Automated diagnostic analyzer and method for its operation

A method of obtaining reagents for an assay in an automated analyzer, the method comprising:

• moving a robot payload to a puncture tool carrier in which is disposed a puncture tool, the robot payload carrying a pipettor module and a gripper module, the gripper module comprising at least two gripper arms, each of the at least two gripper arms comprising a holding member and a finger;
• engaging projections from the holding member of each gripper arm with a corresponding linking member of the puncture tool by moving the at least two gripper arms from a first position to a second position;
• moving the robot payload carrying the puncture tool to a liquid container at a second location, the liquid container having one or more penetrable lids covering a plurality of compartments containing liquid reagents;
• lowering the puncture tool onto the liquid container so that cannulated puncture members extending from the puncture tool penetrate the one or more penetrable lids of the liquid container and each cannulated puncture member enters a different compartment of the liquid container;
• releasing the puncture tool from the robot payload by translating the at least two gripper arms inward and closer together so that the projections withdraw from the linking member of the puncture tool;
• introducing a pipette tip of the pipettor module through at least one of the cannulated puncture members and into contact with the liquid reagent disposed in the plurality of compartments penetrated by the cannulated puncture member;
• aspirating the liquid reagent from the compartment;
• and
• transferring the liquid reagent to a tube adapted to receive a sample for analysis.

A method for obtaining a sample for analysis comprising:

• conveying a shuttle carrying one or more sample containers each containing as sample, into a sample analyzer and into a shuttle retaining mechanism, the shuttle retaining mechanism having opposed arms disposed along sides of the shuttle conveyed therein;
• moving the opposed arms from a first position in which the shuttle was received to a second position wherein, in the second position, engagement members extending from each opposed arm engages a bottom portion of each of the one or more sample containers disposed in the shuttle wherein the engagement members extend through openings in the shuttle when in the second position;
• lowering a pipette tip through a sample cap of one of the one or more sample containers, thereby piercing a seal in the sample cap, the pipette tip extending into the sample contained in the sample container;
• aspirating the sample from the one of the one or more sample containers of the shuttle with the pipette;
• withdrawing the pipette tip from the one of the one or more sample containers, the engagement members remaining engaged with the bottom portion of each of the one or more sample containers in the shuttle as the pipette tip is withdrawn from the one of the one or more sample containers;
• repeating the steps of lowering aspirating, and withdrawing for each of the one or more sample containers;
• wherein the steps of lowering, aspirating, and withdrawing are performed for a single one of the one or more sample containers or for a plurality of the sample containers simultaneously using a respective plurality of pipette tips;
• moving the opposed arms from the second position back to the first position;
• and
• conveying the shuttle away from the shuttle retaining mechanism.