Abstract: A method for automatically determining whether a reagent container is new and unused or whether the reagent container has been previously used whenever reagent containers are initially placed onto an analyzer. Unused containers have a weakened member that can be deformed by a moveable sensor probe when containers are placed onto the analyzer.

Abstract: In a matching system one or more related techniques use correlators to match entities and to look up metadata. Correlators are names that enable the matching system to associate entities with other entities. Attributes comprised of name/value pairs are used by the matching system to determine if two entities match. When two entities match, a process associated with an entity may be executed using the data associated with one or both of the matching entities. If the matching system is unable to determine a best match, all matching entities are provided to another process or human for further review. The matching system provides for the injection of new entities or correlators, to dynamically change the behavior of the system. Entities can be defined using a hierarchy, so that some of the entity properties are defined through an inheritance relationship with parent entities.

Abstract: The present application describes a framework for a process oriented message driven workflow programming model where a complex process can be modeled by breaking down the complex process into a coarse grained series of atomic processes that interact through messages. A process is represented as a data structure that includes typed properties and one or more actions. The typed properties are used to associate a process with an incoming message, and the actions are steps that are executed when certain conditions are met by message properties and process data structure properties. A process action may add one or more properties to the process and/or modify an existing property. Processes are invoked and communicate solely through messages. When a process is executed, results of the execution are communicated to one or more other processes or external applications with messages that include any new and/or modified properties.

Abstract: Accelerating the delivery of small samples for clinical analysis on an automated clinical analyzer by automatically inspecting for the presence of interferents like those that might be found within such samples after clinical analysis is commenced.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for analyzing patient samples. The analyzer includes a plurality of cuvettes, which allow the samples to be mixed with various reagents. The analyzer includes one or more detectors, including a detector adapted to detect luminescence of the reaction mixture in the cuvettes. The analyzer allows for various diagnostic assays to be performed on a single system, and provides for high-sensitivity analysis at faster speeds.

Abstract: A method for determining not to reuse a previously used and cleaned reaction cuvette in an analyzer when an assay scheduled to be performed may be adversely affected by contaminants remaining in the cleaned reaction cuvette. If determined not to reuse a previously used and cleaned reaction cuvette, the previously used and cleaned reaction cuvette is replaced with an unused new reaction cuvette.

Abstract: A liquid aspiration method which includes aspirating partial aliquots of liquid at a number of different depths of penetration of a pipette tip into a liquid. The different depths are selected so that partial aliquot segments are obtained throughout the entire depth of sample, optionally excluding the extreme top and bottom levels.

Abstract: A virtual applications architecture is provided according to the present invention. The architecture includes a topology manager for managing applications across a plurality of members, and a virtual applications manager for defining a plurality of resources comprising the applications. The topology manager communicates with the plurality of members to initiate scaling of the applications associated with the virtual applications manager to the members. The architecture may also include a replication system for deploying the applications to the members.

Abstract: A biochemical analyzer adapted to automatically perform calibration and quality control protocols using shuttles adapted to remove calibration and quality control solution vials from a loading tray and to inventory said solution vials on board the biochemical analyzer in a calibration and quality control solution server. In addition, the analyzer is adapted to automatically penetrate the closure covering the opening of the calibration and quality control solution vials, aspirate an amount of solution therefrom and dispense said solution into a test cuvette, thereby eliminating the previous need for operator intervention.

Abstract: A method for maximizing analyzer throughput irregardless of the mix in demand of different assays to be conducted by duplicating the reagents required to conduct selected assays in at least two separate reagent servers and also enabling newly incoming selected assays to be conducted using reagents from whichever reagent server has the smaller backlog of such high-volume assays.

Abstract: An abstraction layer in a catalog management system for accessing system configuration information. The catalog management system presents the configuration combination that is stored in a datastore to a computer process by storing the information the memory so that the datastore is encapsulated from the caller. The request for configuration information may be both location independent and type independent.

Abstract: A file compression method comprises receiving a file from a processor by a video capture device, compressing the file into a compressed file by the video capture device, and outputting the compressed file by the video capture device to the processor.

Abstract: A method for cleansing used reaction cuvettes so that whenever certain assays are to be or have been performed in the reaction cuvette, the cuvette is automatically subjected to an additional cleaning operation by providing a number of washing and drying manifolds, each of which is independently selectively activated to perform or not perform a cleaning operation

Abstract: An automatic clinical analyzer in which the number of cuvette ports available for reaction vessels on a reaction carousel are 50% in a configuration using a single reagent storage areas; in a second configuration an additional reagent storage areas is employed and additional ones of the cuvette ports on reaction carousel are utilized, thereby significantly increasing throughput.

Abstract: A magazine for releasably inventorying a plurality of reaction cuvettes to be used in an automatic clinical analyzer, the magazine comprising a generally rectangular storage cell having curved front and back surfaces, and a number of storage chutes therein, each chute sized to hold reaction cuvettes stacked one atop another therein.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for analyzing patient samples. The analyzer includes a plurality of cuvettes, which allow the samples to be mixed with various reagents. The analyzer includes one or more detectors, including a detector adapted to detect luminescence of the reaction mixture in the cuvettes. The analyzer allows for various diagnostic assays to be performed on a single system, and provides for high-sensitivity analysis at faster speeds.