Abstract: A reagent cartridge for a assay device comprises a frame and at least one reagent container. A reagent cartridge frame comprises a plurality of sidewalls, one of the sidewalls includes at least one detent to engage with a flange on a reagent container, and another sidewall includes at least one notch to engage with a rib on the reagent container. The reagent cartridge frame permits various numbers of reagent containers to be placed in the frame at any position and in any order depending on the assay being performed. The reagent cartridge may also be used with as few as one reagent container.

Abstract: A reagent cartridge for a assay device comprises a frame and at least one reagent container. A reagent cartridge frame comprises a plurality of sidewalls, one of the sidewalls includes at least one detent to engage with a flange on a reagent container, and another sidewall includes at least one notch to engage with a rib on the reagent container. The reagent cartridge frame permits various numbers of reagent containers to be placed in the frame at any position and in any order depending on the assay being performed. The reagent cartridge may also be used with as few as one reagent container.

Abstract: An improved dialysis cell and method for using the same to achieve shorter dialysis times wherein the two dialysis solutions used in the dialysis are brought into greater mutual contact with a semipermeable membrane, requiring the use of a smaller volume of dialysis. Because the dialysis cell is substantially rigid and in the shape of a test tube it can be used with an automated pipettor.

Abstract: A fecal antigen specimen tube apparatus preferably consists of a 16.times.75 mm screw-top specimen tube and a special screw cap assembly. The screw cap has a hollow "straw" with a specimen collection brush on the end. The screw-cap assembly can be removed from the specimen tube so that the brush end may be dipped into a fecal sample and rotated to collect a specimen. The cap assembly with specimen is then screwed back into the specimen tube to seal the container. The straw preferably has a number of openings along its length, which permits fluid to move back and forth through the straw as the specimen tube is agitated. Filters with pore sizes of approximately 100 microns are disposed over the openings to prevent larger pieces of fecal matter from penetrating into the straw. The filter, however, will permit most parasites to pass into the straw. The top of the straw (and cap assembly) is preferably sealed with a heat-seal film. This film seals the specimen tube, preventing spillage and evaporation.

Abstract: A dual injector for an automated immunoassay instrument is provided which allows the sequential detection of two different chemiluminescence labels within one instrument. The injector has four carefully designed orifices. The orifices are designed to work in two pairs. Orifices one and two can be used to inject trigger reagents A and B which can trigger a chemiluminescent reaction, such as acridinium. Orifices three and four can inject trigger reagents C and D for triggering a chemiluminescent reaction, such as luminol. The two pairs can be used in a sequential manner to generate signals in the wells of a cuvette. Thus, it is possible to run both acridinium and luminol based assays on one instrument.

Abstract: A self-adjusting linkable carrier for sample tubes, cuvettes, cells and the like comprising a longitudinally symmetrical vertically oriented polygonal body having two pairs of orthogonally disposed opposed vertical faces and a horizontal bottom sliding surface is disclosed. The top surface of the body is provided with a central bore opening into a vertical cavity adapted to releasably receive and retain a wide variety of sample tube configurations in a stable vertical orientation. Machine readable indicia may be provided on the external surface and vertical slots are provided in each external face to provide access to the central vertical cavity. A releasably locking horizontally aligned dovetail feature is provided to link adjacent carriers into conveniently handled racks or magazines which may be assembled and disassembled by machine. Additional horizontally sliding indexing elements are provided to facilitate the stable storage and transport of the carrier.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a sealed fluent material container having a chamber with an opening provided with a manually operable primary closure mechanism and a secondary closure mechanism that may be operated either manually or automatically. Manual removal of the primary closure mechanism from the chamber opening allows the secondary closure mechanism to extend a laterally moveable tongue from a horizontal guide recess on the top of the container to a normally closed position covering the opening. An engagable tab on the secondary closure permits the retraction of the moveable tongue against the biasing means to expose the chamber opening. The container has particular utility for use in automated chemical dispensers, analyzers and related equipment for the analysis and testing of blood, physiological fluids and other biological samples.

Abstract: The present invention provides a waste removal assembly used in conjunction with a sampling system which provides access to a sealed container. The assembly includes a lifting mechanism which moves a sample container against a hollow cleaning needle. The needle penetrates the stopper of the container, and its penetrating end moves into the container proximate the inside surface of the stopper. The assembly also includes a pump and tube arrangement in communication with the needle for removing or displacing entrapped serum or other debris from the bottom surface of the stopper and placing it in a waste container. After removing the debris from the container, the cleaning assembly vents the cleaned container to atmospheric pressure, and the sampling system performs sampling operations through a puncture tube which defines a temporary opening in the stopper of the container.

Abstract: An automated chemical analyzer includes an automated conveyor apparatus for receiving a variety of sizes of test tubes, cuvettes, and sample tubes in a standard carrier member receivable into the analyzer. The standard carrier members may be interlocked in ranks and placed side by side in file to replicate the size and handling convenience of conventional test tube racks. However, the conveyor apparatus also provides for receipt of the carriers either as individuals for stat handling, or in interlocked ranks, or as rank and file groups for routine handling. The interlocked ranks of carriers are automatically unlocked from one another and fed along with the carriers having stat samples therein to a recirculating endless loop conveyor device which conveys the samples to at least one chemical analysis module, as well as providing a storage capacity both for samples in testing, and those samples awaiting verification of test results.

Abstract: A unique method and apparatus for dispensing tablets having particular application in the clinical analysis of biological samples. A series of containers are advanced past a plurality of processing stations, one of which is a table dispenser in turn. The processing stations are selectively activated by a controller. A sensor is associated with the tablet dispenser and is arranged to detect whether a tablet has actually entered a container. The sensor is activated only when the tablet dispenser is activated. The controller is responsive to the sensor in dependence upon the condition sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: An improved system (10) is provided for providing access to a sealed container (14) which temporarily provides an opening in the closures of the containers, and either removes contents, senses properties of the contents, or dispenses material into the container. In one embodiment, this system includes a carousel assembly (12) which receives sample containers and moves them to a first location. There, a lift assembly (31) moves each sample container upward against a puncture tube (55) of a penetrating assembly (32). This puncture tube provides an opening in the closure of the container. The system takes a sample through this opening or inserts a probe (65) through the opening to measure the properties of the sample. After the system has performed the sampling, sensing, or dispensing function, a stripper assembly (67) strips the container from the puncture tube, allowing the opening to close.

Abstract: A system for heat sealing in conjunction a pair of plastic strips each of having a series of regularly spaced transverse pockets so that the pockets together form chambers separated by webs. The two pocketed strips to be joined are brought together and the strips heat sealed around the pockets to seal the chambers from one another while passing cooling fluid over the pockets so as to avoid distortion or collapse of the pockets.

Abstract: A flexible plastic cuvette belt comprises a series of open-topped chambers defining said cuvettes interconnected by webs. The chambers are generally rectangular in cross-section with their side faces having an approximately flat profile across their widths. The belt is used in conjunction with a photometric analysis station of the clinical analyzer which has a pair of spaced parallel plates which engage the cuvette side faces and render or keep them parallel. The forming press for use in the manufacture of such a cuvette belt is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multichannel spectrophotometer has a single radiant energy source formed into a multiplicity of radiant energy beams which are each simultaneously intercepted by segments of a rotary source filter wheel, the spectral radiant energy output selected by each filter segment being directed into a separate source radiant energy conduit and transmitted to a remote sample station where a cuvette containing a sample to be analyzed is located, the radiant energy outputs of each cuvette being directed into a separate detector radiant energy conduit where each conduit is intercepted by a filter segment of a second rotating detector filter wheel identical to the source filter wheel and rotated in aligned synchronism therewith, the spectral radiant energy outputs of each segment of the detector filter wheel being further directed into a separate radiant energy detector and signal processing electronics associated with that sample station or spectrophotometer channel from which the radiant energy signal being detected and

Abstract: A moisture sensor detects the presence of foreign matter in a fluid conducting conduit and produces an electrical signal which activates a pump to purge the conduit of the foreign matter. The moisture sensor includes a pair of conduits that may be formed of an electrically conductive material and a coupling for placing the pair of conduits in fluid communication. A pair of electrodes are mounted in the coupling and are insulated from one another until electrically conductive foreign matter bridges a gap between the electrodes. Bridging the gap between the electrodes causes a signal to be sent to a source of gas that injects gas in the conduits to remove the foreign material therefrom.

Abstract: There is disclosed a purging system for removing foreign matter from a fluid conducting conduit in which a sensor detects the presence of the foreign matter and produces an electrical signal which activates a timer which, in turn, connects a pump to the conduit for a given time duration to purge the conduit of the foreign matter. A counter also maybe connected to periodically activate the timer and purge the conduit, whether or not the sensor has detected foreign matter.