CA2460115A1 - Sample processing instrument and in particular an automatic analyzer - Google Patents
Sample processing instrument and in particular an automatic analyzer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2460115A1 CA2460115A1 CA002460115A CA2460115A CA2460115A1 CA 2460115 A1 CA2460115 A1 CA 2460115A1 CA 002460115 A CA002460115 A CA 002460115A CA 2460115 A CA2460115 A CA 2460115A CA 2460115 A1 CA2460115 A1 CA 2460115A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sample processing
- vessels
- processing instrument
- sample
- nickel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L9/00—Supporting devices; Holding devices
- B01L9/06—Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
- B01L2200/14—Process control and prevention of errors
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N2035/00178—Special arrangements of analysers
- G01N2035/00277—Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material)
- G01N2035/00297—Antistatic arrangements
Abstract
A sample processing instrument and in particular an automatic analyzer is proposed comprising at least one vessel holding device (34) that has a vessel holding zone (32) provided with holder openings (30) to hold sample vessels or reaction vessels (14) wherein at least in the area of the holder openings (30), the surface of the holding zone (32) is formed by a highly electrically conductive material and in particular a material that does not have a tendency to form an electrically insulating passive layer in air and is preferably connected to an electrical reference potential in particular an earth potential. Nickel or a nickel alloy are suitable as the highly electrically conductive material which in particular does not have a tendency to form an insulating passive layer.
Description
_ 1 _ S ple processang insf~en~ and are parll~:ular° an aata~ atle analyze I~escrilatlor~
'The invention concerns a sample processing instrument, in particular an automatic analyzer with at least one vessel holding device which has a Bolding zone with holes or recesses for holding vessels such as sample vessels, reacaion vessels, reagent vessels, pipette tips, bodies of syringes or suchlike.
A variety of designs are l~nown for such sample processing instrurr~ents.
Deference is for example made to FF' ~ 520 3U4 ~I and Ep 1 275 966 Al of the prior art. The aforementioned documents disclose analytical instruments for the automatic analysis of biological sample material such as blood plasma, sertam, urine etc. Such analyzers are often referred to as automated selective ~~ultiparame;te.r analyzers based on wet chemistry. When such analyzers are in operation, sample vessels and xeaetion vessels are transported t0 removal statyons or processing stations on the analyzer using controlled movable X-~-~ fxansport mechanisms, pivoted gripping arms and step_ wise or continuously rotatable vessel holding rotors as tz-ansport means. The processing stations usually -omprise pipetting stations for adding samples and reagents to reaction vessels, mixing stations, incubators and reagent and measuring stations. 'The measuring station for example comprises a photometry station that can be used to carry out Luminescence or fluorescence measurements or optical absorption measurements on the sample material to which reagents have been added after analytical reactions between the sample material and the reagents have been completed. 6~ther measuring technidues can also be used to analyse the sample such as the detection of electrochemiluminescerme.
These sample processing instruments have at Least one vTessel Bolding device which automatically supplies vessels e.g. sample vessels or reaction vessels for carrying out processing steps and removes them again ,after completi.or~ of the processing steps.
'The invention concerns a sample processing instrument, in particular an automatic analyzer with at least one vessel holding device which has a Bolding zone with holes or recesses for holding vessels such as sample vessels, reacaion vessels, reagent vessels, pipette tips, bodies of syringes or suchlike.
A variety of designs are l~nown for such sample processing instrurr~ents.
Deference is for example made to FF' ~ 520 3U4 ~I and Ep 1 275 966 Al of the prior art. The aforementioned documents disclose analytical instruments for the automatic analysis of biological sample material such as blood plasma, sertam, urine etc. Such analyzers are often referred to as automated selective ~~ultiparame;te.r analyzers based on wet chemistry. When such analyzers are in operation, sample vessels and xeaetion vessels are transported t0 removal statyons or processing stations on the analyzer using controlled movable X-~-~ fxansport mechanisms, pivoted gripping arms and step_ wise or continuously rotatable vessel holding rotors as tz-ansport means. The processing stations usually -omprise pipetting stations for adding samples and reagents to reaction vessels, mixing stations, incubators and reagent and measuring stations. 'The measuring station for example comprises a photometry station that can be used to carry out Luminescence or fluorescence measurements or optical absorption measurements on the sample material to which reagents have been added after analytical reactions between the sample material and the reagents have been completed. 6~ther measuring technidues can also be used to analyse the sample such as the detection of electrochemiluminescerme.
These sample processing instruments have at Least one vTessel Bolding device which automatically supplies vessels e.g. sample vessels or reaction vessels for carrying out processing steps and removes them again ,after completi.or~ of the processing steps.
Such a vessel holding device can for eacatnple ~.:omprise a rotor disk with a plurality of openings for holding the vessels and can be integrated into an incubator device which is used to thermostat the vessels held in the vessel bolding device and their contents at a desired temperature of e.g. 37°C in order to ensure and facilitate relevant reactions between the sample ~~naterial and the reagents mired therewith.
T'ne sample vessels and reaction vessels are usually plastic tubes or glass tubes that are open on one side. °fhe .I~n«wn vessel holding devices are mainly ~raade fr~~n aluzniniu~n in the area of the holding zones. i~lurnia~ium parts are normally anodized as a protection against corrosion.
In a sample processing instt-~:«nent with such vessel holding cones made of alurrainiumr where the holding zones are automatically loaded with plastic vessels or the plastic vessels are autorr~atically removed from the holdi~~g zones, effects have been observed which interfere with the automatic handling and transport of the vessels within the instrurnert and especially with the positioning of the vessels in the holding zones of the vessel holding devices. Such an effect was that reagent tubes did not readily move into their specified position in the holder holes or were not stable in the specified positions after being lowered into the holder openings of the holding zones of a vessel holding device. 'phe said effects were difficult to reproduce since they depended strongly on the ambient conditions in the laboratory. I-lowever9 the described effects were occasionally the cause of massive disturbances in the automatic handling of the vessels.
'I'he object of the present invention is to pr~:~vide a samp$e processing instr~zment of the aforementioned type in which the automatic handling of the sample vessels is less susceptible to interference than hitherto.
In order to achieve this obiect, the inventio~~ proposes that the surface of the holding zone of the vessel holding device is formed by a material that is a good electrical conductor and in particular does not have a tendency to form an electrically insulating passive layer on eontact with air at least in the area of the holes of the holder and is preferably connected to an electrical reference potential and in particular earth potential.
luring the development of the sample processing instr~n~.ent according to the invention it was recognized that the effects that interfere vrith the automatic handling and positioning of the sample vessels and reaction vessels that are difficult to reproduce are due to the effects of electrostatic forces.
plastic vessels readily becoane electrostatically charged for exatrlple by frictional electricity during handling and transport. The vessels are often also already electrostatically charged during their ra~anufacture and packaging. ~Jith the known sample processing instruments with vcssel holding zones made of anodized aluminium the electrically non-conducting cloxal layers also becorrze electrostatically charged in an undefined manner which can result in undesired electrostatic forces between tile vessel holding z one and sa~rzple vessels and such electrostatic forces make it difficult to position the sample vessels in the holder openings of the vessel holding zones.
I-however, in the sample processing instrurn ent of the pr~;sent invention, the surface of the holding zone in the area of the holder openings consists of a material v~hich conducts electricity well and, in particulars does xzot ha~~e a tendency to forzxz an electrically insulating passive layer when exposed to ai~°, fence the electrical surface resistance is very small in the area of the holding zone so that charge equalization can continuously take place orq the surface of the holding zone in the area of the holder openings and the surface can be electrically earthed. Consequently the surface of the holding zone is preferably connected to an electrical reference potential in particular a mass potential i.e. earth ;potential. 'Fhe rxxeasures profsosed by tree invention also ensure that the electrical transition resistance between a sample vessel in a holder opening and the surface of the holding zone is small so thst charge equalization between sample vessels and a holding zone ~,an occur more effectively than hitherto in order to suppress tl~ie said interfering electrostatic effects.
'the surface material of the holding zone is prferably nickel or a nickel alloy.
l~ickel has proven to be very resistant to corrosion and does not have a tendency to spontaneously form an electrical3y insulating oxide layer or passive layer in a typical atmosphere for the sample processing instrurn~ent under consideration. Thus the good surface conductivity is pea°r~anently preserved. It would be possible to make the entire holding zone frorra nickel but dais would be uninteresting for cost reasons.
Rather it is expedient that the holding zone has a tease body made of a suitable cheap material that is coated with a surface layer of an electrically highly conductive material that does not have ~ tendency to form an insulating passive Layer, preferably nickel. Alununium or an aiun~iruum alloy are suitable as materials for the base body and this base body has a nickel surface layer at least in the avrea. of the holder openings for sample vessels manufactured by galvanic nickel plating, chemical nickel plating, nickel plating by a plasma process or/and plating.
The nickel platting produces a highly electrically conductive surface on alun7inium and the corrosion resistance of the nickel-plated aluminiumx components ps very good.
It costs hardly more to nickel plate aluminiuua than to anodize aluminium.
Light-weight metals such as magnesium can also be used as materials for the base body. Base bodies made of plastic with a permanent highly conductive surface coating e.g. of nickel can also be used as holder zones according to the invention.
According to a particularlr~ preferred embodiment of tl:e invention the sample processing instrument has an incubator that surrounds the vessel holding device.
~lessel holding zones in mixer stations and measuring stations also preferably have a permanent highly conductive surface which is electrically earthed.
The present invention can also be generalized to include processing instnamen.ts in which small plastic components have to be processed and transported. -folding devices with holder openings for such plastic parts would :hen have to be accordingly nickel plated or provided with a surface of a highly electrically conductive material and in particular a material that does not have a tendency to form an insulating passive layer when exposed t~o air.
'1'he attached figure shows a :bimplified and partially schematic t.op view of a fully automatically controlled analytical ~nstrumer~t as an exarr~plc of a sample processing instrument according to the invention.
'phe analyzer has a feed station IO for providing sterile pipette tips I2 and test tubes I~ on a carrier Ih. The pipette tips I2 arid test tubes 14 provided in an array on the carrier I6 are single-use artiE~les i.e. they are disposed after use.
!fin ~-Y transport rnechar~is~~n I ~ can be mo~~ed under the control of a control device along the X rail I9 in the ~ direction and together with fhe ~ rail I9 along the Y rail 2I in the Y direction so that each array position of the carrier 16 can be reached in order to access a pipette tip I2 or a test tube I4 on the carrier 16. A
pipette tip I2 is in each case moved to a fitting stand-by position 2~ from which it can be engaged by the pipetting arna 22 which has to be positioned appropriately. In the sample uptake position shown in the figure, the pipetting ai-m 22 can b~~a swung to a sample supply station 23. In the sample uptake position the pipetting arzn ~?2 with the newly attached pipette tip engages in one of the sample vessels 24 supplied in the sample supply station 23 in order to take up a biological sample material located therein.
The X-°Y transport mechanism I8 is also used to transport test tubes 14 to a reaction area 26 that has an incubator :~8 and to position them there in ;a holder opening 3d in a circular holding zone 32 of the vessel holder rotor 34 th;2t can be rotated in a step-wise manner.
After swivelling to the reaction area 26, the pipetting arrn 22 carp add the biological sample material taken up from a corresponding sarr~ple container 24 to a test tube 14 which is positioned in a holder opening 30 in the holding gone 32 of the sample holder rotor 34.
A reagent station 36 has a stock of many reagents which can be added selectively to the sample material in the appropriate test tines 14 in the reaction area 26 in accordance with the analytical program. 'i°he swivel-mounted pipetting arm 38 is used to transfer reagents bet~~een the reagent area 36 and the reaction area ~6. 'hhe reagent station is a rotor containing a plurali~_y of reagent vessels 40.
since the reagent rotor 36 can be rotated, each individual reagent vessel ran be brought into a position in which it can be reached by the pipetting arm 38 r~~- t~~e pipetting tip located thereon.
A measuring station 42 is provided in the reaction area %u which can be used to carry out photometric or other ~~neasurements on the sample material admixed with reagents.
According to the present in~,rention the holding zone of the sarr~ple holding device 34 and the holding area 46 for the sample vessels 24 in the san7plP supply station 23 are provided with a surface layer of nickel which is electrically earthed. The remaining nickel-plated base body of the vessel holder rotor 34 is r~tade of aluminium.
Interfering effects due to electrostatic forces that were described above can be substantially suppressed with s~acla a highly conductive nickel surface layer.
then the '' _ test tube 14 is lowered into the openings 30 of the sample l~oider rotor ~4, the test tubes I4 very rapidly find their defined set position i.e. thF~ respective test tubes are no longer displaced from their speciined position by electrostatic forces.
~s an alternative to nickel, other materials ca_~ also be used as permanent highly conductive surface materials ~:or coating vessel holding zones and especially noble metals such as gold, silver and titanium. Chro~niurn can also be used as a material that forms a permanent conductive rzaaterial on the surface of the holding zones with a low transition resistance.
~lithin the scope of the invention tl~e terra vessel holding device is also intended to include transport devices such as grippers or such like wi.s~h ~,vhich the respective ~~essels corns into contact. ~'iius it is proposed according to the invention that for example vessel contact surfaces of such transport devices also have a permanently conductive surface which is E.,lectricaliy eartl-~ed.
T'ne sample vessels and reaction vessels are usually plastic tubes or glass tubes that are open on one side. °fhe .I~n«wn vessel holding devices are mainly ~raade fr~~n aluzniniu~n in the area of the holding zones. i~lurnia~ium parts are normally anodized as a protection against corrosion.
In a sample processing instt-~:«nent with such vessel holding cones made of alurrainiumr where the holding zones are automatically loaded with plastic vessels or the plastic vessels are autorr~atically removed from the holdi~~g zones, effects have been observed which interfere with the automatic handling and transport of the vessels within the instrurnert and especially with the positioning of the vessels in the holding zones of the vessel holding devices. Such an effect was that reagent tubes did not readily move into their specified position in the holder holes or were not stable in the specified positions after being lowered into the holder openings of the holding zones of a vessel holding device. 'phe said effects were difficult to reproduce since they depended strongly on the ambient conditions in the laboratory. I-lowever9 the described effects were occasionally the cause of massive disturbances in the automatic handling of the vessels.
'I'he object of the present invention is to pr~:~vide a samp$e processing instr~zment of the aforementioned type in which the automatic handling of the sample vessels is less susceptible to interference than hitherto.
In order to achieve this obiect, the inventio~~ proposes that the surface of the holding zone of the vessel holding device is formed by a material that is a good electrical conductor and in particular does not have a tendency to form an electrically insulating passive layer on eontact with air at least in the area of the holes of the holder and is preferably connected to an electrical reference potential and in particular earth potential.
luring the development of the sample processing instr~n~.ent according to the invention it was recognized that the effects that interfere vrith the automatic handling and positioning of the sample vessels and reaction vessels that are difficult to reproduce are due to the effects of electrostatic forces.
plastic vessels readily becoane electrostatically charged for exatrlple by frictional electricity during handling and transport. The vessels are often also already electrostatically charged during their ra~anufacture and packaging. ~Jith the known sample processing instruments with vcssel holding zones made of anodized aluminium the electrically non-conducting cloxal layers also becorrze electrostatically charged in an undefined manner which can result in undesired electrostatic forces between tile vessel holding z one and sa~rzple vessels and such electrostatic forces make it difficult to position the sample vessels in the holder openings of the vessel holding zones.
I-however, in the sample processing instrurn ent of the pr~;sent invention, the surface of the holding zone in the area of the holder openings consists of a material v~hich conducts electricity well and, in particulars does xzot ha~~e a tendency to forzxz an electrically insulating passive layer when exposed to ai~°, fence the electrical surface resistance is very small in the area of the holding zone so that charge equalization can continuously take place orq the surface of the holding zone in the area of the holder openings and the surface can be electrically earthed. Consequently the surface of the holding zone is preferably connected to an electrical reference potential in particular a mass potential i.e. earth ;potential. 'Fhe rxxeasures profsosed by tree invention also ensure that the electrical transition resistance between a sample vessel in a holder opening and the surface of the holding zone is small so thst charge equalization between sample vessels and a holding zone ~,an occur more effectively than hitherto in order to suppress tl~ie said interfering electrostatic effects.
'the surface material of the holding zone is prferably nickel or a nickel alloy.
l~ickel has proven to be very resistant to corrosion and does not have a tendency to spontaneously form an electrical3y insulating oxide layer or passive layer in a typical atmosphere for the sample processing instrurn~ent under consideration. Thus the good surface conductivity is pea°r~anently preserved. It would be possible to make the entire holding zone frorra nickel but dais would be uninteresting for cost reasons.
Rather it is expedient that the holding zone has a tease body made of a suitable cheap material that is coated with a surface layer of an electrically highly conductive material that does not have ~ tendency to form an insulating passive Layer, preferably nickel. Alununium or an aiun~iruum alloy are suitable as materials for the base body and this base body has a nickel surface layer at least in the avrea. of the holder openings for sample vessels manufactured by galvanic nickel plating, chemical nickel plating, nickel plating by a plasma process or/and plating.
The nickel platting produces a highly electrically conductive surface on alun7inium and the corrosion resistance of the nickel-plated aluminiumx components ps very good.
It costs hardly more to nickel plate aluminiuua than to anodize aluminium.
Light-weight metals such as magnesium can also be used as materials for the base body. Base bodies made of plastic with a permanent highly conductive surface coating e.g. of nickel can also be used as holder zones according to the invention.
According to a particularlr~ preferred embodiment of tl:e invention the sample processing instrument has an incubator that surrounds the vessel holding device.
~lessel holding zones in mixer stations and measuring stations also preferably have a permanent highly conductive surface which is electrically earthed.
The present invention can also be generalized to include processing instnamen.ts in which small plastic components have to be processed and transported. -folding devices with holder openings for such plastic parts would :hen have to be accordingly nickel plated or provided with a surface of a highly electrically conductive material and in particular a material that does not have a tendency to form an insulating passive layer when exposed t~o air.
'1'he attached figure shows a :bimplified and partially schematic t.op view of a fully automatically controlled analytical ~nstrumer~t as an exarr~plc of a sample processing instrument according to the invention.
'phe analyzer has a feed station IO for providing sterile pipette tips I2 and test tubes I~ on a carrier Ih. The pipette tips I2 arid test tubes 14 provided in an array on the carrier I6 are single-use artiE~les i.e. they are disposed after use.
!fin ~-Y transport rnechar~is~~n I ~ can be mo~~ed under the control of a control device along the X rail I9 in the ~ direction and together with fhe ~ rail I9 along the Y rail 2I in the Y direction so that each array position of the carrier 16 can be reached in order to access a pipette tip I2 or a test tube I4 on the carrier 16. A
pipette tip I2 is in each case moved to a fitting stand-by position 2~ from which it can be engaged by the pipetting arna 22 which has to be positioned appropriately. In the sample uptake position shown in the figure, the pipetting ai-m 22 can b~~a swung to a sample supply station 23. In the sample uptake position the pipetting arzn ~?2 with the newly attached pipette tip engages in one of the sample vessels 24 supplied in the sample supply station 23 in order to take up a biological sample material located therein.
The X-°Y transport mechanism I8 is also used to transport test tubes 14 to a reaction area 26 that has an incubator :~8 and to position them there in ;a holder opening 3d in a circular holding zone 32 of the vessel holder rotor 34 th;2t can be rotated in a step-wise manner.
After swivelling to the reaction area 26, the pipetting arrn 22 carp add the biological sample material taken up from a corresponding sarr~ple container 24 to a test tube 14 which is positioned in a holder opening 30 in the holding gone 32 of the sample holder rotor 34.
A reagent station 36 has a stock of many reagents which can be added selectively to the sample material in the appropriate test tines 14 in the reaction area 26 in accordance with the analytical program. 'i°he swivel-mounted pipetting arm 38 is used to transfer reagents bet~~een the reagent area 36 and the reaction area ~6. 'hhe reagent station is a rotor containing a plurali~_y of reagent vessels 40.
since the reagent rotor 36 can be rotated, each individual reagent vessel ran be brought into a position in which it can be reached by the pipetting arm 38 r~~- t~~e pipetting tip located thereon.
A measuring station 42 is provided in the reaction area %u which can be used to carry out photometric or other ~~neasurements on the sample material admixed with reagents.
According to the present in~,rention the holding zone of the sarr~ple holding device 34 and the holding area 46 for the sample vessels 24 in the san7plP supply station 23 are provided with a surface layer of nickel which is electrically earthed. The remaining nickel-plated base body of the vessel holder rotor 34 is r~tade of aluminium.
Interfering effects due to electrostatic forces that were described above can be substantially suppressed with s~acla a highly conductive nickel surface layer.
then the '' _ test tube 14 is lowered into the openings 30 of the sample l~oider rotor ~4, the test tubes I4 very rapidly find their defined set position i.e. thF~ respective test tubes are no longer displaced from their speciined position by electrostatic forces.
~s an alternative to nickel, other materials ca_~ also be used as permanent highly conductive surface materials ~:or coating vessel holding zones and especially noble metals such as gold, silver and titanium. Chro~niurn can also be used as a material that forms a permanent conductive rzaaterial on the surface of the holding zones with a low transition resistance.
~lithin the scope of the invention tl~e terra vessel holding device is also intended to include transport devices such as grippers or such like wi.s~h ~,vhich the respective ~~essels corns into contact. ~'iius it is proposed according to the invention that for example vessel contact surfaces of such transport devices also have a permanently conductive surface which is E.,lectricaliy eartl-~ed.
Claims (7)
1. Sample processing instrument and in particular an automatic analyzer comprising at least one vessel holding device (34) that has a holding zone (32) provided with holder openings (30) to hold vessels and in particular sample vessels, reaction vessels, reagent vessels, pipette tips, syringe bodies or suchlike (14) characterized in that, at least in the area of the holder openings (30), the surface of the holding zone (32) is formed by a highly electrically conductive material and in particular a material that does not have a tendency to form an electrically insulating passive layer in air and is preferably connected to an electrical reference potential in particular an earth potential.
2. Sample processing instrument as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the surface material of the holding zone (32) is made of nickel or nickel alloy at least in the area of the holder openings (30).
3. Sample processing instrument as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding zone (32) has a base body which is provided with a surface layer that is made of a highly electrically conductive material and in particular a material that does not have a tendency to form an electrically insulating passive layer, preferably nickel.
4. Sample processing instrument as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the base body is made of plastic or/and aluminium or an aluminium alloy.
5. Sample processing instrument as claimed in one of the previous claims, characterized in that the holding zone (32) has a nickel surface layer manufactured by galvanic nickel plating, chemical nickel plating, plasma coating or/and plating at least in the area of the holder openings (30).
6. Sample processing instrument as claimed in one aid the previous claims, characterized in that it has an incubator (28) surrounding the sample holding device (34).
7. Sample processing instrument as claimed in one of the previous claims, characterized in that the highly electrically conductive material which in particular does not lave a tendency to form an electrically insulating passive layer comprises gold, silver, titanium or/and chromium.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE10312197.8 | 2003-03-19 | ||
| DE10312197A DE10312197A1 (en) | 2003-03-19 | 2003-03-19 | Sample treatment device, in particular automatic analysis device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2460115A1 true CA2460115A1 (en) | 2004-09-19 |
Family
ID=32797974
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002460115A Abandoned CA2460115A1 (en) | 2003-03-19 | 2004-03-04 | Sample processing instrument and in particular an automatic analyzer |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20040241043A1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP1460429A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2004286746A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2460115A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE10312197A1 (en) |
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| JP5152678B2 (en) * | 2009-03-12 | 2013-02-27 | 横河電機株式会社 | Dispensing device |
| IT1393352B1 (en) * | 2009-03-16 | 2012-04-20 | Inpeco Ip Ltd Ora Inpeco Holding Ltd | EQUIPMENT FOR THE MAKING OF CONTAINERS OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL. |
| BR112013018656B1 (en) | 2011-01-21 | 2021-03-02 | Labrador Diagnostics Llc | method for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample of fluid contained in a container, and, method of measuring the concentration of analyte in a sample of fluid |
| US9619627B2 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2017-04-11 | Theranos, Inc. | Systems and methods for collecting and transmitting assay results |
| US8475739B2 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2013-07-02 | Theranos, Inc. | Systems and methods for fluid handling |
| US9664702B2 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2017-05-30 | Theranos, Inc. | Fluid handling apparatus and configurations |
| US20140170735A1 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2014-06-19 | Elizabeth A. Holmes | Systems and methods for multi-analysis |
| US9632102B2 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2017-04-25 | Theranos, Inc. | Systems and methods for multi-purpose analysis |
| US9268915B2 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2016-02-23 | Theranos, Inc. | Systems and methods for diagnosis or treatment |
| US9810704B2 (en) | 2013-02-18 | 2017-11-07 | Theranos, Inc. | Systems and methods for multi-analysis |
| US10012664B2 (en) | 2011-09-25 | 2018-07-03 | Theranos Ip Company, Llc | Systems and methods for fluid and component handling |
| US11008628B1 (en) | 2013-02-18 | 2021-05-18 | Labrador Diagnostics Llc | Systems and methods for analyte testing and laboratory oversight |
| US10401373B1 (en) | 2013-02-18 | 2019-09-03 | Theranos Ip Company, Llc | Systems and methods for analyte testing and laboratory oversight |
| US10422806B1 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2019-09-24 | Theranos Ip Company, Llc | Methods for improving assays of biological samples |
| US11360107B1 (en) | 2014-02-25 | 2022-06-14 | Labrador Diagnostics Llc | Systems and methods for sample handling |
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| US4745771A (en) * | 1983-08-23 | 1988-05-24 | Board Of Regents, The University Of Texas System | Apparatus and method for cryopreparing biological tissue for ultrastructural analysis |
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| DE8813773U1 (en) * | 1988-11-03 | 1989-01-05 | Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Wissenschaften Ev, 3400 Goettingen, De | |
| DE8814398U1 (en) * | 1988-11-17 | 1989-02-16 | Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Wissenschaften Ev, 3400 Goettingen, De | |
| US4988006A (en) * | 1989-03-23 | 1991-01-29 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Flexible pocket divider and support assembly |
| US5270210A (en) * | 1992-07-16 | 1993-12-14 | Schiapparelli Biosystems, Inc. | Capacitive sensing system and wash/alignment station for a chemical analyzer |
| US5372264A (en) * | 1993-04-29 | 1994-12-13 | Tandberg Data Storage | Conductive divider for a tape cartridge magazine with insertion error-preventing element |
| CA2130013C (en) * | 1993-09-10 | 1999-03-30 | Rolf Moser | Apparatus for automatic performance of temperature cycles |
| US5512247A (en) * | 1994-05-02 | 1996-04-30 | Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. | Apparatus for testing pipetting needle linearity in an automated analyzer |
| JP3158054B2 (en) * | 1996-07-19 | 2001-04-23 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Liquid sampling device |
| DE19750642C2 (en) * | 1996-11-19 | 1998-11-26 | Hitachi Ltd | Analyzer with pipetting probe |
| ATE363339T1 (en) * | 1998-05-01 | 2007-06-15 | Gen Probe Inc | STIRRING DEVICE FOR THE FLUID CONTENTS OF A CONTAINER |
| US6268596B1 (en) * | 1999-08-24 | 2001-07-31 | Ut-Battelle, Llc | Apparatus and method for microwave processing of liquids |
| US6719949B1 (en) * | 2000-06-29 | 2004-04-13 | Applera Corporation | Apparatus and method for transporting sample well trays |
| AU2001278931A1 (en) * | 2000-07-18 | 2002-01-30 | Uop Llc | Process of parallel sample preparation |
| EP1352237A4 (en) * | 2000-12-15 | 2009-03-04 | Beckman Coulter Inc | Electrical conductive containment system |
| US7220590B2 (en) * | 2001-03-14 | 2007-05-22 | Beckman Coulter, Inc. | Conductive plastic rack for pipette tips |
-
2003
- 2003-03-19 DE DE10312197A patent/DE10312197A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2004
- 2004-03-04 CA CA002460115A patent/CA2460115A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-03-16 JP JP2004074936A patent/JP2004286746A/en active Pending
- 2004-03-17 EP EP04006415A patent/EP1460429A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2004-03-19 US US10/804,909 patent/US20040241043A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE10312197A1 (en) | 2004-09-30 |
| US20040241043A1 (en) | 2004-12-02 |
| EP1460429A3 (en) | 2004-10-13 |
| JP2004286746A (en) | 2004-10-14 |
| EP1460429A2 (en) | 2004-09-22 |
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