Automatic immunochemistry analyzing apparatus and method

A system for analyzing a reaction between reagents in a nephelometer, comprising:

• a reaction cuvette;
• means for sensing the temperature of the reaction cuvette with first temperature sensor means and selectively heating or cooling the cuvette to maintain the temperature in a predetermined temperature range;
• means for sensing the temperature of reagents with second temperature sensor means, the reagents being delivered by a reagent delivery means for injecting at least one reagent into the reaction cuvette and selectively increasing or decreasing the temperature of the reagents independently of said cuvette to maintain the temperature of the reagents in a predetermined temperature range;
• means for injecting an antigen reagent and an antibody reagent into the reaction cuvette for containing the reagents during the reaction wherein the means for injecting the reagent includes:
• (a) means for aspirating a selected antigen reagent sample into a sample probe from a sample pick up station;
• (b) means for automatically transporting said sample from said sample pick up station to said reaction cuvette;
• (c) means for aspirating an antibody reagent from an antibody pick up station into an antibody probe means;
• and
• (d) means for transporting the antibody from the antibody pick up station to said reaction cuvette;
• and
• means for monitoring the reaction of the antigen and antibody by processing light scattered from the reaction in a nephelometer.

A system for analyzing a light scattering reaction between reagents in a nephelometer, comprising:

• a reaction cuvette;
• means for sensing the temperature of the reaction cuvette with first temperature sensor means;
• means for sensing the temperature of reagents with second temperature sensor means, the reagents being delivered by a reagent delivery means for injecting reagents into the reaction cuvette;
• means for selectively increasing or decreasing the temperatures of at least one of the reagents and the reaction cuvette independently of the other to maintain the temperature in a predetermined range;
• means for combining different quantities of a diluent with a sample reagent and establishing different concentrations of sample reagent;
• means for providing a range of different buffers and transferring a selected buffer to the reaction cuvette;
• means for injecting selected reagents into the reaction cuvette;
• and
• means for analyzing the reaction between the reagents by processing the light scattered from the reaction in the reaction cuvette.

A system for analyzing a reaction between reagents in a nephelometer, comprising:

• a reaction cuvette means for sensing the temperature of the reaction cuvette with first temperature sensor means and selectively heating or cooling the cuvette to maintain the temperature in a predetermined temperature range, the reaction cuvette being for containing the reagents during the reaction;
• means for sensing the temperature of reagents with second temperature sensor means, the reagents being delivered by a reagent delivery means for injecting at least one reagent into the reaction cuvette, and selectively increasing or decreasing the temperature of the reagents independently of said cuvette to maintain the temperature in a predetermined temperature range;
• means for combining different quantities of a diluent with a selected antigen reagent sample and establishing different concentrations of the sample;
• means for providing a range of different reaction buffers and transferring a selected reaction buffer to the reaction cuvette via the reagent delivery means;
• means for injecting an antigen reagent and an antibody reagent into the reaction cuvette, wherein the means for injecting the reagents include:
• (a) means for aspirating a selected concentration of the antigen reagent sample into a sample probe from a sample pick up station,
• (b) means for transporting said sample from said sample pick up station to said reaction cuvette,
• (c) means for aspirating an antibody reagent from an antibody pick up station into an antibody probe means, and
• (d) means for transporting the antibody from the antibody pick up station to said reaction cuvette;
• and
• means for monitoring the reaction of the antigen and antibody by processing light scattered from the reaction in the reaction cuvette.

A system for analyzing a light scattering reaction between reagents in a nephelometer, comprising:

• a reaction cuvette;
• means for sensing the temperature of a reaction cuvette with first temperature sensor means;
• means for sensing the temperature of reagents with second temperature sensor means, the reagents being delivered by a reagent delivery means for injecting at least one reagent to the reaction cuvette;
• means for selectively increasing or decreasing the temperature independently of at least one of the reagents and reaction cuvette to maintain the temperature in a predetermined temperature range;
• means for combining different quantities of a diluent with a sample reagent and establishing different concentrations of sample reagent;
• means for injecting selected reagents into the reaction cuvette;
• and
• means for analyzing the reaction between the reagents by processing the light scattered from the reaction in the reaction cuvette.

A system for analyzing a reaction between reagents in a nephelometer comprising:

• a reaction cuvette;
• means for sensing the temperature of the reaction cuvette with first temperature sensor means and selectively heating or cooling the cuvette to maintain the temperature in a predetermined temperature range, the reaction cuvette being for containing reagents during the reaction;
• means for sensing the temperature of reagents with second temperature sensor means, the reagents being delivered by a reagent delivery means for injecting at least one reagent into the reaction cuvette and selectively increasing or decreasing the temperature of the reagents independently of the cuvette to maintain the temperature in a predetermined temperature range;
• means for combining different quantities of a diluent with a selected antigen reagent sample and establishing different concentrations of the sample;
• means for injecting an antigen reagent and an antibody reagent into the reaction cuvette for containing the reagents during the reaction wherein means for injecting the reagent, includes:
• (a) means for aspirating a selected antigen reagent sample into a sample probe from a sample pick up station,
• (b) means for transporting said sample from said sample pick up station to said reaction cuvette,
• (c) means for aspirating an antibody reagent from an antibody pick up station into an antibody probe means, and
• (d) means for transporting the antibody from the antibody pick up station to said reaction cuvette;
• and
• means for monitoring the reaction of the antigen and antibody by processing light scattered from the reaction in the reaction cuvette.

A system for analyzing a light scattering reaction between reagents in a nephelometer, comprising:

• a reaction cuvette;
• means for sensing the temperature of the reaction cuvette with first temperature sensor means, the reaction cuvette being for containing the reagents during the reaction;
• means for sensing the temperature of reagent with second temperature sensor means;
• means for selectively increasing or decreasing the temperature of at least one of the reagents and reaction cuvette independently to maintain the temperature in a predetermined temperature range;
• means for providing a range of different reaction buffers and transferring a selected reaction buffer to the reaction cuvette;
• means for injecting reagents into the reaction cuvette;
• and
• means for analyzing the reaction between the reagents by processing the light scattered from the reaction in the reaction cuvette.

A system for analyzing a reaction between reagents in a nephelometer, comprising:

• a reaction cuvette;
• means for sensing the temperature of the reaction cuvette with first temperature sensor means and selectively heating or cooling the cuvette to maintain the temperature in a predetermined temperature range, the reaction cuvette being for containing the reagents during the reaction;
• means for sensing the temperature of reagents with second temperature sensor means, the reagents being delivered by a reagent delivery means for injecting at least one reagent into the reaction cuvette and selectively increasing or decreasing the temperature of the reagents independently of the cuvette to maintain the temperatures in a predetermined temperature range;
• means for providing a range of different buffers and transferring a selected reaction buffer to the reaction cuvette via the reagent delivery means;
• means injecting an antigen reagent and an antibody reagent into the reaction cuvette for containing the reagents during the reaction wherein the means for injecting the reagents, includes:
• (a) means for aspirating a selected antigen reagent sample into a sample probe from a sample pick up station,
• (b) means for transporting said sample from said sample pick up station to said reaction cuvette,
• (c) means for aspirating an antibody reagent from an antibody pick up station into an antibody probe means, and
• (d) means for transporting the antibody from the antibody pick up station in said reaction cuvette;
• and
• means for monitoring the reaction of the antigen and antibody by processing light scattered from the reaction in the reaction cuvette.

A system for analyzing a light scattering reaction between reagents in a nephelometer, comprising:

• a reaction cuvette;
• means for sensing the temperature of the reaction cuvette with first temperature sensor means, the reaction cuvette being for containing reagents during the reaction;
• means for sensing the temperature of reagents with a second temperature sensor means, the reagents being delivered by a reagent delivery means for injecting reagents to the reaction cuvette;
• means for selectively increasing or decreasing the temperature of at least one of the reagents and the reaction cuvette independently of the other;
• means for providing a range of different diluents to a sample reagent and establishing different concentrations of sample reagent;
• means for providing a range of different buffers and transferring a selected reaction buffer to the reaction cuvette;
• means for injecting selected reagents into the reaction cuvette;
• and
• means for analyzing the reaction between the reagents by processing the light scattered from the reaction in the reaction cuvette.