Biomerieux, Inc.

Brent D Freiner

Ron Robinson

Michael James Justin

Gregory R Maes

Garry R Tegeler

Clifford W Karl

Dennis M Connor

Raymond M Shelton

An incubation station has a carousel for receiving a plurality of test sample cards. An even temperature and air flow distribution inside the carousel and incubation of the cards over time at the proper temperature was found to be critically dependent upon air flow characteristics within the incubation station. To optimize air flow, the carousel was given an open rear side that is exposed to an air distribution table having a cover plate placed adjacent to the rear surface of the carousel. The cover plate has a plurality of elongate slots positioned in a symmetrical ring-shaped pattern in registry with the carousel. The elongate slots are positioned at an angle relative to the slots in the carousel such that each carousel slot receives air from more than one slot. An extra fan was also added to the system to increase the flow of air into the air table. Scallop features on the carousel walls also promote even distribution of air flow over the cards. The carousel may be divided into a plurality of carousel segments to increase ease of removal and insertion of the carousel into the incubation station and manufacturability of the carousel.

Incubation station for test sample cards

Carousel for incubation station

Test sample cards containing biological samples are moved through an analytical instrument past a card detection device and detected by the device. The card detection device has an actuator that reciprocates relative to a housing between first and second positions. The actuator has a surface that comes into contact with the card as the card is moved past the device. The actuator carries an optical interrupt flag which is used in conjunction with an optical sensor placed in proximity to the actuator. When the card comes into contact with the actuator, the actuator is moved from the first position to the second, or retracted position. This action moves the flag relative to the optical sensor, triggering the optical sensor and a detection of the card. In one possible embodiment, multiple cards are placed in a cassette for movement around the instrument. The cassette has a number of slots for the cards, one card per slot. Each card has placed thereon indicia such as bar codes that are used for identification purposes by the instrument. The card detection device, in addition to performing the detection functions for each of the cards, also rocks the cards within the cassette slots so as to place the bar codes or other indicia into a better position for reading by a bar code reader or other appropriate reading device for the indicia.

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St. Charles, MO, United States of America

Brent D Freiner