Apparatus for analysing continuously discrete biological liquid samples

Claim 2

In analysis apparatus means for successively delivering discrete biological specimens to successive dilution containers at a station at which each specimen is to be diluted, means for diluting the samples in the dilution containers at the dilution station to produce from each successive sample a plurality of samples each of different dilution, a series of incubation containers, means for transferring a sample of selected dilution to one of said incubation containers, an incubator for incubating the selected diluted sample in the said incubation container and analysis means for analysing the diluted sample.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis means employs radioimmunoassay techniques.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising incubated-sample removal means comprising a pump operative to remove the incubated sample material from successive said incubation containers, capable of delivering a succession of wash fluid quantities to each said container and successively removing said wash fluid quantities whereby all solids of the sample are removed for analysis by the analysis means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the incubated sample removal means comprises a seal for sealing off each incubation container mouth, a probe for delivering air under pressure into the sealed container and an outlet through which the incubated sample and successive wash liquid quantities can be delivered to the analysis means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis apparatus includes a filter tape of glass fibre and a radiation counter.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1, including circuit means for controlling and effecting operation of the component parts of the apparatus.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 incorporating a plurality of remotely-controlled peristaltic pump units for delivering and transferring quantities of liquid to and from containers of the apparatus, and bellows incorporated in at least one said unit operable at the end of each delivery cycle of the unit to produce a suck-back action preventing the formation of drips at a delivery terminal.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a diaphragm sealing off the interior of the bellows from the biological liquid.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the peristaltic pump includes means for maintaining the correct alignment of the flexible tube thereof and means for adjusting the amount of liquid delivered by each cycle of the pump.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control means comprises a roller and means for adjusting its degree of contact with the tube at a position intermediate operational pinch rollers of the pump.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 7 comprising means for adjusting the timing of the active suction stroke of the bellows relatively to the peristaltic pump stroke.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the adjusting means comprises a first ring carrying a first contact, a second ring carrying a Second contact, a screwed arcuate member one end of which is secured to one of the rings and the other end is connected to the other ring, a projection on the other ring receiving the other end portion of the arcuate member and two nuts threaded on the arcuate member at opposite sides of the projection.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said diluting means comprises means identifying each said specimen and providing, in the form of a code, the appropriate degree of dilution required in the analysis, said transfer means being operable by the code to transfer the contents of a selected one of the dilution containers determined by one of the series of incubation containers.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the transfer means comprises an arm rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having a radial extension, and a probe carried on the radial extension, said arm being capable under the control of the identifying means of moving the probe into a selected one of the dilution containers and delivering the contents to one of the incubation containers.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 14 comprising drive means for the dilution containers including a wheel having radially extending pockets arranged to be engaged by the outside surfaces of the containers, and further comprising vibratory means arranged to impart vibration to the containers through an outer one of the longitudinal rows of containers whereby mixing of the diluent is accelerated.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising refrigerator means for storing the incubation containers together with the reagent used in the analysis.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for wiping surplus material from the transfer means after delivery of the selected diluted sample to the respective incubation container.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the surplus material wiping means comprises a twin layer strip of absorbent paper the layers of which are spaced apart with one layer lying above the other at least in the region of active wiping of the transfer means, and means for indexing the strip in synchronism with movements of the transfer means.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a disc rotatable about a vertical axis with two rows of peripheral apertures carrying specimen containers, the said disc incorporating inwardly of the peripheral apertures, sample identifying means in the form of pegs selectively inserted in one or more of a plurality of holes in the disc arranged in radial rows, each row being associated with a corresponding container aperture and substantially aligned with one of the undiluted specimen-container receiving apertures, and switch means, operable by said pegs, which switch means in turn activate the transfer means.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for delivering the undiluted specimen to each one of the plurality of dilution containers comprises a cam-controlled arm, a probe mounted on the arm and operable to dip into said undiluted specimen container, to pick up the sample, and successively to deliver the specimen into successive diluted-sample containers, and simultaneously to increase progressively the dilution in said successive dilution containers.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a web mounting the incubation containers, the mouths of the containers lying in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the web.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the incubator comprises means defining a substantially closed chamber, a plurality of pulleys within the chamber around which the incubation container web is trained, and means biasing at least one of said pulleys in a direction normal to the rotational axis of the pulley whereby the tension in the web is maintained substantially constant.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said incubator comprisEs means defining a chamber in which the incubation web is mounted, means defining a mixing chamber lying below the incubation web chamber, a tangential flow fan for circulating warm air through the two chambers, and a heater element in the mixing chamber downstream of the fan outlet.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for placing an adhesive cap over the mouth of each successive filled incubation container whereby the evaporation rate is substantially reduced.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a device for flushing a said incubation container of a solids-containing liquid so that substantially no solids deposited by the liquid are left in the container, said device comprising a head, a seal carried by the head and capable of sealing off the container at the mouth thereof, a probe mounted in the head of a length such that the tip thereof can extend substantially to the bottom of the container, means defining an inlet in the head for delivering gas under pressure to the container, and an inlet for the delivery of wash liquid, a peristaltic pump for delivery in timed sequence pressurized gas to the gas inlet and wash liquid to the wash liquid inlet, and means for cycling the gas and liquid through a plurality of pressurization and wash liquid cycles.

Claim 27

Apparatus for carrying out continuous discrete analysis of biological specimens using the radioimmunoassay technique, said apparatus comprising a turntable disc carrying a plurality of undiluted specimen containers, means on the disc associated with each container for indicating the required degree of dilution of the contents of each container, an undiluted-specimen delivery arm operable to withdraw successively the specimens from the undiluted-specimen containers, a plastics band formed with a row of dilution containers for receiving the withdrawn specimens, means for progressively increasing the degree of dilution in the successive dilution containers of the row, means for indexing the band after a row of containers has been filled with diluted samples of a given specimen, a series of incubation chambers arranged as a single row and connected to a flexible web, a diluted sample transfer arm actuable in dependence upon the indicating means to transfer a sample of selected dilution ratio to one of the incubation containers, an incubator incorporating means for recirculating continuously a heated air flow and means for indexing the incubation web through the incubator, an analysis apparatus, an incubated sample removal device for removing successive incubated samples to the analysis apparatus, said analysis apparatus including a glass fibre tape on which the solids in the incubated samples are retained, and a radiation counter for counting the radio-active material in said solids, peristaltic pump units coupled respectively to the specimen delivery arm, the sample transfer arm, and the incubated sample removal device, electric motors for driving respectively the delivery arm, the transfer arm, and the incubation container web and timing means for controlling operation of the motors.

Claim 28

Apparatus for carrying out continuous discrete analysis of biological specimens using the radioimmunoassay technique, said apparatus comprising a turntable disc carrying a plurality of undiluted specimen containers, means on the disc associated with each container for indicating the required degree of dilution of the contents of each container, an undiluted-specimen delivery arm operable to withdraw successively the specimens from the undiluted-specimen containers, a plastics band formed with a row of dilution containers for receiving the withdrawn specimens, means for progressively increasing the degree of dilution in the successive dilution containers of the row, means for indexing the band after a row of containers has been filled with diluted samples of a given specimen, a series of incubation chambers arranged as a single row and connected to a flexible web, a diluted sample transfer arm actuable in dependence upon the indicating means to transfer a sample of selected dilution ratio to one of the incubation containers, an incubator incorporating means for recirculating continuously a heated air flow and means for indexing the incubation web through the incubator, an analysis apparatus, an incubated sample removal device for removing successive incubated samples to the analysis apparatus, said analysis apparatus including a glass fibre tape on which the solids in the incubated samples are retained, and a radiation counter for counting the radio-active material in said solids, peristaltic pump units coupled respectively to the specimen delivery arm, the sample transfer arm, and the incubated sample removal device, electric motors for driving respectively the delivery arm, the transfer arm, and the incubation container web and timing means for controlling operation of the motors.