Automated diagnostic analyzers having vertically arranged carousels and related methods

#The present disclosure relates generally to automated diagnostic analyzers and, more particularly, to automated diagnostic analyzers having vertically arranged carousels and related methods.

#Automated diagnostic analyzers employ multiple carousels and multiple pipetting mechanisms to automatically aspirate fluid from and dispense fluid to different areas in the analyzer to perform diagnostic analysis procedures. The carousels may include a carousel for reaction vessels, a carousel for samples and/or a carousel for reagents. By arranging multiple containers on the respective carousels, these known analyzers are capable of conducting multiple tests on multiple test samples as the carousels rotate. Some known carousels are arranged in a coplanar orientation, and a number of different modules or stations are disposed around the carousels to perform specific functions such as, for example, mixing the contents of a reaction vessel, washing a reaction vessel and/or a pipette, incubating a test sample, and analyzing the contents of a reaction vessel. Due to the multiple coplanar carousels and the number of modules and stations, these known automated clinical analyzers typically require a relatively large space.

#FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of example components of an example diagnostic analyzer having stacked carousels in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

#FIG. 2 shows a top view of an example diagnostic analyzer incorporating the example components of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a partial exploded front side view of the example components of FIG. 1.

#Certain examples are shown in the above-identified figures and disclosed in detail below. In describing these examples, like or identical reference numbers are used to identify the same or similar elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic for clarity and/or conciseness. Additionally, several examples have been described throughout this specification. Any features from any example may be included with, a replacement for, or otherwise combined with other features from other examples.

#Diagnostics laboratories employ diagnostic instruments such as those for testing and analyzing specimens or samples including, for example, clinical chemistry analyzers, immunoassay analyzers and hematology analyzers. Specimens and biological samples are analyzed to, for example, check for the presence or absence of an item of interest including, for example, a specific region of DNA, mitochondrial DNA, a specific region of RNA, messenger RNA, transfer RNA, mitochondrial RNA, a fragment, a complement, a peptide, a polypeptide, an enzyme, a prion, a protein, an antibody, an antigen, an allergen, a part of a biological entity such as a cell or a viron, a surface protein, and/or functional equivalent(s) of the above. Specimens such as a patient's body fluids (e.g., serum, whole blood, urine, swabs, plasma, cerebra-spinal fluid, lymph fluids, tissue solids) can be analyzed using a number of different tests to provide information about the patient's health.

#Generally, analysis of a test sample involves the reaction of test samples with one or more reagents with respect to one or more analytes. The reaction mixtures are analyzed by an apparatus for one or more characteristics such as, for example, the presence and/or concentration of a certain analyte in the test sample. Use of automated diagnostic analyzers improves the efficiency of the laboratory procedures because the technician (e.g., an operator) has fewer tasks to perform and, thus, the potential for operator or technician error is reduced. In addition, automated diagnostic analyzers also provide results much more rapidly and with increased accuracy and repeatability.