Automated analytical system

Claim 1

A method for effecting multiple colorimetric measurements of a liquid sample contained in a selected cuvette carried on a bidirectionally rotatable cuvette tray supporting a plurality of cuvettes, each cuvette being provided with opposing transparent walls to define a sight passageway for the reading of liquid sample contained therein at a read-out station, which method comprises: (1) locating a selected cuvette in a liquid dispensing station and dispensing liquid therein; (2) rotating said cuvette tray in a first direction and stopping the rotation of the tray to locate said selected cuvette at a read-out station; (3) colorimetrically measuring said liquid in said selected cuvette at said read-out station to generate a first signal; (4) rotating said cuvette tray in a second and opposite direction; (5) repositioning said selected cuvette at said read-out station by rotating said cuvette tray in said first direction and stopping the rotation to locate said cuvette at said read-out station, wherein by using the same section of the drive system said cuvette is thereby accurately repositioned at said read-out station in order that the same portion of said opposing transparent walls define said sight passageway; (6) colorimetrically measuring the liquid in said selected cuvette following the repositioning of said selected cuvette at said read-out station to generate a second signal; and (7) storing said first and second signals.

Claim 2

A method for effecting multiple colorimetric measurements of a liquid sample contained in a selected cuvette carried on a bidirectionally rotatable cuvette tray supporting a plurality of cuvettes, each cuvette being provided with opposing transparent walls to define a sight passageway for the reading of liquid sample contained therein at a read-out station, which method comprises: (1) locating a selected cuvette in a liquid dispensing station and dispensing liquid therein; (2) rotating said cuvette tray in a first direction and stopping the rotation of the tray to locate said selected cuvette at a read-out station; (3) colorimetrically measuring said liquid in said selected cuvette at said read-out station to generate a first signal; (4) rotating said cuvette tray in a second and opposite direction; (5) repositioning said selected cuvette at said read-out station by rotating said cuvette tray in said first direction and stopping the rotation to locate said cuvette at said read-out station, wherein by using the same section of the drive system said cuvette is thereby accurately repositioned at said read-out station in order that the same portion of said opposing transparent walls define said sight passageway; (6) colorimetrically measuring the liquid in said selected cuvette following the repositioning of said selected cuvette at said read-out station to generate a second signal; and (7) storing said first and second signals.

Claim 7

A method for effecting multiple colorimetric measurements of liquid samples contained in a plurality of cuvettes supported on a bidirectionally rotatable cuvette tray, each cuvette being provided with opposing transparent walls to define a sight passageway for measuring the liquid sample contained therein, wherein at least one treatment station and at least one read-out station are positioned with respect to said cuvette tray, which method comprises: (1) introducing reagent into successive cuvettes positioned, in turn, at a first treatment station; (2) introducing sample to be reacted into said reagent-containing successive cuvettes positioned, in turn, at a second treatment station and reacting said sample; (3) rotating said cuvette tray subsequent to the positioning of selected cuvettes at said treatment stations to mix the contents thereof by advancing said cuvette tray in incremental steps with a momentary abrupt stop after each step; (4) rotating said cuvette tray in a first direction subsequent to the mixing of the contents of said selected cuvettes to pass a number of said mixed cuvettes through a read-out station; and (5) subsequently rotating said cuvette tray in a second and opposite direction and stopping the rotation of said tray to position each of said mixed cuvettes which has been passed through said read-out station, in turn, at said read-out station by using the same section of the drive system such that the same portions of said opposing transparent walls define said sight passageway, in order to colorimetrically measure the contents thereof.

Claim 8

A method for effecting multiple colorimetric measurements of liquid samples contained in a plurality of cuvettes supported on a bidirectionally rotatable cuvette tray, each cuvette being provided with opposing transparent walls to define a sight passageway for measuring the liquid sample contained therein, wherein at least one treatment station and at least one read-out station are positioned with respect to said cuvette tray, which method comprises: (1) introducing reagent into successive cuvettes positioned, in turn, at a first treatment station; (2) introducing sample to be reacted into said reagent-containing successive cuvettes positioned, in turn, at a second treatment station and reacting said sample; (3) rotating said cuvette tray subsequent to the positioning of selected cuvettes at said treatment stations to mix the contents thereof by advancing said cuvette tray in incremental steps with a momentary abrupt stop after each step; (4) rotating said cuvette tray in a first direction subsequent to the mixing of the contents of said selected cuvettes to pass a number of said mixed cuvettes through a read-out station; and (5) subsequently rotating said cuvette tray in a second and opposite direction and stopping the rotation of said tray to position each of said mixed cuvettes which has been passed through said read-out station, in turn, at said read-out station by using the same section of the drive system such that the same portions of said opposing transparent walls define said sight passageway, in order to colorimetrically measure the contents thereof.

Claim 14

A method for effecting multiple colorimetric measurements of liquid samples contained in a plurality of cuvettes supported on a bidirectionally rotatable cuvette tray, each cuvette being provided with opposing transparent walls to define a sight passageway for measuring the liquid sample contained therein, wherein at least one treatment station and at least one read-out station are positioned with respect to said cuvette tray, which method comprises: (1) introducing sample to be reacted into successive cuvettes positioned, in turn, at a first treatment station. (2) introducing reagent into said sample-containing successive cuvettes positioned, in turn, at a second treatment station, and reacting said sample; (3) rotating said cuvette tray subsequent to the positioning of selected cuvettes at said treatment stations to mix the contents thereof by advancing said cuvette tray in incremental step with a momentary abrupt stop after each step; (4) rotating said cuvette tray subsequent to the mixing of the contents of said selected cuvettes to pass a number of said mixed cuvettes through a read-out station; and (5) subsequently rotating said cuvette tray in a second and opposite direction and stopping the rotation of said tray to position each of said mixed cuvettes which has been passed through said read-out station, in turn, at said read-out station by using the same section of the drive system such that the same portions of said opposing transparent walls define said sight passageway, in order to colorimetrically measure the contents thereof.

Claim 15

A method for effecting multiple colorimetric measurements of liquid samples contained in a plurality of cuvettes supported on a bidirectionally rotatable cuvette tray, each cuvette being provided with opposing transparent walls to define a sight passageway for measuring the liquid sample contained therein, wherein at least one treatment station and at least one read-out station are positioned with respect to said cuvette tray, which method comprises: (1) introducing sample to be reacted into successive cuvettes positioned, in turn, at a first treatment station. (2) introducing reagent into said sample-containing successive cuvettes positioned, in turn, at a second treatment station, and reacting said sample; (3) rotating said cuvette tray subsequent to the positioning of selected cuvettes at said treatment stations to mix the contents thereof by advancing said cuvette tray in incremental step with a momentary abrupt stop after each step; (4) rotating said cuvette tray subsequent to the mixing of the contents of said selected cuvettes to pass a number of said mixed cuvettes through a read-out station; and (5) subsequently rotating said cuvette tray in a second and opposite direction and stopping the rotation of said tray to position each of said mixed cuvettes which has been passed through said read-out station, in turn, at said read-out station by using the same section of the drive system such that the same portions of said opposing transparent walls define said sight passageway, in order to colorimetrically measure the contents thereof.