Diagnostic analyzers with pretreatment carousels and related methods
AssigneeAbbott Laboratories
InventorsBrian L. Ochranek, David C. Arnquist
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Diagnostic analyzers with pretreatment carousels and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first carousel that includes a first annular array of slots to receive a first vessel. The example first carousel also includes a first track of rotation about the first carousel having a first diameter and a second track of rotation about the first carousel having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The example apparatus includes a first diverter to move the first vessel from the first track to the second track. In addition, the example apparatus includes a second carousel coaxial with the first carousel. The example second carousel includes a second annular array of slots to receive a second vessel.
Claims24
A method comprising:
- rotating a first carousel relative to a base, the first carousel having a first annular array of slots to receive a first plurality of vessels, the first plurality of vessels guided along a first track and a second track as the first carousel rotates, the second track inset relative to the first track;
- diverting at least one of the first plurality of vessels from the first track to the second track;
- rotating a second carousel relative to the base, the second carousel being coaxial with the first carousel, the second carousel having a second annular array of slots to receive a second plurality of vessels, the second plurality of vessels to receive samples for pretreatment;
- and
- aspirating, using a first pipette, a pretreated sample from a vessel of the second plurality of vessels on the second carousel and dispensing, using the first pipette, the pretreated sample into a vessel of the first plurality of vessels on the first carousel for diagnostic analysis.
A method comprising:
- rotating a first carousel relative to a base, the first carousel having a first diameter and a first annular array of slots to receive a first plurality of vessels;
- rotating a second carousel relative to the base, the second carousel being coaxial with the first carousel, the second carousel having a second diameter larger than the first diameter and a second annular array of slots to receive a second plurality of vessels;
- aspirating a sample, via a first pipette, from a first container;
- dispensing the sample, via the first pipette, into a first vessel of the second plurality of vessels on the second carousel;
- aspirating a first reagent, via a second pipette, from a second container;
- dispensing the first reagent, via the second pipette, into the first vessel on the second carousel;
- aspirating a mixture of the sample and the first reagent, via the first pipette, from the first vessel on the second carousel;
- dispensing the mixture, via the first pipette, into a second vessel on the first carousel;
- aspirating a second reagent, via a third pipette, from a third container;
- and
- dispensing the second reagent, via the third pipette, into the second vessel with the mixture on the first carousel.
A method comprising:
- dispensing, via a pipette, a sample into a first reaction vessel of a first plurality of reaction vessels on a pretreatment carousel, the pretreatment carousel disposed coaxial with a processing carousel, the processing carousel having a second plurality of reaction vessels;
- rotating the pretreatment carousel with the first reaction vessel disposed on the pretreatment carousel while the sample mixes with a reagent in the first reaction vessel;
- aspirating, via the pipette, a mixture of the sample and the reagent from the first reaction vessel;
- dispensing, via the pipette, the mixture into a second reaction vessel of the second plurality of reaction vessels on the processing carousel;
- and
- rotating the processing carousel with the second reaction vessel on the processing carousel while one or more operations are performed on the mixture in the second reaction vessel including analyzing, with a reader, the mixture in the second reaction vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.