Analyzers

Claim 2

An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the catcher plate (110, 120, 122, 124, 128, 130) comprises a frame (120) having opposed, raised shoulders (122, 124) dimensioned to retain a test element (E) therebetween to prevent the test element (E) being displaced.

Claim 3

An analyzer according to claim 2, further including a central support member (128) disposed between the shoulders (122, 124) and flexibly connected to the frame (120) to allow relative flexing between the central support member (128) and the frame (120) in and out of the plane of the frame (120).

Claim 4

An analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the central support member (128) is cantilevered from the frame (120) at only one side (130) thereof to provide the relative flexing.

Claim 5

An analyzer according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the shoulders (122, 124) are respectively disposed on the leading and trailing edges of the plate (110, 120, 122, 124, 128, 130) as it is moved along the track (160, 162, 164) from the wash station (70), the leading edge shoulder (122) being provided with a cam surface sloped sufficiently to allow the frame (120) to ride under a test element (E') which is on the plate (110, 120, 122, 124, 128, 130) if the test element (E') is held from movement along the track (160, 162, 164) when the frame (120) is moved.

Claim 6

An analyzer according to any one of the preceding claims, further including inject path defining means for defining an inject path (29, 32) for injecting a test element (E) into a station (30).

Claim 7

An analyzer according to claim 6, wherein the inject path (29, 32) is disposed to intersect the track means (160, 162, 164) at an intersect location, and stop means (180, 182, 184, 186, 190, 192) are included adjacent the inject path (29, 32) and the intersect location for preventing a test element (E) at that location from being moved off the inject path (29, 32).

Claim 8

An analyzer according to claim 7, wherein the stop means (180, 182, 184, 186, 190, 192) is flexibly attached to the track defining means (160, 162, 164) and further includes a camming surface (190, 192) shaped to allow the stop means (180, 182, 184, 186, 190, 192) to ride up over a test element (E) being moved by the catcher plate (110, 120, 122, 124, 128, 130).

Claim 9

An analyzer according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further including bias means (200, 202, 203, 204, 208) below the inject path defining means for biasing a portion (128) of the plate (110, 120, 122, 124, 128, 130) upwardly it is moved by the drive means (132, 139, 140, 142, 160, 162, 164, 170, 172) into the intersect location.

Claim 10

An analyzer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the track-defining means (160, 162, 164) include a bottom member and a cover plate, the cover plate and member being spaced vertically apart a distance sufficient to accommodate the catcher plate (110, 120, 122, 124, 128, 130), the cover plate including, at the wash station, restraining means (300) for catching and holding a test element (E) against further movement along the track away from the discharge path (82), and wherein the track-defining means (160, 162, 164) and the drive means (132, 139, 140, 142, 160, 164, 170, 172) are constructed to move the plate (110, 120, 122, 124, 128, 130) farther away from the discharge path (82) than where the restraining means (300) catches a test element (E), so that the leading edge cam surface forces a test element (E) against the cover plate.

Claim 11

An analyzer (10) comprising an incubator (40), inject path defining means for injecting a test element (E) containing a sample liquid along an inject path (29, 32) into the incubator (40), discharge path defining means for defining a discharge path (82) for receiving test elements (E) ejected from the incubator (40), a processing station (70) exterior to the incubator (40), intercepting means (110, 120, 122, 124, 128, 130) for intercepting a test element (E) ejected along the discharge path (82), and drive means (132, 139, 140, 142, 160, 162, 164, 170, 172) for moving an intercepted test element (E) along a track between the discharge path (82) and the exterior processing station (70), characterized in that the intercepting means (110, 120, 122, 124, 128, 130) comprises a movable flexible support constructed to catch and hold an ejected test element (E), and wherein the drive means (132, 139, 140, 142, 160, 162, 164, 170, 172) comprise a drive (140) for reciprocating the support along the track between the discharge path (82) and the processing station (70).

Claim 12

An analyzer (10) comprising a plurality of processing stations (20, 30, 40, 50, 52, 70, 80) including an incubator (40), inject path defining means for injecting a test element (E) bearing a sample liquid along a first path (29, 32) into one of the processing stations (40), ejecting means for ejecting a test element (E) from the one station (40), and discharge path defining means for defining a second path (82) for carrying an ejected test element (E) away from the one station (40), characterized in that a stop mechanism (180, 182, 184, 186, 190, 192) is provided between the first path (29, 32) and the second path (82), the mechanism including a) a shoulder adjacent the first path to prevent a test element (E) on the first path (29, 32) from moving off it towards the second path (82), and b) a camming surface (190, 192) under and adjacent to the stop shoulder, the camming surface (190, 192) being shaped to cause the stop mechanism (180, 182, 184, 186, 190, 192) to ride up over a test element (E) moved from the vicinity of the second path (82) to the first path (29, 32) so that a test element (E) can be moved only from the second path (82) to the first path (29, 32) and not from the first path (29, 32) to the second path (82).

Claim 13

An analyzer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the track-defining means (160, 162, 164) are arcuately shaped to define an arcuate track.

Claim 14

A test element support for use in an analyzer which analyzes analytes of a body liquid contained in a test element (E), the support comprising a plate (110, 120, 122, 124, 128, 130) having a frame (120), a central portion (128) within and flexibly secured to the frame (120), and raised shoulders (122, 124) on opposite edges of the frame (120) dimensioned to retain a test element (E) therebetween to prevent a held element (E) from being displaced off the support, the central portion (128) being cantilevered from the frame (120) at only one side thereof so as to be capable of flexing in and out of the plane of the frame (120).

Claim 15

A test element support according to claim 14, wherein one of the shoulders (122) is provided with an upwardly projecting cam surface sloped sufficiently to allow the frame (120) to ride under a test element (E) which is on the support if the test element (E) is held from movement with the support.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 16, wherein the catching step comprises inserting a plate into the path of an ejected test element, the shuttling step comprises moving the plate and its test element to the wash station, and the returning step comprises moving the plate and its test element back into the first station.