COMPACT HIGH VOLUME ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENT ARCHITECTURE

摘要

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.

主权项

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.