WO1996013724A1

WO1996013724A1 - A sample holder

Info

Publication number: WO1996013724A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000718
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey John Gorman
Original assignee: Biomolecular Research Institute Ltd.
Priority date: 1994-10-28
Filing date: 1995-10-30
Publication date: 1996-05-09
Also published as: AUPM911194A0

Abstract

A sample holder (10) for an analysis apparatus, which may be a mass spectrometer, is provided. The sample holder has a belt (18) with a plurality of sample locations (26) and a support means (12) for supporting the belt. In use, the belt is indexed about a path to move the sample locations in turn to an analysis location in the analysis apparatus. There is also provided a sample loading device with a similar belt and support means for loading samples from a sample supply mechanism onto the sample holder. There is further provided a sample locating mechanism for locating the sample holder in a device such as a mass spectrometer. There is further provided an integrated analysis and treatment system comprising treatment stations all adapted to receive the sample holder and provide appropriate treatment or analysis to the samples in the sample holder.

Description

A SAMPLE HOLDER

This invention relates to a sample holder, sample loading device and to a sample locating mechanism for an analysis apparatus such as a mass spectrometer or other apparatus for analysing samples. Thus, whilst it should be understood that the present invention is being described with particular reference to a mass spectrometer, the invention has relevance to other analysis equipment in which samples are to be loaded into a machine for analysis such as scanning electron microscopes and the like.

The preparation of samples, such as proteins, for analysis in a mass spectrometer generally comprises applying the sample to a target spot on a sample holder. Conventionally a number of samples are provided on the sample holder to form a multi-sample holder and it is loaded into a mass spectrometer for analysis. The sample is ionised in the mass spectrometer and ions travel from the target spot along a time of flight tube to a detector where the ions are detected to provide an indication of the protein. The sample holder is usually of metallic composition such as stainless steel and sample may be deposited with a matrix to facilitate/initiate ionisation. Samples may also be adsorbed onto a membrane substrate such as teflon, nitrocellulose or polyethylene which is then attached to the target spot. Prior to adsorption onto a membrane, proteins may be separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred to the membrane by electrophoretic force. Membrane adsorbed samples may also be subjected to other biochemical analyses such as amino acid analysis or stepwise amino acid sequencing or other derivatisations.

In order to provide accurate results, the target spot must be carefully and accurately located in the spectrometer and conventional spectrometers provide a number of different methods of loading the sample holder. One method is to insert the sample holder in a generally flat condition into the ionisation chamber of the spectrometer by a ram arm or the like. The sample holder is moved in the ionisation chamber in order to locate the target spot at a prescribed position for ionisation. Another method is to distribute target spots on a cylindrical member and load the cylindrical member into the ionisation chamber of the spectrometer. The cylindrical member is rotated and moved axially to position a protein sample at the required place in the ionisation chamber for analysis.

Since the mass spectrometer determines the nature of the protein by charge and mass of the ion received by the detector and since either or both of these parameters are dependent on the time of flight of the ion from the sample to the detector, the location of the sample relative to the detector is of crucial importance. Conventional sample holders, comprising the sample with or without substrate membrane which must be moved in order to present different samples, do present problems in location due to flexing or other movement of the sample holder which alters the position of the sample relative to the detector at the time of ionisation. This may alter the distance of the sample from the detector and therefore the flight time of ions, thereby reducing the accuracy of analysis .

Conventional analysis techniques also provide for a number of samples to be provided on a sample holder and loaded into the mass spectrometer for analysis. Because of size constraints within the spectrometer, the size of sample holders which can be loaded into the spectrometer and therefore the number of samples which can be analysed is limited. In order to increase the number of samples which can be loaded at one time, it will be necessary to greatly increase the size of the spectrometer and most importantly the size of the ionisation chamber in the spectrometer. This is because the sample holder must be moved within the mass spectrometer to progressively locate each sample in the analysis position, dictating that there be sufficient free space in the ionisation chamber to move the sample holder around in this manner.

An object of the first aspect of the invention is to provide a sample holder for an analysis device which enables a sample to be more accurately located in the analysis device and which can carry a larger number of samples without increase of the size of the spectrometer.

The first aspect of the invention may therefore be said to reside in a sample holder for an analysis apparatus, including: a belt having a plurality of sample locations; support means for supporting the belt; and wherein the belt, in use, is indexed about a path to move the sample locations in turn to an analysis location in the analysis apparatus.

Since the first aspect of the invention provides a sample holder in the form of a belt which is indexed past analysis locations, each of the sample locations can be in turn presented to the analysis location. Because the sample locations will be small and the belt is indexed, the sample locations will locate more precisely at the analysis location thereby increasing the accuracy of results.

Furthermore, a large number of sample locations can be provided on the belt and the belt made to follow a tortuous path on the support means to thereby enable a large length of belt to be provided on the support means, which in turn will increase the number of samples which can be supported on the sample holder without the need to increase the size of the spectrometer.

Preferably the sample holder includes drive means for engaging the belt to drive the belt about the path.

Preferably the drive means is a sprocket or toothed disc and preferably the belt has teeth or grooves on a side surface on the belt for engagement by the sprocket or the toothed disc.

Preferably the belt is a continuous belt and is supported on the support means by idler rollers.

The support means may comprise a support plate formed from plastic, metal, ceramic or other suitable material on which the idler rollers and sprocket or toothed disc are mounted.

Preferably the saxaple locations are formed by holes in the belt and a stud locatable in the holes for receiving the sample or for supporting a membrane of other material on which the sample is received.

Preferably the sprocket or toothed disc has an axle for engagement with a stepping motor in the analysis apparatus. Thus, when the sample holder is loaded into the analysis apparatus the axle is engaged by the stepping motor and the control system of the spectrometer drives the stepping motor to index the sprocket or toothed disc to in turn index the belt about the path to bring each of the sample locations in turn to the analysis location for analysis.

A second aspect of the invention is concerned with locating a sample on the sample holder for analysis. In the prior art, samples such as protein samples are produced by an analytical or preparative separating device, such as a chromatography column, suitably a high performance liquid chromatography apparatus or a capillary electrophoresis apparatus, which separates fractions from one another and supplies the fractions via a capillary tube or the like via a detector to a plurality of sample locations which may be an array of test tubes or the like. The capillary tube is coupled to an arm which moves in an X Y plane or across a spirally moving array to deposit sample in the array of test tubes as is required. In view of the need to move the capillary tube in the X Y plane or across a spiral array, the capillary tube is relatively long and this decreases the purity of sample loaded into the test tubes by increasing the opportunity for remixing the separated proteins.

The second aspect of the invention is concerned with overcoming this problem.

The second aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a sample loading device for loading a plurality of samples onto a sample holder, including: a sample supply mechanism having a substantially stationary outlet for supply of sample; and indexing means for moving the sample holder whilst maintaining the outlet substantially stationary to bring sample locations on the sample holder, in turn, into registry with the outlet for receiving sample.

Since the sample is provided from a stationary outlet, an outlet such as a capillary tube can be utilised which is short in length because it does not need to move. Thus, better quality sample is therefore loaded into the sample holder.

Preferably the sample holder comprises a sample holder as previously described and the indexing means comprises a stepping motor indexing the belt of the sample holder past the stationary outlet to in turn bring the sample locations into registry with the outlet.

Preferably the indexing means includes a stepping motor for driving the sprocket or toothed disc of the sample holder and a controller for controlling the sprocket or toothed disc.

Preferably the controller is for coupling to a detector for detecting the presence of sample in the sample supply mechanism and for supplying a detection signal to the controller which in turn supplies an output signal to the stepping motor to cause the stepping motor to index the belt to bring a sample location into registry with the outlet.

The sample supply mechanism may comprise a separation device such as a high performance liquid chromatography apparatus or a capillary electrophoresis apparatus and the detector can include the detector of these apparatuses. Thus, as protein fraction is produced by the apparatus, the detector detects the presence of the fraction as it moves in a capillary tube towards the stationary outlet and supplies a detection signal to the controller which in turn supplies the output signal to the stepping motor to index the belt.

Conventional spectrometers referred to above which include ram arms or cylinders for supplying the substrate to the ionisation chamber, necessarily are of large size in order to accommodate the ram arms, discs and the like.

An object of a third aspect of the invention is to provide a sample locating device for locating a sample holder in the analysis device which is more compact than previous proposals.

This aspect of the invention may therefore be said to reside in a sample locating mechanism for an analysis device including: an entrance chamber for receiving a sample holder; and drive rollers in the entrance chamber for moving the sample holder from the entrance chamber into the analysis device.

Since the locating mechanism includes drive rollers for driving the sample holder, only a small amount of space is taken up by the drive mechanism as compared with prior art apparatuses and therefore the device can be made more compact and, importantly, thereby reducing pumping required to evacuate the forelock and ion source.

Preferably the analysis device has an entrance slot communicating the analysis device with the entrance chamber, and a valve closure for closing the entrance slot, said entrance chamber having a door for closing the entrance chamber after location of the sample holder in the entrance chamber, the entrance chamber being evacuated prior to opening of the valve closure and driving of the sample holder from the entrance chamber into the analysis device.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided an integrated analysis and treatment system comprising a sample holder adapted to engage with and to be shifted between a plurality of treatment or analysis stations, wherein each treatment or analysis station performs a specific stage of a multistage process, and one or more of said treatment or analysis stations performs said specific stage sequentially at a treatment or analysis location to samples in the sample holder, and wherein the sample holder has a belt with a plurality of sample locations for holding the samples and support means for supporting the belt, and the belt, in use, is indexed about a path to move the sample locations in turn co the treatment or analysis location.

By providing a sample holder which can be shifted between a number of treatment or analysis stations, a large labour saving can be realised in complex processes which require a number of steps in preparation of a sample for analysis.

In contrast to prior art practices, which typically require the loading and unloading of samples individually into separate treatment stations, the integrated system according to this aspect of the invention enables the entire sample holder with its indexing facility to be transported from one treatment or analysis station to another.

Some of the treatment or analysis stations may make use of the indexing feature in order to apply tests successively at a treatment or analysis location, such as is described in relation to mass spectrometers in the first aspect of the invention, and in relation to injection of liquids in a treatment station. Alternatively, other treatment stations such as may involve treatment by gaseous substances may not require a specific treatment location, and all of the samples in the sample holder can be treated simultaneously. The existence of a sample holder which enables the indexing function to be performed, and which is adapted to be received in all of the treatment or analysis stations in the system, renders loading and unloading of individual samples between stages in the treatment or analysis unnecessary.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sample holder embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed side view of part of the sample holder of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of part of the sample holder of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a more detailed view of part of the sample holder of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is .a view along the line V-V of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a plan view of sample loading mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a view along the line VII-VII of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view of a sample locating mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a plan view of a spectrometer including the locating mechanism of Figure 8 showing the sample holder located in the spectrometer; and

Figure 10 is a detailed view of part of the spectrometer of Figure 9. Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a region including the analysis location of an alternative sample holder;

Figure 12 shows a plan view of an alternative sample holder having a belt with a tortuous path;

With reference to Figure 1, a sample holder 10 according to the preferred embodiment is shown. The sample holder 10 comprises a support plate 12 which may be formed of plastics, metal, ceramic or other suitable material and which is generally square in configuration. Typically the support plate may be of dimension 8 8 cm and 0.5 cm in thickness.

The support plate 12 has four idler rollers 14 mounted thereon and a drive disc 16 also mounted thereon. The drive disc 16 may be in the form of a sprocket or toothed disc. A continuous belt 18 formed from plastic, metal. ceramic or other suitable material is arranged on the plate 12 and supported by the idler rollers 14. As best shown in Figure 3, a side 20 of the belt 18 is provided with teeth 22 or grooves etc for engagement with the sprocket or toothed disc 16 to enable the belt 18 to be indexed about a continuous path defined by the idler rollers 14.

As shown in Figure 5, the sprocket or toothed disc 16 has an axle 23 which extends through a hole 24 in the plate 12. A bush (not shown) may be provided in the hole 24 for rotatably supporting the axle 23.

The axle 23 is adapted to be engaged by a stepping motor (which will be described hereinafter) for driving the sprocket 16 to in turn index the belt 18 about the continuous path.

The belt 18 has a plurality of sample receiving locations

26 along its length. As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, the sam le receiving locations are defined by holes 30 which are punched in the belt 18 and into which are pushed studs 32. The studs 32, which may be formed from stainless steel, plastic, ceramic or glass or other suitable material may carry a membrane or other material on an upper surface for receiving sample substance or the sample substance may be deposited directly on the stainless steel stud 32. Alternatively, the studs could be in the form of small tubes for containing sample. The studs or tubes could be formed from plastic or stainless steel.

The studs 32 may be located in the openings 30 by removing the belt 18 from the plate 12 and pushing the studs 32 into place. The belt 18 may then be located on the plate 12 by simply stretching it over the idler rollers 14 and engaging the belt 18 with the disc 16.

Sam le may be provided to the sample locations 26 by cutting blots of protein from the conventional polyacrylamide gel or cellulose acetate sheet and locating the blots on the studs 32. However, a method of directly locating sample onto the studs 32 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

Figures 6 and 7 show a sample loading mechanism. The holder 10 as previously described is suitably supported and the axle 23 is engaged by a stepping motor 25. The stepping motor 25 is coupled to a controller 27 by a line 29 so that signals can be provided from the controller 27 to the stepping motor 25 to drive the stepping motor 25 to in turn index the disc 16 and thereby index the belt 18 about the continuous path defined by the idler rollers 14.

Sample is provided from a high performance liquid chromatography apparatus 40 which is shown schematically in Figures 6 and 7 and which is conventional in design. The chromatography apparatus 40 includes a detector 42 through which a capillary tube 34 passes. The capillary tube 34 has a stationary outlet 36 arranged just outwardly of the detector 42 instead of a relatively long capillary tube outlet extending from the detector 42 which would normally be moved relative to an array of test tubes to deposit sample in the test tubes.

As is clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7, the sample holder 10 is arranged below the outlet 36 with a portion of the belt 18 immediately below the outlet 26. As a sample, such as a protein fraction, is produced by the chromatography apparatus the fraction passes through the capillary tube 34 where it is detected by the detector 42. A detection signal is produced by the detector 42 and is passed to controller 27 by line 34. The controller 27 detects the detection signal 34 and produces an output signal on line 29 to drive the stepping motor to thereby index the belt 18. The belt 18 is therefore indexed to bring a sample location 26 immediately below the outlet 36 so that the fraction is deposited on one of the sample locations 26. As the next fraction passes through the detector 42, the stepping motor 25 is indexed to bring the next sample location 26 into registry with the outlet 36 so that the next fraction is deposited on the next sample location 26. This operation continues until all of the sample locations or as many of the sample locations as is required are loaded with sample or simple timed operation of stepper motor or by drop detection.

The indexing disc 16 may be moved towards the outlet, or the outlet may be moved towards the indexing disc, in order to facilitate collection of precise volumes, to avoid the necessity for a droplet to form.

Although the outlet 36 is shown operating at a loading location remote from indexing disc 16, the point of loading may be proximate the indexing disc 16 and optionally at the same point as the analysis location which applies when the sample holder is loaded into an analysis device such as a mass spectrometer.

Figures 8 to 10 show an analysis device (in this embodiment a mass spectrometer) including a locating mechanism for locating the sample holder in the spectrometer for analysis. The spectrometer 50 has an entrance chamber 52 having a door 55. The entrance chamber 52 includes two drive rollers 54 which may be in the form of elongate rollers or narrow drive wheels and preferably a number of idler rollers 56 for supporting the sample holder 10 in the chamber 52. If desired a continuous track could be arranged around each set of drive rollers 54 and idler rollers 56 and engage the top and bottom edges of the sample holder 10. The chamber 52 communicates with an ionisation chamber 58 of the spectrometer 50 via an entrance slot 60 which is closed by a closure valve 62. Such entrance slots 60 and closure valves 62 are conventional and will not be described in further detail. After the sample holder 10 is located in place as shown in Figure 8, door 55 is closed and a vacuum is applied to the entrance chamber 52 also in a manner already known. The closure valve 62 is opened and the drive rollers 54 are operated to move the sample holder 10 from the position shown in Figure 8 through the entrance slot 60 into the ionisation chamber 58 to the position shown in Figure 9.

The drive rollers 54 and idler rollers 56 (on the track mentioned above) engage side edges of the plate 12 of the sample holder 10 in a frictional manner so as to securely hold the sample holder 10 in place and move the sample holder from the position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 9.

The drive rollers 54 may be driven under microprocessor control by a microprocessor 70 in the spectrometer 50. In this regard the microprocessor 70 may be coupled to the rollers 54 by a line 72 for supplying power to motors (not shown) for rotating the drive rollers 54.

As shown in Figure 9, the ionisation chamber 58 may also be provided with rollers 74 for receiving and guiding the sample holder 10. At least one of the rollers 74 may be a driven roller under the control of the microprocessor 70 for causing the sample holder 10 to move outwardly from the ionisation chamber 58 to the entrance chamber 52 after analysis has been completed so as to remove the sample holder 10 from the spectrometer 50 and/or complete inward location.

When the sample holder 10 has been moved to the position shown in Figure 9, axle 23 associated with disc 16 is engaged by a stepping motor 75 which is coupled to the microprocessor 70. The stepping motor 75 is driven by signals on line 77 from the microprocessor 70 to drive the disc 16 and thereby index the belt 18 about the continuous path defined by the idler rollers 14 previously described. Indexing of the belt 18 will bring sample locations 26 in turn to an analysis location identified by reference numeral 80 in Figures ■9 and 10.

A power supply source 84 is also coupled to microprocessor 70 for supplying power to contacts 86. The entire sample holder 10 may be in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sample holder moved relative to the contacts 86 to bring the sample located on the studs 32 or on a membrane or other material (not shown) into engagement with the contacts 86 so that the sample can be repelled. Alternatively, a pushrod may be operated at the analysis location to push the stud 32 into engagement with the contacts 86. Further alternatively, as shown in Figure 11 the belt 18 may be designed so as to normally travel a spaced distance from the plate 12 along raised ridges (not shown) on the plate surface, a bump 87 in the plate surface serving to provide the same movement to the stud 32 as the stud approaches the analysis station. The bump 87 may also serve to raise the sample disc into close proximity with the outlet 36 when the sample holder is installed in the separation apparatuses such as shown in Figure 6, in the case of an embodiment where the point of loading in the sample holder corresponds to the analysis point.

The plate 12 may also be moved in generally an X Y direction which is a direction into and out of the plane of the paper in Figures 9 and 10 and to the left and right in Figures 9 and 10 to slightly adjust the position of the sample locations 26 for scanning analysis across the sample if required. In an alternative embodiment, X directional movement may be provided by operation of the disc 16, and Y directional movement by moving the plate. Power supplied by the contacts 86 repels the sample and the ions are then able to travel from the ionisation chamber down a time of flight tube 90 to a detector 100 where the ions are detected. The detector is able to detect the arrival of the ions and thereby the spectrometer is able to provide an indication of the sample mass.

Each of the sample locations 26 may be brought into the analysis location 80 in turn by indexing the belt 18 via the stepping motor 75 so that each of the samples on the sample location 26 can be analysed. The sample holder 10 may be moved away from the contacts 86 during indexing of the belt 18 and the contacts 86 re-engage with the sample and the sample holders 26 when each sample location 26 is indexed into place.

Because each of the sample locations 26 is relatively small and is indexed around a continuous path by the belt 18, the sample locations 26 can be located very accurately in the spectrometer and there will be little or no tendency of warping of the sample holder which would incorrectly locate the sample, which in turn may provide incorrect results. Thus, the sample can be correctly located at the desired position in the ionisation chamber 58 for ionisation and therefore accurate results will be produced.

The integrated analysis and treatment system of the fourth aspect of the invention may be realised in a specific embodiment with the sample holder described above, adapted to engage with a mass spectrometer analysis station, and also adapted to engage with a station for loading the sampled prior to analysis in the mass spectrometer, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Naturally, a plurality of specific stations each adapted to receive the sample holder, would be appropriate for a multi-stage analysis or treatment process. The preferred form of the invention has been described with reference to a mass spectrometer. However, the preferred embodiment could be used with other analysis equipment such as hydrolyser equipment or derivatisation work stations etc.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hβreinabove. For example, the sample holder is not restricted to the simple geometry shown, and where practicable the continuous path of the belt 18 may be constructed to maximise the packing density of samples using a tortuous path as shown in Figures 12.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A sample holder for an analysis apparatus, including: a belt having a plurality of sample locations; a support means for supporting the belt; and wherein the belt, in use, is indexed about a path to move the sample locations in turn to an analysis location in the analysis apparatus.

2. A sample holder as claimed in claim 1, further including drive means for engaging the belt to drive the belt about the path.

3. A sample holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the drive means is a sprocket or toothed disc.

4. A sample holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the belt has teeth or grooves on a side surface on the belt for engagement by the sprocket or the toothed disc.

5. A sample holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the belt is a continuous belt and is supported on the support means by idler rollers.

6. A sample holder as claimed in claim 4 or 5 further including a support belt on which the idler rollers and/or sprocket or toothed disc are mounted.

7. A sample holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the sample locations are formed by holes in the belt and a stud or tube locatable in the holes for receiving the sample or for supporting a membrane of other material on which the sample is received.

8. A sample holder as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the sprocket or toothed disc has an axle for engagement with a stepping motor in the analysis apparatus.

9. A sample loading device for loading a plurality of laboratory samples onto a sample holder, including: a sample supply mechanism having a substantially stationary outlet for supply of sample; and indexing means for moving the sample holder whiling maintaining the outlet substantially stationary to bring sample locations on the sample holder, in turn, into registry of the outlet for receiving the sample.

10. A sample loading device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the sample holder comprises a belt having a plurality of sample locations, support means for supporting the belt, the belt in use being indexed about a path to move the sample locations into registry with the outlet, and the indexing means comprises a stepping motor to index the belt of the sample holder past the stationary outlet.

11. A sample holder as claimed in claim 10 wherein the indexing means includes a stepping motor for driving a sprocket or toothed disc of the sample holder and a controller for controlling the motion of the sprocket or toothed disc.

12. A sample loading device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the controller couples to a detector which detects the presence of a sample in the sample supply mechanism and supplies a detection signal to the controller, the controller supplying an output signal to the stepping motor to cause the stepping motor to index the belt to bring the sample location into registry with the outlet.

13. A sample loading device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the sample supply mechanism comprises a separation device and the detector includes a detector of the separation device.

14. A sample locating mechanism for an analysis device including: an entrance chamber for receiving a sample holder; and drive rollers in the entrance chamber for moving the sample holder from the entrance chamber into the analysis device.

15. A sample locating mechanism as claimed in claim 14 wherein the analysis device has an entrance slot communicating the analysis device with the entrance chamber, and a valve closure for closing the entrance slot, said entrance chamber having a door for closing the entrance chamber after location of the sample holder in the entrance chamber, the entrance chamber being evacuated prior to opening of the valve closure and driving of the sample holder from the entrance chamber into the analysis device.

16. An integrated analysis and treatment system comprising a sample holder adapted to engage with and to be shifted between a plurality of treatment or analysis stations, wherein each treatment or analysis station performs a specific stage of a multistage process, and one or more of said treatment or analysis stations performs said specific stage sequentially at a treatment or analysis location to samples in the sample holder, and wherein the sample holder has a belt with a plurality of sample locations for holding the samples and support means for supporting the belt, and the belt, in use, is indexed about a path to move the sample locations in turn to the treatment or analysis location.

17. An integrated analysis and treatment system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the sample holder includes drive means for engaging the belt to drive the belt about the path.

18. An integrated analysis and treatment system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the drive means is a sprocket or toothed disc.

19. An integrated analysis and treatment system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the belt has teeth or grooves on a side surface on the belt for engagement by the sprocket or the toothed disc.

20 An integrated analysis and treatment system wherein the belt is a continuous belt and is supported on the support means by idler rollers.

21. An integrated analysis and treatment system as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20 wherein the support means comprises a support plate on which the idler rollers and sprocket or toothed disc are mounted.

22. An integrated analysis and treatment system as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 21 wherein the sample locations are formed by holes in the belt and a stud or tube locatable in the holes for receiving the sample or for supporting a membrane of other material on which the sample is received.

23. An integrated analysis and treatment system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the sprocket or toothed disc has an axle for engagement with a stepping motor in said one or more of said treatment or analysis stations.