Classifications

• G01N35/025 Primary

  having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes · CPC title

• G01N2035/0453

  Multiple carousels working in parallel · CPC title

• G01N2035/0444

  for cuvettes or reaction vessels · CPC title

• G01N2035/0441

  for samples · CPC title

• G01N1/38

  Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples · CPC title