EP0397256A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Analyser featuring a circular track of cartridges centered on an incubator and method of use
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1990-05-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-05-04
Abstract
Abstract There are three different types of test elements which can be used in analyzers, namely CM (colorimetric) types, rate types and PM (potentiometric) types. Each type of element normally requires its own incubation and reading station. This has resulted in analyzers which have three incubators and read stations. This adds considerably to the cost of the analyzer, and the space which it occupies. Disclosed herein is an analyzer arrangement (20) which includes an incubator (500) and two circular paths (22, 24) are arranged around the incubator (500). Cartridges (C) are loaded with test elements (E, E') at a cartridge-loading station 300), the station (300) being disposed above the paths (22, 24) and positioned to one side of the incubator (500). A transfer device (400) is positioned at another location around the periphery of the incubator (500) and loads test elements from any cartridge (C) located on the circular paths (22, 24) into the incubator (500). An electrometer (360) is also positioned around the periphery of the incubator (500) for reading the incubated test elements. CM type and rate type test elements are read within the incubator (500).
Inventors
- 👤 James David C/O Eastman Kodak Company Shaw
- 👤 Frank Martin C/O Eastman Kodak Company Muszak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/00029; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/53; G01N2035/00039; G01N2035/00049; G01N2035/00079; G01N2035/00089; G01N2035/00346; G01N2035/00356; G01N2035/00455; G01N35/00584; G01N35/00722; G01N35/00732; G01N2035/00742; G01N2035/00752; G01N35/02; G01N35/04; G01N2035/0439; G01N2035/0458
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
An analyzer for assaying for analytes of a body liquid on dried test elements, the analyzer including:- means (C) for temporarily storing a stack of dried test elements (E, E′), the test elements (E, E′) in any one stack being for the same assay and are selected from any one of potentiometric, colorimetric or rate-type test elements; an incubator (500) for incubating test elements (E, E′) taken from a stack; and detection means (360) for detecting a change in a test element (E, E′) after incubation in the incubator (500); characterized in that the analyzer further includes at least one generally circular horizontal path (22, 24) centered generally on the incubator (500); moving means (30, 32, 38, 40) for moving the stack-storing means (C) around each path (22, 24); holding means (62) for temporarily holding the stack-storing means (C) on the moving means (30, 32, 38, 40), the holding means (62) being movable between at least two positions; and transfer means (400) for transferring a test element (E, E′) to the incubator (500) from any stack-storing means (C) held on a circular path (22, 24).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
An analyzer for assaying for analytes of a body liquid on dried test elements, the analyzer including:- means (C) for temporarily storing a stack of dried test elements (E, E′), the test elements (E, E′) in any one stack being for the same assay and are selected from any one of potentiometric, colorimetric or rate-type test elements; an incubator (500) for incubating test elements (E, E′) taken from a stack; and detection means (360) for detecting a change in a test element (E, E′) after incubation in the incubator (500); characterized in that the analyzer further includes at least one generally circular horizontal path (22, 24) centered generally on the incubator (500); moving means (30, 32, 38, 40) for moving the stack-storing means (C) around each path (22, 24); holding means (62) for temporarily holding the stack-storing means (C) on the moving means (30, 32, 38, 40), the holding means (62) being movable between at least two positions; and transfer means (400) for transferring a test element (E, E′) to the incubator (500) from any stack-storing means (C) held on a circular path (22, 24).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the moving means comprises first moving means (30) and second moving means (32), the holding means (61, 62, 63) including a holding member (62) mounted on the first moving means (30) which is operable for moving between a first position in which the stack-storing means (C) is held on the path (22, 24) and a second position in which the stack-storing means (C) is released from the path (22, 24), and further including a third moving means (86; 110, 112; 110B, 112B) operable to cause the holding member (62) to move between the first and second positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An analyzer according to claim 2, wherein the holding means (61, 62, 63) include biasing means (90) for biasing the holding member (62) into the first position, the third moving means (86) being capable of overriding the biasing means (90) to move the holding member (62) to the second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each path (22, 24) comprises a ring (30, 32) having a support surface for supporting the stack-storing means (C), cut-out portions (60) being formed in the support surface, each of which is of sufficient in size to accommodate a stack-storing means (C).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
An analyzer according to claim 4, wherein the stack-storing means comprise a cartridge and the holding member comprises a frame (62) including a cartridge-support shoulder (82) disposed at the same level as the support surface, and mounting means (74, 76) for slidably mounting the frame (62) on the support surface and partially within the cut-out portions (60) so as to move between the first position and the second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An analyzer according to claim 4 or 5, further including a second generally circular horizontal path (24) centered on the incubator (500) and spaced from the at least one path (22), and further moving means (32) for moving the stack-storing means (C) around the second path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
An analyzer according to claim 5 or 6, further including discharge means (326, 327) associated with each of the paths (22, 24) for discharging a stack-storing means (C) which previously contained a stack from the paths (22, 24) when the stack-storing means (C) is moved by the third moving means (86).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An analyzer according to claim 7, wherein the discharge means comprise a door (326, 326′), an exit port (327), and door-moving means (330) for slidably moving the door to cover or uncover the exit port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An analyzer according to claim 8, wherein the door-moving means comprise a single motor connected to actuate independently the door for each of the paths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the third moving means comprise sliding means (86) provided for slidably moving the holding means between two positions on a radius of the circular path (22, 24), one of the positions being one in which a stack-storing means (C) is allowed to fall, and the other being one in which the stack-storing means (C) is supported.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
An analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the holding means comprise a frame member (62) including first supporting means (82) which fits under the stack-storing means (C) to support it, and the moving means include second supporting means (63) opposite to the first means (82) and fitting under a stack-storing means (C) for supporting it, the sliding means (86) being effective to move the first and second supporting means far enough apart in one position to cause a stack-storing means (C) to fall between them.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the moving means comprise a generally flat annular ring (30, 32) having a plurality of spaced-apart cut-out portions (60) formed therein, each cut-out portion having a size and shape to accommodate a stack-storing means (C), a portion of the ring at one edge of the cut-out shape being provided with a first pair of inwardly projecting shoulders (63), and a motor (38, 40) operable to rotate the ring around the circular path (22, 24).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
An analyzer according to any one of the preceding claims, further including depositing means (550) for depositing a patient liquid onto a test element removed by the transfer means (400) from the stack-storing means (C), the depositing means being positionable adjacent to the incubator (500) and the transfer means (400).
Claim 15
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for supplying a test element (E, E′) to an incubator (500), each test element (E, E′) being selected from any one of three different types of test elements, the method comprising the steps of :- supplying slide-like test elements as a plurality of stacks, the test elements of each stack being identical within the stack, mounting the stacks on at least one generally circular path (22, 24) surrounding a central incubator (500), moving the stacks around the path until a selected stack reaches a predetermined position, and transferring a test element (E, E′) from the stack at the predetermined position to the incubator (500).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for supplying a test element (E, E′) to an incubator (500), each test element (E, E′) being selected from any one of three different types of test elements, the method comprising the steps of :- supplying slide-like test elements as a plurality of stacks, the test elements of each stack being identical within the stack, mounting the stacks on at least one generally circular path (22, 24) surrounding a central incubator (500), moving the stacks around the path until a selected stack reaches a predetermined position, and transferring a test element (E, E′) from the stack at the predetermined position to the incubator (500).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein each stack is held in a cartridge (C), and further including the step of discarding a cartridge (C) from the path when all the elements (E, E′) from the stack have been transferred.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the discarding step comprises the step of dropping the cartridge away from the path (22, 24).
Claim 19
Independent Claim
32 words
A method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the transferring step comprises pushing a test element (E, E′) off the top of the stack into the incubator (500).
Claim 20
Independent Claim
58 words
A method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the transferring step comprises first transferring a test element to a position (A) outside the incubator (500), dispensing a sample liquid onto the transferred test element at the outside position, and thereafter transferring the dispensed sample and test element from the outside position into the incubator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for temporarily supporting a stack of planar slide-like elements (E, E′), in a cartridge (C) held in a predetermined vertical direction, the apparatus comprising means (62) for temporarily holding a cartridge of elements, means (30, 32, 38, 40) for moving the holding means along a generally circular path (22, 24) around a center, characterized in that the apparatus includes means (86, 90) for slidably moving the holding means between two positions on a radius of the circular path, one of the positions being one which allows a cartridge to fall, and the other of the positions being one which holds up a cartridge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for temporarily supporting a stack of planar slide-like elements (E, E′), in a cartridge (C) held in a predetermined vertical direction, the apparatus comprising means (62) for temporarily holding a cartridge of elements, means (30, 32, 38, 40) for moving the holding means along a generally circular path (22, 24) around a center, characterized in that the apparatus includes means (86, 90) for slidably moving the holding means between two positions on a radius of the circular path, one of the positions being one which allows a cartridge to fall, and the other of the positions being one which holds up a cartridge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the cartridge-holding means (62) comprise opposite shoulders (63, 82) configured to fit under a portion of a cartridge (C) and the slidable moving means is constructed to move the shoulders (63, 82) together and apart.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the slidable moving means comprise biasing means (90) for biasing the opposite shoulders (63, 82) together to occupy the other position, and means (86) for overcoming the biasing means (90) to move the opposite shoulders (63, 82) apart into the one position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the moving means comprise a generally flat annular ring (30, 32) having a plurality of spaced-apart cut-out portions (60) therein each having a size and shape to accommodate a cartridge (C), a portion of the ring (30, 32) at one edge of the cut-out shape being provided with a pair of inwardly projecting shoulders (63), and a motor (38, 40) operable to rotate the ring (30, 32) around the circular path (22, 24), and the holding means comprise a frame (62) on the ring (30, 32) with a second pair of shoulders (82) projecting towards the first pair.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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