EP0355823A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for effecting the automatic analytical testing of samples
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1989-08-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A diagnostic instrument and method indexes plural, sequentially actuated reaction vessels, stepwise to several processing positions. Several positions effecting wash have wash probes that are gauged together. Sample and/or reagent are not added to a number of vessels leading and trailing sample containing vessels. The processing means is controlled according to different time-templates and the first use of the wash means occurs in the same cycle for different sets of analytical tests.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul F. Laska
- 👤 Kuoko Imai
- 👤 Hiroshi Hashimoto
- 👤 Hajime Betsui
- 👤 Hiroshi Umetsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N35/00; G01N35/00584; G01N35/00722; G01N35/00732; G01N33/543; G01N33/54366; G01N35/0092; G01N35/0098; G01N35/02; G01N35/025; G01N2035/00346; G01N2035/00435; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/113332; Y10T436/114165; Y10T436/115831
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
In an automatic analytical apparatus for performing immunoassays on samples using a solid support, the assays having bound and free phases, the bound phase being bound to the solid support, the apparatus adapted to receive a plurality of reaction vessels, and having a plurality of sequentially located processing positions, means to stepwise index the reaction vessels in sequence to the several processing positions for an analysis cycle, the index means effecting at least two cycles, the positions alternatively having means to add sample and/or reagents, to incubate, to wash, or to measure the contents of the vessels, the improvement wherein: the wash means includes at least two wash probes coupled for simultaneous insertion into different reaction vessels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an automatic analytical apparatus for performing immunoassays on samples using a solid support, the assays having bound and free phases, the bound phase being bound to the solid support, the apparatus adapted to receive a plurality of reaction vessels, and having a plurality of sequentially located processing positions, means to stepwise index the reaction vessels in sequence to the several processing positions for an analysis cycle, the index means effecting at least two cycles, the positions alternatively having means to add sample and/or reagents, to incubate, to wash, or to measure the contents of the vessels, the improvement wherein: the wash means includes at least two wash probes coupled for simultaneous insertion into different reaction vessels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein the wash probes are positioned contiguous the first one of the sample and/or reagent position in the sequence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for adding sample and/or reagents is disabled each cycle for a number of vessels leading and/or trailing the first and last vessels receiving sample or reagent, the number corresponding to the number of processing positions between the insertable wash probes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for adding sample and/or reagents is disabled each cycle for a number of vessels leading and/or trailing the first and last vessels receiving sample or reagent, the number corresponding to the number of processing positions between the insertable wash probes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement as set forth in claim 3 wherein the processing means are controlled according to different time-templates, each time-template controlling a different set of immunoassays to effect the first use of the wash means in the same cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein the processing means are controlled according to different time-templates, each time-template controlling a different set of immunoassays to effect the first use of the wash means in the same cycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement set forth in claim 2 wherein the processing means are controlled according to different time-templates, each time-template controlling a different set of immunoassays to effect the first use of the wash means in the same cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement set forth in claim 3 wherein the processing means are controlled according to different time-templates, each time-template controlling a different set of immunoassays to effect the first use of the wash means in the same cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein the probes are connected together and which includes means for removing the probes from the processing positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement set forth in claim 10 wherein the wash probes are position contiguous the first one of the sample and/or reagent position in the sequence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement set forth in claim 10 wherein the means for adding sample and/or reagents is disabled each cycle for a number of vessels leading and/or trailing the first and last vessels receiving sample or reagent, the number corresponding to the number of processing positions between the insertable wash probes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement set forth in claim 12 wherein the processing means are controlled according to different time- templates, each time-template controlling a different set of immunoassays to effect the first use of the wash means in the cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein the wash means includes an additional pair of wash probes coupled for simultaneous insertion into different reaction vessels, the additional pair being insertable independently of the two wash probes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement set forth in claim 13 wherein the two and the additional pair of wash probes are connected together and which includes means for removing the probes from the processing positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement set forth in claim 14 wherein the wash probes are positioned contiguous the first one of the sampe and/or reagent position in the sequence.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement set forth in claim 14 wherein the means for adding sample and/or reagents is disabled each cycle for a number of vessels leading and/or trailing the first and last vessels receiving sample or reagent, the number corresponding to the number of processing positions between the insertable wash probes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement set forth in claim 14 wherein the processing means are controlled according to different time-templates, each time-template controlling a different set of immunoassays to effect the first use of the wash means in the same cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein the index means indexes the reaction vessels uniformly with respect to time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement set forth in claim 18 wherein the wash probes are positioned contiguous the first one of the sampe and/or reagent position in the sequence.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement set forth in claim 19 wherein the means for adding sample and/or reagents is disabled each cycle for a number of vessels leading and/or trailing the first and last vessels receiving sample or reagent, the number corresponding to the number of processing positions between the insertable wash probes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement set forth in claim 19 wherein the processing means are controlled according to different time-templates, each time-template controlling a different set of immunoassays to effect the first use of the wash means in the same cycle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the index means is a rotatable wheel with the reaction vessels located about the periphery of the wheel, the wheel having a peripheral sector not adapted to receive a number of reaction vessels, corresponding to the processing positions between the insertable wash probes.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for performing immunoassays on samples using solid supports, the assays having bound and free phases with the bound phase bound to the solid support, and a plurality of reaction vessels comprising the steps of: indexing, during a cycle the reaction vessels to successive processing positions at which alternatively and/or simultaneously sample and/or reagents are added to the vessels, the vessels are washed using wash probes, or the contents of the vessels are incubated or measured, repeating the cycle, and simultaneously during each cycle inserting the wash probes into different, spaced vessels.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for performing immunoassays on samples using solid supports, the assays having bound and free phases with the bound phase bound to the solid support, and a plurality of reaction vessels comprising the steps of: indexing, during a cycle the reaction vessels to successive processing positions at which alternatively and/or simultaneously sample and/or reagents are added to the vessels, the vessels are washed using wash probes, or the contents of the vessels are incubated or measured, repeating the cycle, and simultaneously during each cycle inserting the wash probes into different, spaced vessels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method set forth in claim 23 including the steps of adding neither sample nor reagent to a consecutive number of vessels leading and trailing the first and last vessels receiving sample or reagent, the number corresponding to the number of processing positions between the spaced vessels.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method set forth in claim 24 wherein the reaction vessels are indexed over plural cycles according to different time-templates for the respective immunoassays under which time-templates the first vessel washing occurs in the same cycle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method set forth in claim 25 wherein following a first use of the wash means, if any time-template effects a second use of the wash means during a subsequent cycle, all other templates still controlling the processing means also effect a second use of the wash means during such subsequent cycle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method set forth in claim 23 wherein the reaction vessels are indexed over plural cycles according to different time-templates for the respective immunoassays under which time-templates the first vessel washing occurs in the same cycle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method set forth in claim 27 wherein following a first use of the wash means, if any time-template effects a second use of the wash means during a subsequent cycle, all other templates still controlling the processing means also effect a second use of the wash means during such subsequent cycle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method set forth in claim 23 wherein following a first use of the wash means, if any time-template effects a second use of the wash means during a subsequent cycle, all other templates still controlling the processing means also effect a second use of the wash means during such subsequent cycle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method set forth in claim 23 including the setps of: dispensing sample and/or reagent to a first number of reaction vessels. adding neither sample nor reagent to a consecutive number of reaction vessels leading and trailing a second number of consecutively positional reaction vessels, which second number follow the first number of reaction vessels, the consecutive number corresponding to the number of processing positions between the spaced vessels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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