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US005229074A
United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 5,229,074
Heath et al. [45] Date of Patent: Jul. 20,1993
[54] AUTOMATIC MULTIPLE-SAMPLE MULTIPLE-REAGENT CHEMICAL ANALYZER
[75] Inventors: Warren J. Heath, Marlboro; Rene J.
Langner, Plainville; Kermit W. Jones,
Framingham; Charles A. Bell,
Weston, all of Mass.
[73] Assignee: Precision Systems, Inc., Natick,
Mass.
[21] Appl. No.: 807,772
[22] Filed: Dec. 9,1991
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 224,059, Jul. 25, 1988, abandoned.
[51] Int. CI.5 G01N 35/02
[52] U.S. CI 422/64; 422/67;
436/48
[58] Field of Search 436/48; 73/864.21;
356/328; 422/64, 67
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,154,795 5/1979 Thorne 422/99
4,276,051 6/1981 Ginsberg 422/64
4,326,851 4/1982 Bello 422/63
4,357,301 11/1982 Cassaday et al. .
4,639,135 1/1987 Borer et al. .
4,888,998 12/1989 Buzza et al 73/864.21
4,906,433 3/1990 Minekane 422/67
4,933,147 6/1990 Hollar et al 422/102
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
0041378 12/1981 European Pat. Off. .
0217000 4/1987 European Pat. Off. .
3343176 6/1984 Fed. Rep. of Germany 356/328
2121169 12/1983 United Kingdom .
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
"Clinical chemistry analyzer," Clinical Lab Products, vol. 10, No. 12, Dec. 1981.
"The Abbott Commander Sample Management Center," Abbott Laboratories brochure, 1986. "ENCORE TM System II," Baker Instruments brochure, Oct. 1984.
Ricardo E. Suarez et al., "All-MOS charge redistribution analog-to-digital conversion techniques—Part II", Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. SC-10, No. 6, Dec. 1975, pp. 379-385.
"COBAS MIRATM the mini random access system,"
Roche Diagnostic Systems brochure, 1985.
Nelson L. Alpert, ed., "COBAS MIRA TM" Clinical
Instrument Systems, vol. 7, No. 2., FEb. 1986, pp. 1-8.
"GEM PROFILER Tm the 8-minute random access
chemistry profile", Electro-Nucleonics, Inc. brochure.
Primary Examiner—Joye L. Woodard
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Hamilton, Brook, Smith &
Reynolds
[57] ABSTRACT
An analyzer for chemical assays includes a turntable which supports sample containers and reagent containers within a cooled volume and test cells about the periphery of the cooled volume. A probe is carried by a rotating arm for withdrawing liquid from the containers and dispensing the liquid. Fixed stations are also provided in the path of the probe. One such station serves to both wash the tip of the probe and to receive samples for flow-through analysis. Heaters associated with the probe and with the test cells increase the rate of reaction. Curved walls of test cell segments match the optics of an optical analyzer so that light from the analyzer lamp is generally orthogonal to the curved surfaces. The light voltage of the lamp may be controlled as a function of lamp wavelength required for particular assays. The system provides multiple-point calibration and automatic dilution of samples.
39 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
