Automatic immunological measuring system

An automatic enzyme immunoassay apparatus comprising, in a first level, cartridge transportation means for transporting rectangular cartridges each having at least two successively arranged wells, a first one of said wells containing solid phase material carrying antigen or antibody and a second one of said wells containing enzyme labelled antigen or antibody, to a predetermined position in said first level one by one in sequence, and lift means for lifting up said rectangular cartridges transported thereto by said cartridge transportation means to a second level one by one;

• and, in said second level, a reaction line movable steppingly with a predetermined interval for receiving said rectangular cartridges lifted up thereto by said lift means at a first position set along said reaction line, successively;
• pouring means disposed at a second position set along said reaction line for aspirating sample from a sample cassette and pouring it to said first well of said rectangular cartridge moved to said second position;
• stirring means disposed at a third position along said reaction line for mixing and stirring said sample, said solid phase material carrying antigen or antibody and said enzyme labelled antigen or antibody in said first well of said rectangular cartridge moved to said third position;
• bind/free separation and washing means disposed in a fourth position along said reaction line for performing bind/free separation in said first well of said rectangular cartridge moved to said fourth position and for removing free components thereof;
• means disposed at a fifth position along said reaction line for adding substrate to said first well to cause enzyme reaction;
• optical measuring means for detecting reaction in said first well of said rectangular cartridge after a predetermined time from a start of said enzyme reaction in said first well of said rectangular cartridge, and cartridge disposer means for picking up said rectangular cartridge from said reaction line after said detection completes and disposing it.

A method of enzyme immunoassay measurement, comprising the steps of:

• actuating a start button of an input portion of an apparatus to start a driving of a reaction line and to transport cartridges in a cartridge stocker one by one to a start position on said reaction line through a cartridge transportation mechanism and a cartridge lift mechanism;
• breaking a seal of said cartridges at a first position on said reaction line successively through a seal breaker;
• operating a selection button to select one of a plurality of programs stored in a program memory;
• actuating an aspirating/pouring portion to pick up a chip, aspirate a sample therein and pour it into a first well of a cartridge at a second position on said reaction line;
• after the chip is disposed, actuating said aspirating/pouring portion again to pick up another chip, aspirate a sample therein and pour it into a second well of said cartridge;
• activating a first stirring portion to stir a mixture in said first well of said cartridge at a third position on said reaction line;
• performing a B/F separation by a first magnetic B/F separator at a fourth position on said reaction line;
• washing out non-reacted free substance by means of a first washing portion at a fifth position on said reaction line;
• adding substrate to said first well by a substrate pouring portion and stirring in a second stirring portion at a sixth position on said reaction line;
• and
• measuring a reaction optically by a measuring portion at a seventh position on the reaction line.

A method of enzyme immunoassay measurement, comprising the steps of:

• actuating a start button of an input portion of an apparatus to start a drive of a reaction line and to transport cartridges in a cartridge stocker one by one to a start position on said reaction line through a cartridge transportation mechanism and a cartridge lift mechanism;
• breaking a seal of said cartridges at a first position on said reaction line successively through a seal breaker;
• operating a selection button to select one of a plurality of programs stored in a program memory;
• actuating an aspirating/pouring portion to pick up a chip, aspirate a sample therein and pour it into a first well of a cartridge at a second position of said reaction line;
• after the chip is disposed, actuating said aspirating/pouring portion again to pick up another chip, aspirate a sample therein and pour it into a second well of said cartridge at a third position on said reaction line;
• activating a first stirring portion to stir a mixture in said first well of said cartridge at a fourth position on said reaction line;
• pouring said sample into said first well of said cartridge at a fifth position on said reaction line;
• performing a B/F separation by a first magnetic B/F separator at a sixth position on said reaction line;
• washing out non-reacted free substance by means of a first washing portion at a seventh position on said reaction line;
• adding substrate to said first well and stirring it at a seventh position on said reaction line;
• and
• measuring a reaction optically by a measuring portion at a seventh position on the reaction line.

A method of enzyme immunoassay measurement, comprising the steps of:

• actuating a start button of an input portion of an apparatus to start a drive of a reaction line and to transport cartridges in a cartridge stocker one by one to a start position on said reaction line through a cartridge transportation mechanism and a cartridge lift mechanism;
• breaking a seal of said cartridges at a first position on said reaction line successively through a seal breaker;
• operating a selection button to select one of a plurality of programs stored in a program memory;
• pouring a sample into a first well of a cartridge at a second position on said reaction line;
• stirring said first well at a third position on said reaction line;
• performing a B/F separation and washing at a third position on said reaction line;
• adding an enzyme labelled substance to said first well and stirring it at a fourth position on said reaction line;
• performing a B/F separation and washing at a fifth position on said reaction line;
• stirring said first well at a sixth position on said reaction line;
• performing a B/F separation and washing at a seventh position on said reaction line;
• adding a substrate to said first well and stirring it at an eighth position on said reaction line;
• and
• measuring a reaction by a measuring portion at a ninth position on said reaction line.

A method of enzyme immunoassay measurement, comprising the steps of:

• actuating a start button of an input portion of an apparatus to start a drive of a reaction line and to transport cartridges in a cartridge stocker one by one to a start position on said reaction line through a cartridge transportation mechanism and a cartridge lift mechanism;
• breaking a seal of said cartridges at a first position on said reaction line successively through a seal breaker;
• operating a selection button to select one of a plurality of programs stored in a program memory;
• adding diluent to a second well of a cartridge at a second position on said reaction line;
• pouring a sample into said second well of said cartridge at a third position on said reaction line;
• pouring a portion of a diluted sample in said second well into a first well and stirring it at a fourth position on said reaction line;
• performing a B/F separation and washing at a fifth position on said reaction line;
• adding an enzyme labelled substance to said first well and stirring it at a sixth position on said reaction line;
• performing a B/F separation and washing at a seventh position on said reaction line;
• stirring said fist well at an eighth position on said reaction line;
• performing a B/F separation and washing at a ninth position on said reaction line;
• adding a substrate to said first well and stirring it at a tenth position on said reaction line;
• and
• measuring a reaction by a measuring portion at an eleventh position on said reaction line.