Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Sample mechanical transport means in or for automated...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-19
2001-07-31
Warden, Jill (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Sample mechanical transport means in or for automated...
C422S063000, C422S064000, C422S082050, C422S105000, C436S043000, C436S047000, C436S048000, C436S164000, C436S174000, C436S180000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267927
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to disclose novel apparatus for performing tests on samples in a laboratory and, in particular, tests of the type known as ELISA.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automatic apparatus for performing tests known by the name of ELISA and similar tests perform the tests on supports having a plurality of cells or wells for facilitating parallel and orderly processing of the samples. These supports which are known as micro-titer plates, usually have a format of 8 by 12 wells and can sometimes be divided into strips of 8 or 12 wells which in turn can sometimes be divided into individual wells. These wells, which are moulded in plastics, usually carry a dried reagent bound to the walls or bottom in what is known as a solid phase. The various steps of the test are performed thereon and are generally:
1. Sampling and dilution of the samples, calibrations and checks on the wells of the plates. The dilutions require a specific diluent.
2. Incubation of the plate at controlled temperature with or without agitation for controlled periods of time (typically between 15 and 45 minutes, depending on the test).
3. Washing of the wells with a specific washing solution. This is usually performed by dosing the washing solution into the wells and subsequently emptying them.
4. Addition of various reagents (typically a specific, so-called conjugate test reagent, a chromogenic substrate, or a solution for stopping the chromogenic reaction).
5. Steps 2, 3 and 4 may be combined and repeated in various ways according to the type of test performed.
6. Photometric reading of the final reaction by various methods, one or several values being assigned to each cell.
7. Calculations, presentation and storage of the results corresponding to each sample.
It is important to keep the incubation times approximately equal for all of the wells so that operations which take place cell by cell and not with the whole plate at the same time must be performed within a relatively short time.
Although the micro-titer plates are similar to one another, they have slight differences, particularly in their external shape and size, which complicates their handling when an undifferentiated use of any type is required.
However, all currently-known apparatus for performing laboratory tests of the ELISA type have the disadvantage of poor efficiency in performing the tests, particularly owing to the need to perform a complete test on a certain sample-holder plate before the machine can receive further plates of samples in order to perform further sets of tests.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to solve these problems, its main object being that the apparatus should work more efficiently with minimal dead times and with a capability for the apparatus to start further analysis tasks whilst the tasks in progress are being completed, the processing of new series of tasks being able to start even when the previous ones are not completed.
To achieve its objects, the present invention provides for the production of apparatus for performing automatic tests on samples for ELISA tests such that the loading of work series can take place separately from the processing thereof, means being provided for enabling predictions of time sequences to be known in real time in order to determine the moment at which new operations can start.
The invention provides for the apparatus to be constituted by two functionally separate, although intimately connected, regions of which the first, which permits interactive access by the user, permits loading of the samples, controls, calibrators, diluents and equipment necessary for performing the sampling and the dilutions, the plates on which the tests are performed being placed in the same region. The apparatus then performs the operations relating to the sampling and dilutions of the samples, checks and calibrations on the plate and transports the plate to the second separate region in which the rest of the operations are performed, the first region being left free for the loading of further series. The user can have occasional access to this second separate region of the apparatus in which the various stations dedicated to operations such as incubation, washing, reading, etc. are situated. Several different plates at different stages of the process may be in the second region at the same time. The apparatus has means for moving the plates from one station to another as required by the process until the operations to be performed have been completed. Finally, the apparatus deposits the plates in an output station as each plate completes the process allotted thereto.
Within the logical limitations of compatibility between tests, number of reagents, etc., the system has optimal characteristics for working in accordance with concepts which may be called multi-parameter working and multi-series working. The term multi-parameter working is intended to define in this description the performance of several tests at the same time on a set of samples on one or several separate plates. The concept of multi-series working is intended to define in this description a capability to start new series of tasks with the same or different sets of tests and with the same or different sets of samples, even when the previous ones have not been completed.
The appropriate configuration of the apparatus comprises a robotized arm for moving in accordance with X and Y coordinates over the two above-mentioned regions and also for moving along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the former coordinates, that is, a Z axis, by means of a device for performing various functions of movement, level-detection and ejection or recovery of elements necessary for the analysis.
For locating the micro-titer plates etc., the present invention provides for the use of a special frame for the arrangement of micro-titer plates of any type with anchorages and locating elements suitable for automation thereof.
The movements along the Z axis are brought about by means of a movable carriage or “Z tower” which has a special gripper or claw provided with locating elements similar to those of the frames and their lids, for performing the transportation.
Within its general structure, the apparatus comprises, in a first region, a carousel for the positioning of the samples, the reagents and equipment necessary for the sampling and dilution of the samples, with a platform which can be lowered for housing a plate or a number of superimposed plates with the wells for the test to be performed. A reader for reading the bar codes of the samples and a system for rotating tubes to facilitate the reading of their bar-codes are also located in the first region.
The so-called Z tower or vertical movement carriage has two independently vertically movable probes and a vertically movable gripper or claw for gripping by means of movable hooks.
The incubation, plate-washing, reading, lid-storage, and plate-storage stations, a station for storage and output of the plates, a tray for reagents and disposable level-detection tips, as well as other elements connected therewith are disposed in the second region of the apparatus which is generally arranged in a side portion of the main table thereof.
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patent: 5546005 (
Alonso Riera Enric
Pérez Puigdoménech Francesc
Pomar Longedo Pere
Pons Munill Xavier
Restrepo Guerrero Carlos
Bex Kathryn
Darby & Darby
Grupo Grifols, S.A.
Warden Jill
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