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US 5,324,481 AGranted
Carousel for assay specimen carrier
AssigneeAbbott Laboratories
InventorsChadwick M. Dunn, Cass J. Grandone, Stephen L. Herchenbach, Robert J. Nelson, James T. Tyranski, Gary L. Zuck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assay carrier for carrying and positioning a plurality of reaction cells each carrying a single assay, and for carrying and positioning a plurality of reagent packs, for use in selectively performing any one of a plurality of immunoassays on each of the plurality of cells in the carrier.
Claims18
An apparatus for use in a biological sample analyzer, said apparatus comprising:
- a. an outer, compartmentalized ring having inner and outer perimeters for defining a carousel with a plurality of compartments, each compartment adapted for receiving a cartridge for holding a test sample, wherein said ring includes an upstanding inner side wall about said inner perimeter, said ring inner side wall having a top edge and a bottom edge;
- b. a centralized hub disposed inwardly of the outer ring
- c. a plurality of ribs radiating outwardly from said hub and supporting said ring above and concentric with said hub,
- d. a carousel carrier disposed above said hub and concentric with the inner perimeter of the ring, wherein said carrier comprises a well adapted for receiving a plurality of reagent packs, said well having an upstanding circular outer side wall having a top edge and a bottom edge, said outer side wall spaced radially outward from the hub and common with and forming a boundary with the carrier, said carrier further comprises:
- (i) a flange extending about a periphery of the top edge of said outer side wall and radiating outwardly therefrom;
- and
- (ii) resilient mounting tabs located on said side wall and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein said carrier may be installed in said ring by withdrawing the tabs to the retracted position and inserting said carrier axially in said ring with said flange engaging a top edge of said ring inner side wall and, when said tabs are moved to the extended position, the tabs engaging a bottom edge of said ring inner side wall;
- and
- e. a drive plate for communicating with a motive means for driving and indexing the apparatus.
6 more elements
An apparatus for use in a biological sample analyzer and for holding a plurality of cartridges for holding samples to be analyzed, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a carousel having an outer compartmentalized ring having inner and outer perimeters and a plurality of annular spaced compartments in said ring, each compartment adapted for receiving one of a plurality of cartridges, a central hub disposed inwardly of the ring, and a plurality of ribs radiating outwardly from the hub and supporting said ring above and concentric with the hub;
- b. a carousel carrier comprising a well having an upstanding circular outer side wall with a top edge and a bottom edge, said carrier well positioned above said hub with the outer side wall inside and concentric with the inner perimeter of the ring, the carrier further including an upstanding spindle concentric with and disposed inwardly of said carrier outer side wall, said spindle including an upper end having an enlarged locator surface extending radially outwardly from the spindle;
- c. a reagent pack means for holding a plurality of test reagents, said carrier adapted for receiving and carrying in said well a plurality of said reagent pack means, each of said reagent pack means including an upstanding support having a top and bottom, a locator means at the top of said support for aligning the reagent pack means with the locator surface on said spindle, whereby the support is positioned in the well;
- d. a drive plate mounted on said carousel for communicating with a motive means for indexing said carousel and said carrier;
- and
- e. means associated with said carousel and said carrier for directing an air flow of predetermined temperature into communication with the cartridges and the reagent pack means for maintaining the samples and test reagents therein within a predetermined temperature range.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.