Abstract: An electrophoresis device wherein a banana plug for connection to external power is mounted on a cover, and the cover and frame of the device together provide a switch for connecting and disconnecting electrically, the wiring of the inside of the device, and the banana plug, the switch being openable solely by vertically raising the cover, to minimize jolting forces delivered, upon connect or disconnect, to samples inside.

Abstract: The device comprises a support element (6) arranged in parallel with the free end of a cassette lid (1b) which is to be opened. The support element is driven by a lever gear (7, 8, 9, 33, 34, 35) and, guided on arms (2, 3), can be lifted and lowered. Spring-biased pressure bolts (19, 20) guided on the support element (6) serve to reduce the pressure exerted on the cassette locking mechanism (1c, 1d) during unlocking as well as to close the cassette 1. A mounting plate (23) on which an unlocking member (25, 36) and its driving rotary magnet (26) are arranged is spring-biased into contact with the pressure bolts (19, 20). Moreover, an opening element (15) with check arms (15a, 15b) associated with the cassette lid (1b) is also pivotably mounted on the support element (6) and can be brought into an operative position in response to the position of the unlocking member (25, 36) and the position of the support element (6) respectively.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for the dispensing of a biological liquid, such as whole blood, to a diagnostic test element is described, in which a quantity of patient sample is preferably added to a container having contained filters for separating and supporting a quantity of the sample. The container has an exterior surface wettable with the filtered sample, a cover to prevent significant evaporation of the wetted filter surface, and a movable transfer element for transferring filtered liquid from the wetted surface and delivering the liquid to a test element.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving and reading a cassette of light-sensitive material, wherein the cassette is a) of varying width and b) free of a pallet used to fit a standard maximum width slot. To prevent light-leaks created when a cassette of a width less than the maximum is used, shutters equal to one less than the number of cassette widths to be used, are hinged to one of the upper and lower jaws used to clamp the cassette in the light-tight chamber of the reading apparatus.

Abstract: A film package in which the carrier for a stack of film sheets inside a light-tight wrapper is improved to provide a rigid corner that resists being pulled into the printer when the wrapper is removed. The corner is achieved by a construction featuring a bottom panel, first and second side panels hingedly and integrally attached to adjacent side edges of the bottom panel, and a top panel extending from an edge of one of the side panels and permanently secured to the other of the side panels to define a rigid exterior corner, the top panel having dimensions such that it leaves exposed a portion of any film sheet and the bottom panel under the top panel.

Abstract: A cassette storage and delivery apparatus having a plurality of cassette retaining sites. The apparatus having a body having a portal adjoining the cassette sites for allowing the cassettes to be placed onto or removed from the cassette retaining sites. The apparatus further includes a pair of guide panels, one on each side of the portal. The guide panels each having a guide surface. The guide surface is provided with a shock absorbing protective layer.

Abstract: A stack of plastic articles and a process of forming the stack are disclosed. Preferably the stack is of heat-fusible plastic slide elements for use in a diagnostic analyzer, the elements being temporarily and non-destructively fused together so that the stack can be used free of a cartridge. In another embodiment, the stack can be of any plastic article temporarily fused to adjacent elements, one side edge of each element bearing a colorant and another bearing no colorant, so that a bar code for the stack is inherently formed simply by rotating each element to project outwardly the colored side edge or the side edge lacking colorant, prior to fusing the elements together.

Abstract: A method is described for centering and aspirating containers filled with a body fluid and having different diameters, in which the containers are situated on a moveable tray having receptacles for holding a plurality containers of different diameters. The tray is then placed in a pivotable transporter within an analyzer having a scanning and an aspiration station situated along a transport path of the transporter. Scanning elements at the scanning station sense and fix by contact the position of the container and tray respectively so as to locate the center of the container being scanned. Signals from sensing elements aligned with the scanning elements align and position an aspiration probe at the aspiration station to coincide with the centerline axis of the container in order to withdraw all of the body fluid contained therein, regardless of the container diameter.

Abstract: A processor for processing a photosensitive material. The processor having a housing chamber. At least one modular wall structure is provided for dividing the housing chamber into a plurality of fluid processing chambers. A modular processing device is placed may be placed in at least one of the plurality of fluid processing chambers for circulating a processing fluid placed in said fluid processing chamber.

Abstract: A tray and conveyor for the trays are described, for moving liquid samples in an analyzer. The tray comprises a base having a magnetic member for responding to a magnetic field, a tray frame and member for freely rotatably mounting the frame on the base, the tray frame comprising a plurality of receptacles constructed to receive either sample tubes or aspirating tips useful to aspirate sample from a tube, the receptacles including a fixed bottom support. The conveyor comprises a support, conveying members under the support comprising a plurality of magnets and members for generating a moving magnetic field with the magnets, the conveying members being mounted in a continuous loop under the support and the support being permeable to a magnetic field, one of the above-noted trays being mounted above the support on the base.

Abstract: There are described a device and method for doing confined reactions such as PCR amplification and detection, wherein solids (e.g., beads) used to obtain separation between bound and "free" label reagents, are transferred from region to region, specifically through a wash liquid so as to wash off the "free" label reagent from the solids. Separate chambers have dividers that are overcome by piercing or by liquification, to create passageways for the transfer of the solids. The passageways remain contained within the device.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing are disclosed for use in an analyzer providing wet assays in a cuvette. Preferably, they comprise protrusions that project into the path of the cuvette as it passes through preferably the incubator. The protrusions can be fixed or driven, and can project upwardly or sideways into the path of the moving curvette. The mixing is useful to cause thorough mixing of, e.g., a diluent with a liquid sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing photosensitive material. The apparatus includes a processing chamber having an entrance and an exit for allowing a photosensitive material to travel through the processing chamber. A first supply means is provided for supplying processing fluid to the processing chamber to create a first fluid layer on one side of the photosensitive material and a first drain for removing processing fluid from the first fluid layer. A second supply means is provided for supplying processing fluid to the processing chamber to create a second fluid layer on the opposite side of the photosensitive material and a second drain for removing processing fluid from the second fluid layer. Means are provided for minimizing oxidation of the processing solution.

Abstract: An aspirator probe, such as is used with a disposable tip in a clinical analyzer. The probe is pivotable to allow for horizontal displacement error in seating the probe at a liquid-dispensing station. To reduce the amount of "tip flick" that occurs by pivoting the tip about the pivot point as the probe starts to withdraw from the liquid-dispensing station, the pivot point is located from the fulcrum at the liquid dispensing station, a distance that is at least five times the length of the disposable tip measured from the fulcrum.

Abstract: A processor for processing photosensitive material having a first processing tank containing a first processing fluid containing at least one component of a first concentration and a second processing tank containing processing fluid having the same component to that of the first processing fluid, however, the concentration of the component being different than the first concentration. A weir is provided for causing fluid to flow from the first tank to the second tank resulting from the hydrostatic pressure of the first fluid in the first tank. The weir has a configuration such that concentration difference between processing fluid in said tanks does not change significantly over a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An analyzer incubator is provided in which evaporation caps have feet extending through a support on which the caps and covered test elements rest. A preferably fixed mechanism is provided underneath the support to raise and cover both sides of each cap simultaneously to avoid any significant sideways thrust on the cap or on a test element underneath. The cap preferably has downwardly depending feet positioned to cooperate with this mechanism, through the support.

Abstract: An improvement in an apparatus for processing photosensitive materials. The apparatus includes a processing chamber through which the material can be advanced for processing the material. The processing chamber has an entrance at one end and an exit at the other end to allow the photosensitive material to travel through the chamber. The apparatus further includes a tank for holding a processing fluid. At least one nozzle assembly is provided for supplying processing fluid from the tank to the processing chamber. The nozzle assembly comprises an outer nozzle secured to the tank and an inner nozzle secured to the upper tank. The inner and outer nozzles are spaced apart a predetermined distance so as to form a discharge opening therebetween which is in fluid communication with the processing fluid in the tank so as to create a first fluid layer on one side of the photosensitive material passing through the processing chamber.

Abstract: There are disclosed coaters that repeatedly and intermittently apply a uniform, thin coating of liquid onto a support at a rate that does not exceed the maximum swell rate of the support. Thus, developer liquid can be applied to photographic paper supports without leaving behind liquid effluent.The coater features a delivery channel leading from a manifold chamber to a slit orifice, the channel being improved in that it contains a plurality of spaced-apart wall portions connecting the opposed flow surfaces of the delivery channel, that extend in a direction towards the slit orifice, and structure inside the orifice for coalescing the individual streams fed by these wall portions, into a continuous strip of liquid to be dispensed by the slit orifice.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and automatically delivering mechanism cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader. A storage and delivery is provided which defining a plurality of cassette retaining sites. A body encases the storage and delivery mechanism and has a portal adjoining the cassette loading sites for allowing casettes to be placed on or removed from the storage and delivery mechanism. Indicia is provided on panels adjacent the portal for identifying the cassette retaining sites and a guide bar is placed in front of the cassette read site. The panels are mounted to the apparatus by elastomeric mounts so as to minimize or prevent transmission of shock vibrations.