Abstract: A device for use in an analyzer is described comprising a plurality of receptacles which are arranged in a single row and into which containers of different length and diameter containing a liquid can easily be inserted.For this purpose, the device is provided with holding elements at different levels along a side for insertable platforms transversing the receptacles and mounting means along the upper edge for an insertable adapter covering the openings of the receptacles.The holding elements and the mounting means are partly designed as positioning means and/or as latch means. Within the receptacles platform and the bottom in base of device have a ramp and the exterior wall is provided with a recess at the upper edge.Furthermore, a carrying means comprising a handle with a cam and a support is arranged at an end face of device.

Abstract: 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 a device for moving the plate in an arcuate path around a portion of the circumference of the incubator. The plate cooperates with a stop 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: A test device comprising beads with a reagent attached, the beads being physically fused to a support. The support includes a material selected to have a melting temperature significantly lower than that of the beads. Polyehtylene is a preferred example of such a material.

Abstract: An analyzer features an incubator and a whole blood centrifuge, each using a separate rotor, and a serum-dispensing station in between them. A transfer mechanism is also included for moving a container used in the rotor to separate serum from blood cells, out of the rotor to the dispensing station. The serum is then dispensed directly from such container onto a test element, which is transferred to the incubator.

Abstract: An analyzer is described comprising a device for scanning containers filled with body fluid and held in a tray, the openings of which are sealed by means of a sealing member, e.g. a stopper or cup. The opto-electronic scanning device consists of a receiver and a transmitter comprising a plurality of vertically arranged receiver elements and transmitter elements, respectively, facing each other in a registered manner. Receiver and transmitter are arranged on a pivotable transport path for the containers between an input station and two processing stations. During the transport of container through the scanning device, the intensity of the scanning beam of the transmitter elements can be controlled from a low to a high level by means of a control unit comprising a microprocessor. Shape and/or size of the sealing member is thereby detected by means of the low intensity and transmittance or type of the sealing member by means of the high intensity.

Abstract: There are disclosed pipette tips having a wettable exterior surface shaped to force liquid that wets it to not fall under the influence of gravity to the terminal surface at which the dispensing aperture is located. For this, the radius R.sub.o of that wettable surface at the terminal surface satisfies the equation (I) R.sub.o <(.sigma./.rho.g).sup.1/2 and the slope of the wettable surface satisfies the equation (II) dz/dr<(.sigma..sup.2 /(.rho.gr.sup.2).sup.2 -1).sup.1/2 where dz/dr is the rate of change in the height per the rate of change of distance from the axis of symmetry of the tip.

Abstract: There are described a cuvette and a method for sealing off flow such as flow in a passageway from an access port in the cuvette with a closure, that ensures a complete seal merely by applying the closure. The cuvette is improved in that it has the closure in a closure portion that is joined to the rest of the cuvette along a hinge line that passes through the passageway to be closed off, so that application of the closure by bending the closure portion about the hinge line pinches off the passageway.

Abstract: A method for automatically adjusting a dispensing tip from a surface onto which liquid is to be dispensed, a proper distance that precludes the dispensing stream from puddling up, or from breaking apart. The method features the formation on the tip of a meniscus of a nominal small volume and advancing the tip and meniscus until the surface is contacted. The resulting decrease in pressure in the tip is measured, to trigger the tip to stop its advance and to start dispensing. In circumstances wherein the contacted surface is hydrophobic so as to ideally require a meniscus depth greater than the nominal depth, the tip is retreated from the surface, during dispensing, to the ideal depth.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for injecting liquid into a container that senses the location of the bottom of the container, not simply by the force of "running into" the container, but rather, by first sealing the dispensing orifice against the bottom of the container, pressuring the liquid in the orifice and then backing off the orifice until release of liquid out the orifice is sensed.

Abstract: There are described assay devices having a control surface on which controls are deposited to produce a representational symbol that preferably indicates a satisfactory test procedure, or a failure in the test procedure. In one aspect of the invention, the symbol comprises exclusively the positive control areas and the negative control area, so that the negative control area will convert the "satisfactory" symbolism into "unsatisfactory" symbolism. In another aspect, the symbols that are formed are "OK" and "OK", respectively.

Abstract: There is described a method of barcoding data needed to determine a calibration curve for a test element in an analyzer. The process follows the steps of:a) ascertaining by statistical analysis the ranges of values for R that are possible for three given concentration values C.sub.1, C.sub.2 and C.sub.3, for a given assay, and assigning a high value H and a low value L for these ranges;b) calculating for a given lot of the given assay, a calibration curve that correlates the analyzer response to the concentration,c) determining the analyzer response R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 from said calibration curve, that corresponds to the C.sub.1, C.sub.2 and C.sub.3 values;d) calculating the bar code value B.sub.i for R.sub.i of each of these R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 from the equation:B.sub.i =(10.sup.n -1)(R.sub.i -L.sub.i)/(H.sub.i -L.sub.i) (2)where R.sub.i is R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3, and L.sub.i and H.sub.i are the corresponding L and H values for that R.sub.i ;e) rounding B.sub.

Abstract: There is described a container used to extract antigens for an immunoassay, having a wall means defining open and closed opposite ends. The container is provided with dividing members located in the closed end of the container which divides the volume of the closed end into at least two separate regions. A portion of the container's wall means adjacent to the closed end is shaped and sized to cooperate with a depositing device to ensure that separate reagents are separately deposited on opposite sides of the dividing members.

Abstract: A polynucleotide synthesizer comprises a supply mechanism for supplying a) liquid reactants for synthesizing peptides or polynucleotides, b) liquid reagents that assist in the synthesis, and c) a wash liquid; a reactor column; a connecting device for fluidly connecting the supply mechanism with the column; apparatus for positively displacing with gas pressure, liquid reactants and reagents, and wash liquid from the supply mechanism into the connecting device; and a controller connected to the column for allowing liquid to flow under the force of the gas pressure and at a controlled rate, into a temporary storage chamber and for thereafter emptying the chamber.

Abstract: There is disclosed a camming apparatus for a work station that provides for relative rotational motion between a cam and a cam follower connected to the work station, e.g., a liquid dispenser. The cam follower is movable on a carrier that frictionally engages the cam, unless the carrier is restricted. The cam is rotated by a gear. A locking mechanism is provided to lock the carrier against inadvertent rotation, and the improvement resides in the locking mechanism comprising a gear segment on the cam follower positioned to engage the gear during a portion of the engagement by the drive gear of the gear segment on the cam.

Abstract: A caster is provided that is vertically and rigidly coupled to a heavy instrument via a connecting member surrounded by a resilient damper that will flex under horizontal loading. The caster is improved in that the connecting member connects to a vertical load plate having a horizontal extension that provides a moment arm that exceeds any moment arm of the journal axis of the caster, thereby ensuring that minimum vertical preloading of the damper occurs, reducing the tendency to provide harmonic oscillation under vertical loading.

Abstract: There are disclosed a spring and its combination with an evaporation cover for a test element, and a station of an incubator. The spring comprises two portions bent to form the letter "J". The longer portion includes means for retaining the spring in the incubator station, and the shorter portion includes means for retaining a cover under the spring.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus useful in an analyzer, comprising a first mechanism for moving a stack of elements around at least one generally circular, horizontal track, a second mechanism for temporarily holding a stack on the track, and a third mechanism for altering the second mechanism between two states, one which holds the stack on the track and the other which releases the stack from the track.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing mechanism is described for moving a dispensing tip from an aspirating station to a dispensing station, preferably through a circle of rotation. To move the tip first vertically, then rotationally, and then vertically, the mechanism mounts the tip and a pump on a carrier that frictionally engages a cam over which the carrier is mounted. The pump is slidably mounted for reciprocation on the carrier, and has a cam follower that extends through a slot in the carrier to the cam inside. Apparatus is provided for limiting the rotation of the carier between two circumferential positions to force the cam follower, and hence the pump and tip, to move relative to the still-rotating cam.

Abstract: A method of detecting pre-spotting is described, comprising meauring the amount of IR light transmitted through a slide test element, using an IR-emitting diode and a photosensitive transistor or photodiode. The amount of transmission is compared against a standard level up until the time when sample dispensing is to commence.

Abstract: There is described a stopper detector for use in combination with a stopper remover, so that containers of liquid can be automatically unstoppered in an analyzer if they are in fact stoppered. The stopper detector includes a mechanism for discriminating between a container having a stopper, and an unstoppered container, including one with a cup inserted into the top of the container. It also includes means for generating a signal in response to the discriminating means that is indicative of whether or not a stopper is present, such signal being effective, if present, to activate a following stopper remover.