Automated immunoassay analyser

Claim 1

An automated enzyme-immunoassay analyzer comprising: a measuring part having a transfer route on which test plates each having a plurality of upwardly opened immunological reaction chambers are transferred during a constant interval of time, and at least means A, B, C and D described below which are arranged on the transfer route from an upstream end to a downstream end of the transfer route in the direction of transfer and in the order referred to: A: means for injecting a sample to be assayed into immunological reaction chambers, B: means for Bound/Free separation for removing reaction residue in immunological reaction chambers, C: means for injecting a substrate solution into the immunological reaction chambers, and D: means for photometry with which to measure optically detectable changes caused in a substrate in the immunological reaction chambers, in which the means for Bound/Free separation and the means for injecting a substrate solution comprise: a horizontally driven support, at least one vertically driven washing tube connected to a source of washing liquid and supported by the support, a temperature controllable solution reservoir block fixed to the support and comprising thermostatic means for holding and maintaining the substrate solution at a controlled temperature, at least one substrate injection tube extending downwardly from an underside of said solution reservoir block, whereby the substrate solution may be discharged from said reservoir block to said immunological reaction chambers at the controlled temperature, said washing tube and said substrate solution injection tube being spaced from each other in a direction of pitch of the immunological reaction chambers; said analyzer further comprising: a test cup storage area located below said measuring part; ascending and descending elevators respectively associated with the upstream and downstream ends of said transfer route and respectively connecting said upstream and downstream ends of said transfer route with said test cup storage area for respectively circulating test plates between said transfer route and said test cup storage area.