Unitized reagent containment system for clinical analyzer

Claim 2

A rotatable carousel for holding disposable containment means, each of which is characterized by a depending cylindrical cuvette holder, said carousel comprising: a plurality of cuvette cavities disposed in a circular pattern around a central axis of rotation thereof; and rotatable locking means disposed co-axially about said central axis and inwardly of said cuvette cavities, said locking means having a plurality of alternating notches and tabs around its periphery, whereby for insertion of a containment means comprising a depending cylindrical cuvette holder into said carousel, said locking means can be rotated so that said notches radially allign with one of said cuvette cavities to allow said containment means to be mounted on said carousel with its cuvette holder received in said one cuvette cavity, and upon so mounting said containment means, said containment means can be locked to said carousel by rotating said locking means so that one of said tabs radially aligns with said one cuvette cavity and overlies a portion of said containment means.

Claim 3

The carousel as recited in claim 1 wherein a plurality of upwardly opening notches are provided in the outer periphery of said carousel outwardly of said cuvette cavities and said rotatable locking means, said notches being adapted to receive a pair of flanges depending from a disposable reagent containment means when said containment means is mounted on said carousel.

Claim 4

A disposable reagent containment means for use in a carousel with multiple cuvettes and locking means rotatable between two positions, said containment means comprising: an inner portion adapted to overlay a portion of a carousel comprising multiple cuvettes and locking means rotatable between two positions, said inner portion having an opening and a downwardly depending cylindrical member adjacent said opening, said cylindrical member being adapted for supporting one of the cuvettes in the carousel; at least one locking projection extending from said inner portion, said locking projection being engagable by the rotatable locking means in one rotatable postion thereof; spaced depending flange portions projecting downwardly from said inner portion; and an outer portion having a plurality of recesses therein adapted to hold reagents or samples. an inner portion with a depending cylindrical member open at both its upper and lower ends and insertable in one of said cuvette cavities provided in said carousel tray, said cylindrical member being engageable with a cuvette, said containment means each having depending flange means disposed radially outwardly of said cylindrical member and adapted to be received in one of said plurality of peripheral notches provided in said carousel, and said containment means each having an outer portion provided with a plurality of open-topped recessed for holding reagents and a sample to be tested.

Claim 5

A disposable reagent containment means for use in a carousel with multiple cuvettes and locking means rotatable between two positions, said containment means comprising: an inner portion adapted to overlay a portion of a carousel comprising multiple cuvettes and locking means rotatable between two positions, said inner portion having an opening and a downwardly depending cylindrical member adjacent said opening, said cylindrical member being adapted for supporting one of the cuvettes in the carousel; at least one locking projection extending from said inner portion, said locking projection being engagable by the rotatable locking means in one rotatable postion thereof; spaced depending flange portions projecting downwardly from said inner portion; and an outer portion having a plurality of recesses therein adapted to hold reagents or samples. an inner portion with a depending cylindrical member open at both its upper and lower ends and insertable in one of said cuvette cavities provided in said carousel tray, said cylindrical member being engageable with a cuvette, said containment means each having depending flange means disposed radially outwardly of said cylindrical member and adapted to be received in one of said plurality of peripheral notches provided in said carousel, and said containment means each having an outer portion provided with a plurality of open-topped recessed for holding reagents and a sample to be tested.

Claim 6

The containment means as recited in claim 3 wherein said cylindrical member is slotted at one end.

Claim 7

The containment means as recited in claim 3 wherein said outer portion includes a peripheral, downwardly depending flange.

Claim 8

The containment means as recited in claim 3 wherein said outer portion plurality of recesses define recesses for reagents, a sample recess, and a predilution well.

Claim 9

The containment means as recited in claim 3 wherein said containment means is wedge-shaped with said inner portion being narrower than said outer portion, whereby a plurality of said containment means can be assembled side-to-side in a circular pattern.

Claim 10

In combination, a rotatable carousel and a plurality of disposable reagent containment means removably mounted thereon, said carousel comprising a rotatable tray having a plurality of cuvette cavities disposed in a circular pattern around an axis of rotation thereof, and a plurality of upwardly opening notches provided in an outer periphery of said tray radially outwardly from said cuvette cavities, said disposable reagent containment means each having

Claim 11

In combination, a rotatable carousel and a plurality of disposable reagent containment means removably mounted thereon, said carousel comprising a rotatable tray having a plurality of cuvette cavities disposed in a circular pattern around an axis of rotation thereof, and a plurality of upwardly opening notches provided in an outer periphery of said tray radially outwardly from said cuvette cavities, said disposable reagent containment means each having

Claim 12

The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein said carousel is provided with a generally circular locking member which is co-axially rotatable relative to said carousel tray ad which is spaced above said carousel tray a distance slightly greater than the vertical thickness of inwardly projecting tab means provided on said inner ends of said containments, the periphery of said locking member being provided with an alternating series of notches and locking tabs whereby, in one rotative position of said locking member, said notches thereon are aligned with said cuvette cavities to permit insertion of said cylindrical members of said containment means into said cavities with said flanges depending from said containment means being receivable in said peripheral notches on said carousel tray when said containment means are mounted on said carousel, and whereby, in a second angularly displaced rotative position of said locking member, said locking tabs thereon overlie said projecting tabs on said inner ends of said containment means whereby to lock said containment means on said carousel tray.

Claim 13

The combination as recited in claim 9, wherein a pair of said upwardly opening notches on the periphery of said carousel tray are provided for each one of said cuvette cavities, and wherein each containment means is provided with a pair of said depending flanges for engagement in a pair of said tray notches.

Claim 14

A carousel and reagent cassette for use in immunoassays, comprising: a carousel having a plurality of cuvette cavities disposed in a circular pattern thereon; a locking ring disposed inwardly of said cuvette cavities, said locking ring having a plurality of alternating notches and tabs, said locking ring being movable between a first position wherein said notches register with said cavities, and a second position wherein said tabs register with said cavities; at least one cuvette inserted into one of said cuvette cavities; and at least one reagent cassette comprising a support member with a plurality of recesses for holding reagents and sample, a downwardly depending cylindrical member insertable into one of said cuvette cavities and engaging said cuvette, and tab means projecting inwardly of said carousel, said cassette being insertable into said carousel by moving said locking ring to the first position and placing said cylindrical member into said one cuvette cavity, said cassette tab means passing through a locking ring notch, said cassette being lockable into said carousel by moving said ring to said second position wherein a locking ring tab overlays said cassette tab.

Claim 15

A carousel and reagent cassette for use in immunoassays, comprising: a carousel having a plurality of cuvette cavities disposed in a circular pattern thereon; a locking ring disposed inwardly of said cuvette cavities, said locking ring having a plurality of alternating notches and tabs, said locking ring being movable between a first position wherein said notches register with said cavities, and a second position wherein said tabs register with said cavities; at least one cuvette inserted into one of said cuvette cavities; and at least one reagent cassette comprising a support member with a plurality of recesses for holding reagents and sample, a downwardly depending cylindrical member insertable into one of said cuvette cavities and engaging said cuvette, and tab means projecting inwardly of said carousel, said cassette being insertable into said carousel by moving said locking ring to the first position and placing said cylindrical member into said one cuvette cavity, said cassette tab means passing through a locking ring notch, said cassette being lockable into said carousel by moving said ring to said second position wherein a locking ring tab overlays said cassette tab.

Claim 16

The carousel and reagent cassette as recited in claim 11 wherein said carousel has a plurality of notches positioned radially outwardly of said cassette cavities, and said cassette has downwardly dependent flange means which engages at least one of said notches.

Claim 17

The carousel and reagent cassette as recited in claim 11 wherein said cassette is wedge-shaped.

Claim 18

The carousel and reagent cassette in claim 13 wherein said cylindrical member is slotted.