Patents Examined by Long H. Le
  • Patent number: 5384093
    Abstract: An apparatus for aspirating and discharging a specific volume of liquid sample, such as specimen and reagent, has a reaction plate serving a holding function and having a plurality of reaction containers, is provided which is low in cost and compact in design. On one side of a belt applied on two pulleys driven by one driving source an arm for holding a pipet is provided, while a reaction plate holding part is mounted on the other side of the belt (112), thereby constructing an apparatus for aspirating and discharging a liquid sample. When the arm ascends, the holding part descends, and when the arm descends, the holding part ascends. Thus, the arm and holding part are moved mutually in opposite directions by one driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ootani, Takayoshi Izumi
  • Patent number: 5374395
    Abstract: A dependable cost-effective clinical analyzer machine provides an efficient and easy-to-use diagnostics instrument and process to accurately, rapidly and automatically test and analyze samples in test packs for an analyte. In the clinical analyzer machine, remote-controlled trams transport test packs containing loading/unloading station to a processing/testing station via a carousel and vice versa. In the processing station, a special processor with mechanically-operated rollers mixing shoes, wastegate assembly, magnets, clamp plate and a thermal sealer, process samples in test packs with various reagents to detect an analyte. The carousel holds the test packs during incubation periods and rotates the tested disposable packs past an optical reader which optically senses the presence of an analyte in the sample. Bar code readers are provided to assist in identification of the test pack, patient and sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: David Robinson, Ernest Bate, Simon Kellard, Mark Watson, Donald E. Mahan, Thomas M. Shimei, Kevin R. Kearney