Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing a container having a slidable shutter closure moving past the apparatus includes: a rotatable shaft having an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the slidable shutter, the shaft being biased against rotation in either direction; a driver for bidirectionally moving the shaft from a position away from the container to a position in the vicinity of the container for opening and closing; and an extension extending outwardly from the rotatable shaft along at least a portion of the shaft into a line of travel, whereby the extension is adapted to engage the shutter closure of the container and move the shutter closure from an open position to a closed position or from a closed position to an open position. A reagent source for an automated analyzer includes: a reagent source which includes a container having a shutter closure which slides between an open and closed position; an apparatus for opening and closing the container.

Abstract: A method for measuring the amount of fluid contained in a reaction vessel in a clinical analyzer includes the steps of adding a first aliquot of fluid to the reaction vessel and measuring the quantity of fluid contained therein. A second aliquot of fluid is then added to the reaction vessel and the quantity of fluid contained therein is also measured. Measurement of the two fluid quantities can occur with or without removal of the first aliquot in between measurements. In obtaining the two quantity measurements and comparing them against a standard, the effects of well geometry can be minimized. Preferably, a delta or ratio measurement is obtained between the first and second liquid volume measurements which can be compared against a standard so as to normalize apparent volume losses or gains due to reaction well dimensional variation. This approach enhances the analytical capability to detect true fluid delivery errors.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing a container having a slidable shutter closure moving past the apparatus includes: a rotatable shaft having an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the slidable shutter, the shaft being biased against rotation in either direction; a driver for bidirectionally moving the shaft from a position away from the container to a position in the vicinity of the container for opening and closing; and an extension extending outwardly from the rotatable shaft along at least a portion of the shaft into a line of travel, whereby the extension is adapted to engage the shutter closure of the container and move the shutter closure from an open position to a closed position or from a closed position to an open position. A reagent source for an automated analyzer includes: a reagent source which includes a container having a shutter closure which slides between an open and closed position; an apparatus for opening and closing the container.

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 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 measuring the amount of fluid contained in a reaction vessel in a clinical analyzer includes the steps of adding a first aliquot of fluid to the reaction vessel and measuring the quantity of fluid contained therein. A second aliquot of fluid is then added to the reaction vessel and the quantity of fluid contained therein is also measured. Measurement of the two fluid quantities can occur with or without removal of the first aliquot in between measurements. In obtaining the two quantity measurements and comparing them against a standard, the effects of well geometry can be minimized. Preferably, a delta or ratio measurement is obtained between the first and second liquid volume measurements which can be compared against a standard so as to normalize apparent volume losses or gains due to reaction well dimensional variation. This approach enhances the analytical capability to detect true fluid delivery errors.

Abstract: An incubator comprises a rotor ring with two sets of apertures displaced along an arc of rotation, holding a cuvette in them. The apertures of one set are connected to an aperture of the other by a slot sized to allow passage of an elevator lead screw, but not a cuvette, between the apertures, the cuvette being raised on the top of the elevator during such passage. The elevator can also be used to move the cuvette into contact with a luminometer.

Abstract: An incubator and method of transfer in such incubator in an analyzer, wherein a simple transfer mechanism is provided for moving a cuvette from one incubator ring to another adjacent one. The mechanism comprises a shuttle disposed above said rotors, said shuttle having an aperture sufficiently large as to receive, but not retain by friction, one of said vessels, a mechanism for moving the shuttle and its aperture to traverse from one ring to the other, and a pusher member and mechanism for moving the pusher member to raise a cuvette from one ring into the shuttle. When the shuttle aperture aligns with the aperture of the other ring, a cuvette in the shuttle simply falls under the influence of gravity into the other ring.

Abstract: The apparatus processes immunoassays of samples using a solid support. It provides a compact system using rectilinear motion to process carriers holding samples on a real time basis while permitting the input and output of the system to operate on a random basis.

Abstract: A photographic film processor includes an upstanding processing rack which is immersed in a processing liquid tank. The rack has oppositely spaced pairs of mating vertical rack panels, each pair defining a vertical belt path and at least one vertical film process channel. An endless timing belt extends over a drive sprocket at the top of the processing rack, over an idler sprocket at the bottom of the rack, and along the vertical belt paths defined by the respective opposite pairs of vertical rack panels. The timing belt has inner teeth for engagement with the sprockets and outer teeth for engagement with a flexible film leader card to which at least one exposed filmstrip is secured. Rotation of the drive sprocket advances the timing belt continuously along the vertical belt paths to pull the exposed filmstrip along the vertical film process channels.