Apparatus for the automated clinical analysis of samples
AssigneeGrifols, S.A.
InventorJosep Pagés Pinyol
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Abstract
The apparatus comprises an assembly of modules functionally interrelated with one another, and controlled by means of a central control unit in an embodiment of circular type in concentric rings of a reagent module and a rotatory carousel carrying the incubation reaction containers, with adjacent and external arrangement of a module for feeding the disposable reaction containers by means of detachable racks and a scanning device likewise concentric with the carousel, combining with a unit for feeding by pushing the reaction containers from the racks towards the grooves of the incubation carousel, and of two displacement arm devices.
Claims11
An apparatus for the automated clinical analysis of samples comprising:
- a circular reagent store having concentric rings for carrying reagent containers;
- a rotatory carousel having grooves for carrying reaction containers;
- a reaction container entry device adjacent the rotatory carousel for supplying the reaction containers by means of a detachable rack containing the reaction containers, wherein the reaction container entry device comprises a reaction container pushing device for feeding the rotatory carousel by pushing the reaction containers from the detachable rack towards the grooves of the rotatory carousel;
- a reagent arm device in a radial arrangement with respect to the circular reagent store, being capable of polar displacement for linking the reagent containers and the reaction containers and for moving the reaction containers out of the rotatory carousel;
- a scanning device concentric with the rotatory carousel capable of scanning reaction containers moved into the scanning device from the rotatory carousel by the reagent arm device;
- a linear arm device capable of rectilinear movement for linking tubes carrying samples with the reaction containers;
- a table for the entry and exit of supports for the tubes carrying samples, the table having a means for automatic displacement of said supports towards a continuous feeder for feeding the supports towards the linear arm device for pipetting the samples to the reaction containers;
- and
- a control unit for controlling the apparatus,
- wherein the reagent arm device comprises an end pushing device for pushing the reaction containers out of the rotatory carousel for removal.
An apparatus for the automated clinical analysis of samples comprising:
- a circular reagent store having concentric rings for carrying reagent containers;
- a rotatory carousel having grooves for carrying reaction containers;
- a reaction container entry device adjacent the rotatory carousel for supplying the reaction containers by means of a detachable rack containing the reaction containers, wherein the reaction container entry device comprises a reaction container pushing device for feeding the rotatory carousel by pushing the reaction containers from the detachable rack towards the grooves of the rotatory carousel;
- a reagent arm device in a radial arrangement with respect to the circular reagent store, being capable of polar displacement for linking the reagent containers and the reaction containers and for moving the reaction containers out of the rotatory carousel;
- a scanning device concentric with the rotatory carousel capable of scanning reaction containers moved into the scanning device from the rotatory carousel by the reagent arm device;
- a linear arm device capable of rectilinear movement for linking tubes carrying samples with the reaction containers;
- a table for the entry and exit of supports for the tubes carrying samples, the table having a means for automatic displacement of said supports towards a continuous feeder for feeding the supports towards the linear arm device for pipetting the samples to the reaction containers;
- and
- a control unit for controlling the apparatus,
- wherein the reagent arm device has a radial structure with respect to the circular reagent store and further comprises a means for rotation and radial displacement of the reagent arm and a probe for collecting reagents to be deposited in at least one of the reaction containers, and
- wherein the reagent arm device has an end pushing device for pushing the reaction containers out of the rotatory carousel for removal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.