Controlling machine operation with respect to consumable accessory units

Apparatus for controlling the operation of an analyzer, comprising

• a fluids container,
• fluids held in said container for use in said analyzer,
• an electronic memory device associated with said container and containing (a) information identifying a class of analyzers, (b) information uniquely identifying the fluids container, (c) information identifying a concentration of said fluids, (d) information identifying a manufacturing lot, and (e) information identifying an expiration date,
• data storage in said analyzer containing (f) information identifying a class of analyzers to which said analyzer belongs and (g) information identifying a current date, and
• circuitry in said analyzer for comparing the class information stored in said data storage with the class information stored in the memory device, for comparing said current date with said expiration date, for controlling the operation of said analyzer based on said concentration information, and for displaying said manufacturing lot information,
• said memory device including electrical ports for electrical connection to a memory reader and said analyzer including a memory reader for electrical connection to said electrical ports.

A method for controlling the use of a fluids pack on an analyzer, comprising

• inserting consumable fluids into said pack,
• attaching to said pack an electronic memory device containing (a) information identifying a class of analyzer, (b) information uniquely identifying the fluids container, (c) information identifying a concentration of said fluids, (d) information identifying a manufacturing lot, and (e) information identifying an expiration date,
• storing in a data storage of said analyzer information (f) information identifying a class of analyzers to which said analyzer belongs and (g) information identifying a current date, and
• attaching said pack to said analyzer to enable said analyzer to withdraw fluids from said pack,
• electrically connecting said memory device to said analyzer,
• electrically reading said memory device,
• comparing the class information stored in said analyzer with the class information stored in the memory device,
• determining whether or not to allow said fluid to be withdrawn from said pack based on the results of said comparing
• causing said analyzer to read said unique value from said memory device,
• storing said unique value in said analyzer,
• storing in said analyzer a value indicative of a predetermined number of uses of said pack,
• determining when an actual use has been made of said pack by said analyzer,
• maintaining in the analyzer a stored number of actual uses of said pack,
• comparing the predetermined number of uses with the number of actual uses,
• determining whether or not to allow said fluid to be withdrawn from said pack based on the results of said comparing, causing said analyzer to read said calibration information from said memory,
• causing said analyzer to perform said calibration at times based on said calibration information,
• causing said analyzer to display said manufacturing lot to a user, and
• comparing said expiration date with said current date.

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a chemistry analyzer belonging to a class of analyzers comprising

• a fluids container,
• fluids held in said container for use in said analyzer,
• an electronic memory device associated with said container and containing information identifying a class of chemistry analyzers,
• data storage in said analyzer containing information identifying said class of analyzers to which said analyzer belongs, and
• circuitry in said analyzer for comparing the class information stored in said data storage with the class information stored in the memory device.

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a chemistry analyzer belonging to a class of analyzers comprising

• a fluids container,
• fluids held in said container for use in said analyzer,
• an electronic memory device associated with said container and containing a unique identifier for said pack, and
• circuitry in said analyzer for (a) storing said unique identifier, (b) storing information indicative of a predetermined number of uses of said pack, (c) determining when a use has been made of said pack by said analyzer, (d) storing the number of actual uses of said accessory units, and (e) comparing the predetermined number of uses with the number of actual uses.

A method for controlling the use of a fluids pack on a chemistry analyzer, comprising

• inserting consumable fluids into said pack,
• attaching to said pack an electronic memory device containing information identifying a class of chemistry analyzer,
• storing in a data storage of said chemistry analyzer information identifying a class of analyzers,
• attaching said pack to said analyzer to enable said analyzer to withdraw fluids from said pack,
• electrically connecting said memory device to said analyzer,
• electrically reading said memory device,
• comparing the class information stored in said analyzer with the class information stored in the memory device, and
• determining whether or not to allow said fluid to be withdrawn from said pack based on the results of said comparing.

A method for controlling the use of a fluids pack on a chemistry analyzer, comprising

• associating an electronic memory device with said pack,
• storing in said memory device a unique value identifying said pack,
• connecting said pack to said analyzer to enable said analyzer to withdraw fluids from said pack,
• causing said analyzer to read said unique value from said memory device,
• storing said unique value in said analyzer,
• storing in said analyzer a value indicative of a predetermined number of uses of said pack,
• determining when an actual use has been made of said pack by said analyzer,
• maintaining in the analyzer a stored number of actual uses of said pack,
• comparing the predetermined number of uses with the number of actual uses, and
• determining whether or not to allow said fluid to be withdrawn from said pack based on the results of said comparing.

A method for controlling the use of a fluids pack on a chemistry analyzer, comprising

• associating an electronic memory device with said pack,
• storing in said memory device a value indicative of a time interval between successive calibrations,
• connecting said pack to said analyzer to enable said analyzer to withdraw fluids from said pack,
• causing said analyzer to read said calibration information from said memory, and
• causing said analyzer to perform said calibration at times based on said calibration information.