Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.

Roche Diagnostics Gmbh

Leo Schwerzmann

Gottlieb Schacher

Claudius Burkhardt

Mathias Juch

Martin Burri

Embodiments directed to a device for analyzing samples administered from a sample vessel are disclosed. One embodiment may comprise a central unit having a supply of reaction vessels and a sampling unit by which at least part of a sample is transferred from one of the sample vessels into the reaction vessel; at least one analytical unit having a plurality of reagent vessels; a transport unit which transports at least part of the reaction vessels from the central unit to the analytical unit such that the analytical unit supplies the reagent from the reagent vessels into the reaction vessel for triggering a reaction between the sample and the reagent; and at least one measuring unit provided in the analytical unit which measures the physical property of the sample held in the reaction vessel.

Device for analyzing samples

A device for analyzing samples is disclosed, which are supplied in sample vessels (), a central unit () with reaction vessels (), a transport unit () for transporting the reaction vessels and at least one analytical unit () being provided. The central unit () contains a sampling unit (), by which at least a part of the sample is transferred from the sample vessel () to a reaction vessel. At least a part of the reaction vessels is transferred via/by the transport unit () to at least one of the analytical units (). Furthermore, at least one reagent vessel () with at least one reagent is provided, which is supplied to the sample in the reaction vessel for a reaction between the sample and the reagent. Finally, at least one measuring device () or at least one measuring unit for the measuring of a physical property of the sample is provided. The device according to the invention works extremely efficiently, simultaneously a minimal effort of resources being required. Thereby, particular advantageous is the modular construction of the device according to the invention, which allows an extension of the analysis capacity as required. Furthermore, the modular construction results in an easier maintenance since defective units () can easily be replaced by new ones.

An automatic analyzer system including transport means for moving sample racks within the system. In order to simplify and reduce the cost of the means for transporting the sample racks the system comprises (a) a rack supply unit capable of containing sample racks, said rack supply unit including (a.1) a rack input device for introducing sample racks into the rack supply unit, (a.2) a rack output device for removing sample racks from the rack supply unit, (a.3) a buffer unit for storing unprocessed racks before they are transferred from said rack supply unit to a position corresponding to an analyzer unit, and for storing also already processed racks which contain samples having a probability of being reexamined, and (a.4) means for moving a sample rack from said rack input device and from said rack output device to said buffer unit and vice versa; (b) at least one analyzer unit for testing an analysis item of a sample sampled from a sample container ( ) contained in a sample rack, said buffer unit being so arranged as to be interposed between said rack input/output devices ( ) and said at least one analyzer unit ( ); (c) a single transfer line for moving a sample rack from said buffer unit to a position corresponding to said at least one analyzer unit and for moving said sample rack from said position back to said buffer unit; (d) means for moving said sample rack in opposite senses along said single transfer line, and (e) means for directing a sample rack from said rack input device and said rack output device to said buffer unit and vice versa; and (f) means for directing a sample rack from said buffer unit to said at least one analyzer unit and vice versa.

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Udligenswil, Switzerland

Leo Schwerzmann