Abstract: A method for removing undesired component(s) from bound desired component(s) in an analysis including: (a) providing a container having a desired component bound thereto and an undesired component; (b) dispensing wash fluid in the container at a first level sufficient to contact a portion of the bound desired component; (c) oscillating wash fluid level in the container; and (d) removing a portion of the wash fluid from the container. A method for removing undesired components from bound desired components in an analysis including steps (a) and (b) above; (c) removing the wash fluid; (d) dispensing a wash fluid at a subsequent level lower than the first level and sufficient to wash the bound desired substrate; and (e) removing wash fluid. Preferably, the desired component is an analyte being measured.

Abstract: A device and method solves the problems of improving precision, in particular in reducing movement of a cuvette, particularly lateral or side to side movement of a cuvette, during the measurement process. The device, which stabilizes a cuvette during a measurement read in an analyzer having a cuvette path of travel, includes: a fixed support located on a first side of the path of travel and abutting a side of the cuvette at a location that does not interfere with an optical window on the cuvette on which the measurement read takes place; and a movable support located on a second side of the path of travel and biased against a side of the cuvette at a location that does not interfere with the optical window on the cuvette on which the measurement read takes place, and which is opposite the side abutting the fixed support.

Abstract: A method for estimating the viscosity of a liquid in an aspirating or dispensing probe, includes: measuring a reference pressure which is the pressure inside a metering tip when no dispense or aspirate is occurring (Pref); dispensing or aspirating a liquid having a volume of air between the liquid and the pumping mechanism of the probe; stopping the aspirate or dispense; measuring the pressure (Pstop) inside the tip at a time (t) which is the time when the aspirate or dispense is stopped; measuring the pressure (Pstop?) inside the tip at a time (t?) after t; and estimating viscosity as a function of Pref, Pstop, and Pstop?. In a preferred embodiment, the method is carried out on a diagnostic analyzer.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to an apparatus and method that enables a very accurate initial setup of the coating gap for slot die coater and subsequent control of the coating gap during coating operations such that web splices and web defects do not interrupt the coating process. An highly accurate initial set up is achieved via the use of a tapered or wedge-shaped adjustment member mounted perpendicular to the axis of travel of the coating head where the movement of this tapered or wedge-shaped adjustment member in a direction perpendicular to the axis of travel of the slot die housing adjusts the coating gap in increments on the order of ten microns.

Abstract: A method for reducing or eliminating the aspiration of foam into a metering probe includes the steps of providing a reagent supply container having a baffle having sealed ends and having a liquid reagent in it. A metering probe movable in a direction toward and away from the reagent supply container is provided. A closure is moved away from the opening of the container and both seals covering the first and second openings of the baffle are pierced allowing liquid to enter the baffle from the end of the baffle submerged in the liquid thereby providing a foam reduced or foam free zone. The metering probe is moved into the first opening of the baffle and into contact with the liquid in the baffle. A selected amount of liquid in the baffle is aspirated and the metering probe is moved out of the baffle.

Abstract: A method for positioning a sample in a diagnostic analyzer includes: providing two or more sample carriers on a conveyor; providing a fixed registration element for each sample carrier at predetermined locations along the conveyor; providing a flexure device positioned between the sample carrier and the conveyor; advancing the sample carrier beyond the fixed registration elements; reversing the conveyor direction to back at least one of the sample carriers into contact with its corresponding registration elements; continuing to reverse the conveyor until all sample carriers are in contact with their respective registration elements; whereby the flexure elements of the sample carriers in contact with the respective registration elements will deform as the conveyor reverses to allow all sample carriers to contact their respective registration elements, thereby providing a known position of the sample carrier.

Abstract: An analyzer, preferably a desktop analyzer, includes: a component transport system; a liquid dispense or aspirating station; a member removably located on the transport system. The removable holder includes: a probe tip dispenser; a fluid supply section for holding a sample; a test element recess for holding one or more test elements or test element holders, wherein the removable holder is configured to contain the test element recess such that a test element can be acted upon by the liquid dispense or aspirating station, while the test element is in the recess; and a measurement device to analyze a sample. Another aspect provides a removable centrifuge model on the transport system, which separates samples, such as whole blood before analysis.

Abstract: Aspirating a liquid, includes: providing an aspirating probe comprising probe tip and piston pump, wherein the probe tip and piston pump are in fluid communication; measuring an initial gas pressure in the probe prior to liquid entering the liquid being aspirated; moving the tip into the liquid; moving the piston a distance corresponding to the volume of liquid being aspirated; measuring gas pressure in the volume of gas when the piston stops moving and the liquid pulled into the tip has equilibrated; determining piston volume created by movement of the piston; and determining volume of liquid aspirated by the following formula: Vliquid aspirated=Vpiston volume?((Pinitial?Pfinal)*Volume/unit pressure), wherein Pinitial is initial gas pressure before liquid enters the tip, Pfinal is the final pressure of volume of gas after the liquid has equilibrated, and Volume/unit pressure is the change of gas volume for each change of unit pressure.

Abstract: An ultrasonic, non-invasive, bottom-up fluid level sensor for a container, includes: an ultrasonic transducer; and a dry couplant in acoustic communication with the transducer. The dry couplant is configured to adapt to the bottom surface of the container and the sensor contains nothing to bias the sensor against the container other than the weight of the container and fluid.

Abstract: A method for positioning a sample in a diagnostic analyzer includes: providing two or more sample carriers on a conveyor; providing a fixed registration element for each sample carrier at predetermined locations along the conveyor; providing a flexure device positioned between the sample carrier and the conveyor; advancing the sample carrier beyond the fixed registration elements; reversing the conveyor direction to back at least one of the sample carriers into contact with its corresponding registration elements; continuing to reverse the conveyor until all sample carriers are in contact with their respective registration elements; whereby the flexure elements of the sample carriers in contact with the respective registration elements will deform as the conveyor reverses to allow all sample carriers to contact their respective registration elements, thereby providing a known position of the sample carrier.

Abstract: A closure for a container includes: (a) an inner cylindrical wall having first and second ends and defining a space; (b) an outer cylindrical wall opposite the inner cylindrical wall and having the first and second ends to form an outer surface of the closure; (c) a first end wall extending across said first end, wherein the first end wall comprises a recess extending a least partially into the space, and a first set of threads disposed on the recess. An apparatus usable on a diagnostic analyzer container and includes: a threaded rotatable spindle adapted for threading into a closure having a threaded depression and for applying a rotational force to remove the closure; and a clutch having an element adapted to engage the closure and apply a rotational to the closure.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a sample for one or more analytes of interest includes: providing an element having a base layer; a layer containing streptavidin; a spreading layer, wherein the streptavidin may or may not be in the spreading layer; providing immunocomponents and labeled immunoreactants which may be in the spreading layer or may be combined with the sample; dispensing the sample, and optionally the immunocomponents and a labeled immunoreactant onto the spreading layer at three or more areas, wherein each center of the three or more areas is substantially equidistance to the center formed by the three or more areas, and wherein each area contacts an adjacent area such that wash fluid flow in any direction will contact sample; washing the sample and label by directing the wash fluid at the center formed by the three or more areas, whereby the wash fluid equally flows over each of the three or more areas; and taking a measurement at each three or more areas to determine the presence or concentration of the

Abstract: A centrifuge includes: a plurality of centrifuge discs each disc having an attachment for attaching a container containing a liquid to be centrifuged; a disc driver positioned to engage and rotate the discs; a disc engager/disengager for individually moving each of said discs into and out of contact with the disc driver; and a controller for controlling which discs are engaged or disengaged from the disc driver and the amount of time each disc is centrifuged. In another embodiment, the centrifuge includes a plurality of disc drivers positioned to engage and rotate the discs, wherein the rotation of discs are controlled by the plurality of disc drivers; and a controller for controlling which discs are rotated by the plurality of disc drivers and the amount of time the discs are centrifuged by individually controlling each disc driver.

Abstract: A device for heating or cooling multiple single chamber containers or a multi-chamber container. The device includes: a unitary heat or cold source providing a source of heat or cold; heat exchange elements in thermal communication with the heat or cold source and extending away from the heat or cold source; a thermal barrier between each of said heat exchange elements to thermally isolate the heat exchange elements from each other. Each heat exchange element is thermally associated with one or more chambers that are different from one or more chambers associated with other heat exchange elements to thermally isolate the chambers from each other. Preferably the container is a sample or reagent container used in a clinical analyzer, such as a multi-chamber reaction cuvette or a multi-chamber microtiter plate. An incubator assembly, preferably usable in a clinical analyzer, can include the device for heating or cooling.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively measuring error causing physical parameters in a fluid handling system, includes: measuring the pressure of air between a piston of a pump and a liquid being handled; detecting a pressure abnormality; determining the time at which the pressure abnormality begins to occur; and based on the time of the pressure abnormality determining the magnitude of the physical parameter causing the pressure abnormality. In a preferred embodiment, the error causing physical parameter is a bubble and the fluid handling is an aspirate operation in a diagnostic analyzer.

Abstract: A method for measuring the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample by spectrophotometry: providing an open top cuvette having a sample with an analyte to be measured; providing a light source and a detector for detecting emitted light; taking at least two measurements that includes: (i) directing at least two beams of light from the light source to different locations on the cuvette; (ii) passing the at least two beams through the cuvette at their respective locations and through the sample to be measured; and (iii) measuring at least two respective emitted light beams with the detector; and comparing the at least two emitted light beams to determine if: all the emitted light beams should be disregarded; one or more of the emitted light beams should be disregarded; or the sample absorbances should be averaged. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes taking at least three measurements.

Abstract: A method for improving the accuracy or precision of a metered fluid includes: estimating a fluidic property of the fluid being metered; and adjusting one or more control parameters based on the estimated property to improve the accuracy or precision of a metered fluid. Preferably, the estimating the property of the fluid being metered includes: monitoring a physical event during the metering operation to collect sensed data; extracting features from the sensed data; and using the features to estimate fluid properties. In another preferred embodiment, the estimated fluidic property is viscosity and the sensed data is a pressure profile during a fluid aspiration. In another preferred embodiment, the method includes a diagnostic analyzer which includes a metering probe having a hard probe or a probe having a disposable tip and wherein the fluid is a body fluid sample.

Abstract: An analyzer, preferably a desktop analyzer, includes: a stationary probe capable of dispensing or aspirating a liquid; one or more of a movable test element or movable liquid source; and a conveyor for moving the movable test element or liquid source with respect to the stationary probe. In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor includes a dual rotor conveyor. A method of dispensing or aspirating a liquid into a test element includes: providing a movable test element having identifying marks, such as a barcode, thereon and a movable sample liquid supply; providing a stationary probe; reading the identifying marks to determine which test is to be performed and the dimensions of the test element; moving the movable sample liquid supply into registration with the probe; aspirating sample into the stationary probe; and moving the movable test element into registration with the probe, wherein the registration of the test element with the probe is controlled by the test to be performed.

Abstract: A method for aligning the position of a movable arm includes: providing an alignment element on the apparatus projecting a distance above the apparatus in the z-direction and having a surface lying in a plane formed by an x and y axis; providing a movable arm having a tool at the free end; positioning the object such that the surface of the element faces the tool; moving the tool in a direction towards the surface of the element; sensing when the tool reaches a predetermined point on or above the surface of the element, whereby the position of the tool in the z-direction is determined based on the relationship between the measured response of the tool and the height of the tool above the surface of the alignment element; placing the tool on or at a distance in the z-direction from the surface; moving the tool in the x-direction while sensing the surface of the element; moving the tool in the x-direction until an edge of the element is sensed; determining the center in the x-direction based on the known distan

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for mixing a liquid within a disposable aspirating probe tip so that most of the liquid is forced to move past a transition zone between two different inside diameters to cause rotational mixing. The apparatus and method can be used to provide agglutination of blood, which in turn can be used for blood typing. The probe tip can include a single integral piece, or two separate portions. The transition zone can include a sharp demarcation between inside diameters, or a smooth one.