Abstract: A method of monitoring detection of an analyte in a liquid sample using a measuring cell, the measuring cell comprising a working electrode for excitation of electrochemiluminescence in the liquid sample, an optical detector for detecting the excited electrochemiluminescence, the excitation and detection being performed in an measurement cycle, the measurement cycle comprising transporting the liquid sample via a transport path to the working electrode using a support liquid, the method comprising: coupling light of a light source into the transport path during part of the measurement cycle, the transport path forming a light guide between the light source and the optical detector, detecting the coupled light by the optical detector, analyzing the detected light for a gas bubble in the transport path, providing a measurement state if the result of the analysis deviates from a target state regarding the presence of a gas bubble in the transport path.

Abstract: A reagent vessel, an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a lower part of a reagent vessel for an analytical instrument are disclosed. The reagent vessel is configured to store a liquid reagent. The reagent vessel comprises a cover and a lower part. The lower part comprises a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, two opposing side walls and at least one connection wall. The cover, bottom wall, front wall, rear wall and two opposing side walls define at least one internal volume for storing at least one liquid reagent. The two opposing side walls are at least partially connected to one another by the at least one connection wall located within the at least one internal volume. The connection wall is spaced apart from the bottom wall. The connection wall and at least the two opposing side walls can be injection-molded and are monolithically formed.

Abstract: A method of monitoring detection of an analyte in a liquid sample using a measuring cell, the measuring cell comprising a working electrode for excitation of electrochemiluminescence in the liquid sample, an optical detector for detecting the excited electrochemiluminescence, the excitation and detection being performed in an measurement cycle, the measurement cycle comprising transporting the liquid sample via a transport path to the working electrode using a support liquid, the method comprising: coupling light of a light source into the transport path during part of the measurement cycle, the transport path forming a light guide between the light source and the optical detector, detecting the coupled light by the optical detector, analyzing the detected light for a gas bubble in the transport path, providing a measurement state if the result of the analysis deviates from a target state regarding the presence of a gas bubble in the transport path.

Abstract: A reagent vessel, an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a lower part of a reagent vessel for an analytical instrument are disclosed. The reagent vessel is configured to store a liquid reagent. The reagent vessel comprises a cover and a lower part. The lower part comprises a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, two opposing side walls and at least one connection wall. The cover, bottom wall, front wall, rear wall and two opposing side walls define at least one internal volume for storing at least one liquid reagent. The two opposing side walls are at least partially connected to one another by the at least one connection wall located within the at least one internal volume. The connection wall is spaced apart from the bottom wall. The connection wall and at least the two opposing side walls can be injection-molded and are monolithically formed.

Abstract: A reagent vessel holder for an analytical instrument is disclosed. The reagent vessel holder comprises at least one reagent vessel compartment for receiving a reagent vessel, wherein the reagent vessel compartment comprises a base and at least two lateral guiding elements, and at least one hollow needle for piercing the reagent vessel. The hollow needle is disposed on a front end of the reagent vessel compartment near the base and extends in a direction substantially parallel to the base. The lateral guiding elements are disposed so as to be adapted to slidably guide the reagent vessel in a direction substantially parallel to the direction, in which the hollow needle extends. The lateral guiding elements are adapted to receive the reagent vessel therebetween and are biased towards one another. Further, a reagent supply system for an analytical instrument and an analytical instrument comprising such a reagent vessel holder are disclosed.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the analyzer includes a reagent driving disk that accommodates a reagent configured for analysis and that transports the reagent to a desired position, and a fixed disk that has a reagent stand-by position in which to make a reagent container containing the reagent, temporarily stand by, and a magnetic particles stirring position for stirring magnetic particles. A portion of the reagent stand-by position is constituted by a loading system. A reagent container moving unit moves reagent containers containing the reagent, between the reagent driving unit and the fixed disk, according to analytical request status. Providing in a part of the fixed disk the loading system constructed so that reagent containers containing the reagent can be mounted therein during operation enables changing of reagent containers, irrespective of an operational status of the reagent driving disk, and the system to having cold-storage functionality.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer provided with a roller and a reagent container shoulder presser at the position where an operator inserts a reagent container into the automatic analyzer. The reagent container is pushed while the lid of the reagent container is made to touch the upper side of the roller and the shoulder presser is made to touch the shoulder of the reagent container, and the application of upward force to the lid causes the lid of the reagent container to be half open, after which the reagent container is inserted in the analyzer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a packaging cassette for reagent carriers, which is characterized by a base housing containing connected adjacent compartments for reagent carriers, wherein the compartments are separated from one another by partitions and are opened individually, each compartment having its own sealing cover which enables the compartment to be re-sealed.

Abstract: A reagent vessel holder for an analytical instrument is disclosed. The reagent vessel holder comprises at least one reagent vessel compartment for receiving a reagent vessel, wherein the reagent vessel compartment comprises a base and at least two lateral guiding elements, and at least one hollow needle for piercing the reagent vessel. The hollow needle is disposed on a front end of the reagent vessel compartment near the base and extends in a direction substantially parallel to the base. The lateral guiding elements are disposed so as to be adapted to slidably guide the reagent vessel in a direction substantially parallel to the direction, in which the hollow needle extends. The lateral guiding elements are adapted to receive the reagent vessel therebetween and are biased towards one another. Further, a reagent supply system for an analytical instrument and an analytical instrument comprising such a reagent vessel holder are disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer provided with a roller and a reagent container shoulder presser at the position where an operator inserts a reagent container into the automatic analyzer. The reagent container is pushed while the lid of the reagent container is made to touch the upper side of the roller and the shoulder presser is made to touch the shoulder of the reagent container, and the application of upward force to the lid causes the lid of the reagent container to be half open, after which the reagent container is inserted in the analyzer.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the analyzer includes a reagent driving disk that accommodates a reagent configured for analysis and that transports the reagent to a desired position, and a fixed disk that has a reagent stand-by position in which to make a reagent container containing the reagent, temporarily stand by, and a magnetic particles stirring position for stirring magnetic particles. A portion of the reagent stand-by position is constituted by a loading system. A reagent container moving unit moves reagent containers containing the reagent, between the reagent driving unit and the fixed disk, according to analytical request status. Providing in a part of the fixed disk the loading system constructed so that reagent containers containing the reagent can be mounted therein during operation enables changing of reagent containers, irrespective of an operational status of the reagent driving disk, and the system to having cold-storage functionality.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the analyzer includes a reagent driving disk that accommodates a reagent configured for analysis and that transports the reagent to a desired position, and a fixed disk that has a reagent stand-by position in which to make a reagent container containing the reagent, temporarily stand by, and a magnetic particles stirring position for stirring magnetic particles. A portion of the reagent stand-by position is constituted by a loading system. A reagent container moving unit moves reagent containers containing the reagent, between the reagent driving unit and the fixed disk, according to analytical request status. Providing in a part of the fixed disk the loading system constructed so that reagent containers containing the reagent can be mounted therein during operation enables changing of reagent containers, irrespective of an operational status of the reagent driving disk, and the system to having cold-storage functionality.

Abstract: Embodiments directed to a process for producing a reagent container assembly made of plastic and a reagent container assembly are disclosed. The process may comprise: assembling a group of particular reagent containers, and joining the reagent containers to form the reagent container assembly where at least two of the reagent containers are permanently joined together by at least one welding process.

Abstract: A cell for conducting electrochemiluminescence measurements is disclosed. The cell in one embodiment provides a measurement cell housing having a cavity, a fluid inlet channel for inducing fluid into the cavity and a fluid outlet channel for discharging fluid from the cavity at axial ends. The cell also provides at least one working electrode and a counter electrode on or in the cavity, and an optical viewing element for observing electrochemiluminescence effects in the cavity, wherein the fluid inlet channel has an at least approximately continuous curved course in a transition area to the cavity so that the fluid inlet channel at its end which is joined to the cavity is shaped in such a manner as to constitute a continuous course of the transition between the fluid inlet channel and the cavity to generate a largely steady flow profile when inducing fluid into the measurement cell cavity.

Abstract: An automated analyzer and a reagent vessel opening/closing device allows reduction of the time period during which reagent vessels are opened unnecessarily. The reagent vessel opening/closing device opens or closes the lids of reagent vessels when the reagent vessels are at a dispensing/stirring position on a reagent vessel transfer device of an automated analyzer. The device for opening/closing the lids of reagent vessels includes a hook base secured to a unit base and a hook-base drive unit for moving the hook base with respect to the unit base in opening/closing directions of the lids of the reagent vessels. A plurality of hooks are attached to the hook base and a plurality of motors are each adapted to slide one of the hooks with respect to the hook base to engage/disengage the hook with/from the lid of a reagent vessel.

Abstract: A reagent kit is provided comprising a plurality of containers with top-side openings, a common support structure or a plurality of support structures associated to the containers, and a plurality of caps. Each container and cap is mountable or provided on the common or the associated support structure, wherein each cap is formed essentially rectangular, having two shorter edges and two longer edges, and comprises: a cap body, a lid hinged to the cap body so to pivot around a pivot axis at least between closed and opened positions, the pivot axis being essentially parallel to the shorter edges. The containers and associated caps are arranged in a row along a connecting line such that the pivot axes are orthogonal to the connecting line. For at least one of the containers, an end portion of the cap body opposite to the pivot axis is not covered by the lid.

Abstract: An automated analyzer and a reagent vessel opening/closing device allows reduction of the time period during which reagent vessels are opened unnecessarily. The reagent vessel opening/closing device opens or closes the lids of reagent vessels when the reagent vessels are at a dispensing/stirring position on a reagent vessel transfer device of an automated analyzer. The device for opening/closing the lids of reagent vessels includes a hook base secured to a unit base and a hook-base drive unit for moving the hook base with respect to the unit base in opening/closing directions of the lids of the reagent vessels. A plurality of hooks are attached to the hook base and a plurality of motors are each adapted to slide one of the hooks with respect to the hook base to engage/disengage the hook with/from the lid of a reagent vessel.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the analyzer includes a reagent driving disk that accommodates a reagent configured for analysis and that transports the reagent to a desired position, and a fixed disk that has a reagent stand-by position in which to make a reagent container containing the reagent, temporarily stand by, and a magnetic particles stirring position for stirring magnetic particles. A portion of the reagent stand-by position is constituted by a loading system. A reagent container moving unit moves reagent containers containing the reagent, between the reagent driving unit and the fixed disk, according to analytical request status. Providing in a part of the fixed disk the loading system constructed so that reagent containers containing the reagent can be mounted therein during operation enables changing of reagent containers, irrespective of an operational status of the reagent driving disk, and the system to having cold-storage functionality.

Abstract: Decapping system for opening or closing reagent containers or cartridge systems closed by a lid which is removed and secured by a rotational movement and method thereof are disclosed. The decapping system has a centering unit at its lower end that provides a snap-in element which engages the lid, and a plurality of simultaneously driven and vertically movable screwing heads which compensates for variable heights and/or sizes of cartridge systems to be processed.