Patent EP0287900A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0287900A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking rack and disposable sample cartridge
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
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Filing: 1988-04-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of disposable cartridges (20), each having a plurality of wells including at least one assay reaction well, are loaded in a plurality of openings arranged radially around a rack (30) of a carousel (10). Securing of the cartridges in a predetermined orientation and position in said openings is ensured by means of alignment and securing means on the cartridges and corresponding means on the rack. A locking hub (40) with tangs is mounted on the rack and is rotated to cause the tangs to contact locator tabs on each cartridge to force locator nubs on each of the cartridges radially into corresponding notches on the rack, and to accurately wedge the cartridges against the outer periphery of the rack. The carousel indexes for positioning the cartridges under a variety of stations, one of which generally contains an optical reader such as a fluorometer.
Inventors
- 👤 Cass J. Grandone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for holding assay and other biological sample-containing cartridges, comprising: rack means having a plurality of openings arranged radially around the circumference thereof for holding a corresponding plurality of cartridges; each opening containing means for aligning a cartridge in a predetermined orientation in the opening, each opening further containing means for securing a said cartridge against movement from a precise predetermined position in the opening; and actuatable locking means mounted to rack means having means adapted to cooperate with means for securing of each opening to secure each cartridge against movement from a precise predetermined position in each opening when locking means is actuated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for holding assay and other biological sample-containing cartridges, comprising: rack means having a plurality of openings arranged radially around the circumference thereof for holding a corresponding plurality of cartridges; each opening containing means for aligning a cartridge in a predetermined orientation in the opening, each opening further containing means for securing a said cartridge against movement from a precise predetermined position in the opening; and actuatable locking means mounted to rack means having means adapted to cooperate with means for securing of each opening to secure each cartridge against movement from a precise predetermined position in each opening when locking means is actuated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein rack means comprises substantially circular rotatable rack means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein means for aligning includes lateral alignment means including notch means formed in a surface of rack means at least partially defining the opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein means for securing includes substantially vertical rail means at least partially defining the opening, rail means being provided to restrict lateral movement of each cartridge in each opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein means for securing includes means adapted to form a secure downward fit with at least a portion of the cartridge in response to the actuation of locking means to restrict vertical and radial movement of each cartridge in each opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a plurality of tang means corresponding to said plurality of openings, each said tang means being adapted to contact a portion of a cartridge in each said opening to urge each said cartridge radially into secure mating contact with said means for aligning and said means for securing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein locking means is rotatably mounted to rack means, and is operative to urge each cartridge into secure mating contact with a single rotational actuation operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
A disposable cartridge for containing assays and other biological samples and solutions, the cartridge being adapted to be held in an opening of a rack having a plurality of such openings for holding a plurality of such cartridges, the rack having an actuatable locking mechanism mounted thereto for securing disposable cartridges in the openings when the mechanism is actuated, the cartridge comprising: a plurality of wells for containing assays and other biological samples and solutions; alignment means for aligning the cartridge in a predetermined orientation in said opening; and securing means adapted to be contacted by a portion of the locking mechanism when mechanism is actuated for urging the cartridge into a precise predetermined position in the opening wherein the cartridge is held secured against movement by the locking mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
130 words
A disposable cartridge for containing assays and other biological samples and solutions, the cartridge being adapted to be held in an opening of a rack having a plurality of such openings for holding a plurality of such cartridges, the rack having an actuatable locking mechanism mounted thereto for securing disposable cartridges in the openings when the mechanism is actuated, the cartridge comprising: a plurality of wells for containing assays and other biological samples and solutions; alignment means for aligning the cartridge in a predetermined orientation in said opening; and securing means adapted to be contacted by a portion of the locking mechanism when mechanism is actuated for urging the cartridge into a precise predetermined position in the opening wherein the cartridge is held secured against movement by the locking mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The disposable cartridge defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of the wells contains a fibrous matrix adapted to perform a solid-phase assay.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The disposable cartridge defined in claim 8 wherein said securing means includes means for securing the cartridge against movement radially, means for securing the cartridge against movement laterally, and means for securing the cartridge against movement vertically from a predetermined position after the locking mechanism has been actuated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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