Abstract: A device for removing and re-applying a cover to an open container of a liquid aspirated in an analyzer, the device including a plurality of receptacles disposed in an array for holding a plurality of containers of a liquid, a cover for each of the receptacles of a size and shape sufficient to sealingly cover a container in each receptacle, a mechanism for permanently attaching the cover to the receptacle, the mechanism including a retainer of each of the covers that is pivotally mounted on the receptacle and a bi-stable pivot in the device for pivoting and holding the retainer and thus its cover in either a first position in which the cover contacts and closes a container, or a second position in which the cover is held raised away from contact with any container in the receptacle by means of a leaf spring pressed against a cam.

Abstract: A clinical analyzer moves a stack of slide or cup-like test elements into position for dispensing by a plunger and a driver featuring a housing around the plunger, a spring for biasing the plunger to project beyond the housing, a connection between the housing and the driver, and two sensors. The first sensor senses the initial movement of the housing and plunger toward the stack, and the second sensor senses movement of the plunger against the spring back into the housing upon contact with the stack.

Abstract: An analyzer that uses a wash head to access via vertical movement a container in the analyzer for washing, and a soak reservoir to keep the wash head from crusting over. To eliminate the need for rotary motion of the wash head, a mechanism is provided for mounting the reservoir and for aligning it concentric with the vertical movement of the wash head, and for moving the reservoir out of alignment when the wash head needs to enter and wash a container.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for translatorily moving a plate-shaped cup holder, equipped with cups arranged successively in the direction of movement for receiving liquid, to the processing station of an analyzer. The cups are used for mixing viscous body fluid, e.g. blood, with a diluent.Movement of the cup holder and exact positioning of the cups in the processing station are effected in that the cup holder frictionally rests on a driven endless belt, in that an incrementally driven indexing wheel is brought into engagement with the cups, and in that a sensor is arranged for detecting the passage of each cup and determining the indexing position of the indexing wheel in which a cup is located in its processing position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing spotting of the undersurface of the evaporation caps of an incubator in a clinical analyzer. It has been discovered that the surprising cause of the problem was electrostatic attraction building up on the caps, due to the use of plastic parts. The solution to that problem is the provision, in a plastic cover plate mounting the incubator housing on its drive spindle, with carbon fibers rather than glass fibers, in an amount sufficient to provide a volume resistivity throughout the plastic of between about 10.sup.5 and about 10.sup.9 ohm-cm, and grounding the housing through the spindle on which it is mounted.

Abstract: There is described a method of calibrating an analyzer in the field, using parameters designed for a "standard" analyzer that may be different from the field analyzer. In this way, it is not necessary to use only certain slide elements of a given chemistry on one analyzer, and certain other slide elements of that same chemistry on another analyzer. Instead, the slide elements are made interchangeable by calibration math which allow the field analyzer to convert its raw response R.sub.F into a response R.sub.standard of the selected "standard" analyzer, using the equationR.sub.standard =B.sub.0 +B.sub.1 .multidot.R.sub.F +B.sub.2 .multidot.(R.sub.F).sup.k (I)The coefficients of this equation are established by comparing, at at least 1 different level of response, R.sub.F against R.sub.standard, optionally using an intermediate spline function g.sub.F (R.sub.F) in place of R.sub.F.

Abstract: A method for forcing liquid out of a burstable compartment into a detection chamber without also forcing residual air of that compartment to interfere with liquid detection. The method features applying pressure sufficient to eject the liquid but not the residual air, and retaining that pressure as long as the reaction period of the liquid takes place, called the incubation period, and then completing the ejection to eject residual air into the chamber.

Abstract: An incubator housing is disclosed with access apertures and doors, and a single mechanism for operating the doors comprising a cam, a cam track, and a cam follower on each door mounted in the track.

Abstract: A covered reservoir is disclosed comprising a reservoir body, a holder for the body, a cover, a retainer for the cover, and a seal fitted onto the cover to seal off leak paths between the cover and the reservoir body. The cover is constructed to raise the seal into a frusto-conical position, preferably via a frusto-conical surface on which the seal, which is a flexible annular ring, is seated.

Abstract: An incubator and an incubator method using two independently driven incubator rings each holding and transferring a liquid-containing cuvette between processing stations. At least one reagent addition station is disposed permanently adjacent each of the two rings. One advantageous result is enhanced throughput compared to having only one such ring for all reagent addition stations.

Abstract: An ink is described, comprising an amine having a boiling point of between about 120.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., an acrylic binder selected to render the ink filterable, a direct dye or acid dye substituted with at least 3 amino groups, and water.

Abstract: There are disclosed a shuttle apparatus and method for catching a test element ejected from an incubator, for carrying it to a station outside the incubator, e.g., a wash station, and for returning it to a loading station. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a simplified catcher plate and means for moving the plate in an arcuate path around a portion of the circumference of the incubator. The plate cooperates with stop means disposed above said arcuate path, to capture a washed element upon reloading, so that the washed element can be reloaded by returning it to the original path used to load elements into the incubator in the first instance.

Abstract: An analyzer having a chute for directing disposable tips to a waste bin in the analyzer. The chute is located at the intersection point created by the path of the aspirating mechanism and the path of the tray of containers used by the aspirating mechanism. The chute is movably mounted so as to be movable out of the way when a tray is presented at the intersection path.

Abstract: A device and method constructed to collect a liquid into a device so that the liquid is first drawn in to an intermediate point by capillary attraction only, and then from that intermediate point further by gravity. The device features two apertured portions connected at the intermediate point so as to be angled to each other. The first portion provides the capillary attraction through its aperture by preferably oppositely disposed surfaces spaced a distance no greater than that which will maintain capillary flow into that portion through the aperture; The second portion provides gravity flow further into the device from the intermediate point by a spacing of the opposed surfaces a distance effective to allow gravity to passively overcome any surface attraction caused by the opposed surfaces, and the inclination of that portion to drop below the horizontal plane extending from the intermediate point.

Abstract: A cuvette and a method of use which prevent nucleic acid amplified by PCR technology from being released to the atmosphere, while still proceeding to a detection step to determine whether or not the nucleic acid is present. Detection reagents are either pre-incorporated into compartments in the cuvette or added after amplification. In the latter case, a check valve prevents amplified nucleic acid from being released. Transfer of liquids between compartments is achieved via the use of flexible compartment walls and an external pressure source, or via pistons that are part of the cuvette and operate on the compartments as a piston within a piston chamber.

Abstract: There are disclosed an instrument and method for using near IR to discriminate between healthy and diseased tissue, using, e.g., a catheter and a spectrophotometer. Near IR is passed at certain wavelengths to suspected tissue, and reflected light is analyzed to determine the absorbance, and preferably the second derivative thereof. From identification of the absorption spectra of known diseased and known healthy tissue, a relation has been established to determine the following correlation equation for determining the predictive value of y:y=Co+C.sub.1 A(.lambda..sub.1)+C.sub.2 A(.lambda..sub.2)wherein A(.lambda..sub.1)+A(.lambda..sub.2) are the second derivatives for the absorbance at the two selected wavelengths. For blood cholesterol esters and plaque, .lambda..sub.1 is preferably 1714.5 and .lambda..sub.2 is preferably 1678.5 nm. Solving for the coefficients Co, C.sub.1 and C.sub.2, it has been shown that values of y less than -8.0 represent diseased tissue, which should be treated.

Abstract: An incubator useful in an analyzer, and a method for locating a slide element properly in the incubator. The incubator and the method are provided with a referencing mechanism and step, respectively, effective to push back on the datum surface or edge of a slide element that has been inserted too far into a station of the incubator, to move the portion of the slide element that produces a detectable signal, back a distance which is predetermined for that station to be the one that gives the most effective reading of the slide element.

Abstract: There is described an aqueous ink of the type useful for drop-on-demand printers, that is, comprising more than 40 weight % humectant and a compatible dye. The ink is improved by the addition of from about 0.5 to about 10 weight % of a non-ionic, acetylenic diol surfactant or a dioctyl sulfosuccinate surfactant, effective to provide high quality image properties when printed on plain paper. Without the surfactant, such high quality image is not achieved on the plain paper.

Abstract: A needle device and method of use are disclosed, wherein the needle moves out of and into a protective housing, between two operative positions, one of which causes the housing to shield the needle. Each operative position includes releasable locking detents to temporarily hold the needle in one of those positions, the holding force of one being less than the other. A third position beyond the one that shields the needle in the housing is used to permanently lock the needle in the housing against accidental reuse.The needle device can be used with a blood collection container or a syringe drug delivery container, each one releasably mating with the device during use.

Abstract: A device for translatorily moving a plate-shaped pipette tray to the processing station of an analyzer for alignment therein. The pipette tray which frictionally rests on a continuous movement device is thereby moved up to a stop member and roughly aligned. A sensor cooperates with an encoding bar formed on the pipette tray and by moving the pipette tray back by a stepper motor exactly aligns the pipettes in their processing station.