Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Gmbh

Bayer Corporation

Other

Bayer Healthcare LLC

Nicolae Dumitrescu

Irena Makarchuk

Robert Adolfsen

Michael Avdenko

Dario Svenjak

Beri Cohen

Carl R Gebauer

Adrian Campbell

Frederick E Mootz

Frank Bakonyi

Luigi Cantatore

Joseph Carlucci

Bruce Behringer

Jo-Ana Quirch

An apparatus for and method of enabling enhanced, selective agitation of liquid containing a solid-phase reagent. The apparatus includes at least one liquid-bearing container, a circular tray, and a motor. The liquid-bearing container(s) includes at least one internal baffle that imparts turbulent agitation to the liquid when flowing from one end of the container to an opposite end. The circular tray is adapted for selective rotation about a vertical axis of rotation. The rotary circular tray assembly includes container-receiving stations that selectively retain a respective liquid-bearing container in an inclined or pitched orientation with respect to a horizontal plane. The motor creates centrifugal force, which causes liquid in the container(s) to travel from the first end of the container to the second end of the container via the internal baffle(s), agitating the liquid and the solid-phase portions of the reagent. When gravitational force exceeds the centrifugal force, liquid in the container(s) travels from the second end of the container to the first end of the container via the internal baffle(s), again agitating the liquid and the solid-phase portions of the reagent.

Rotary reagent tray assembly and method of mixing solid-phase reagents

Disclosed is a reaction vessel handling apparatus adapted for use in a biological fluid testing apparatus. The reaction vessel handling apparatus includes an incubation member and wash member that are overlapping. A transfer device transfers reaction vessels between the incubation member and wash member at the overlapping portions. Incubation and wash members may be rings. Testing apparatus (e.g., immunoassay apparatus or clinical analyzer apparatus) including the reaction vessel handling apparatus and methods of operating the apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.

Reaction vessel handling apparatus, testing apparatus, and methods using same

A random access, high-throughput system and method for preparing a biological sample for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing are disclosed. The system includes a nucleic acid isolation/purification apparatus and a PCR apparatus. The nucleic acid isolation/purification apparatus magnetically captures nucleic acid (NA) solids from the biological sample and then suspends the NA in elution buffer solution. The PCR testing apparatus provides multiple cycles of the denaturing, annealing, and elongating thermal cycles. More particularly, the PCR testing apparatus includes a multi-vessel thermal cycler array that has a plurality of single-vessel thermal cyclers that is each individually-thermally-controllable so that adjacent single-vessel thermal cyclers can be heated or cooled to different temperatures corresponding to the different thermal cycles of the respective PCR testing process.

Random access system and method for polymerase chain reaction testing

Disclosed are systems and apparatus adapted to control a temperature of a process liquid in a metering line of an instrument. In one aspect, a temperature-controlled liquid delivery apparatus has a pre-flux member operable to control a first temperature set point SPof the process liquid in a flow path between a feed tank and a metering apparatus, a metering line connecting the metering apparatus and a probe, and a line flux member directly thermally coupled to the metering line and operable to control a second temperature set point SPof the process liquid contained in the metering line. Methods of operating the system are provided, as are other aspects.

Methods, systems, and apparatus providing a temperature-controlled process liquid

A sample tube transport system that includes a track adapted to provide a path for one or more carriers between a plurality of modules. The system includes at least one upper conveyor system having an upper belt configured to wrap around a first upper pulley and a second upper pulley, and a plurality of upper magnets affixed to the upper belt to move the one or more carriers along the track adjacent the upper belt. The at least one lower conveyor system includes a lower belt spaced vertically below the upper belt and configured to wrap around the first lower pulley and the second lower pulley, and a plurality of lower magnets affixed to the lower belt. Each of the plurality of lower magnets are positioned to attract and move the one or more carriers along the track adjacent the lower belt.

Method and system for transporting sample tubes

A self dispensing reagent cartridge includes a vessel with a movable piston at one end and a puncturable self sealing septum at an opposite end. A hollow needle is located in alignment with the septum. The vessel is moved toward the needle to enable the needle to puncture the septum. The piston is then moved toward the septum to enable a predetermined amount of liquid in the vessel to be transferred outwardly of the vessel through the needle in an amount corresponding to the piston stroke.

Reagent cartridge

The valve sealing system for a reagent package includes an annular cylindrical gasket seated in a channel formed in the package. A rocker valve on the package pivots relative to the annular cylindrical gasket which surrounds an opening to the chamber of the reagent package. The annular channel includes a radially inner peripheral channel sidewall, a radially outer peripheral channel sidewall, and a bottom portion. An inclined peripheral wall portion of the channel intersects one of the channel sidewalls at an obtuse angle and the bottom portion of the channel. When the rocker valve is in a valve closed position it engages the annular cylindrical gasket to provide a substantially leak-tight seal.

Valve sealing system for a reagent package

The sample preparation device includes a vessel, such as a sample tube, having a bottom end with a bottom opening. A valve for control of the flow of any liquid outwardly of the vessel through the bottom opening is located at the bottom end of the vessel. The valve includes a deflectable membrane positioned against the bottom opening to close the bottom opening when the valve is in its normally closed condition. The membrane is deflectable away from the bottom opening when the valve is in an open condition to permit any liquid in the vessel to flow through the bottom opening to an outlet port of the valve for dispensation into a suitable collection vessel.

Sample preparation device

An ultrasonic beam shaping device includes a plate-like beam shaping element formed of opaque material. The beam shaping element has first and second conical surfaces, with a common axis, formed as opposite surface portions of the beam shaping element. A cylindrical aperture is formed in the beam shaping element along the common axis of the first and second conical surfaces such that the cylindrical aperture is also co-axial with the conical surfaces and passes through the conical surfaces. The beam shaping element thus has a circular open end at each conical surface.

Ultrasonic beam shaping device

The present invention relates to a cup handling subsystem for an automated clinical chemistry analyzer system which includes a nestable sample cup for holding sample mixtures, a cup dispenser mechanism for holding and dispensing a supply of the cups into a sample shuttle for transporting them, and an incubator for controlling the temperature of the cup and its contents. In one embodiment, the cups include a conical lower portion and a cylindrical upper portion having a top flange, a bottom flange and a groove formed therebetween. An apparatus is provided for holding and dispensing a plurality of such cups including a supply tube for holding the cups in a stack wherein the stack has a bottom-most cup and a next-bottom-most cup located above the bottom-most cup. The apparatus also includes an escapement located at a lower end of the supply tube which includes a disk having an aperture formed therein, a first leaf attached to a top side of the disk and a second leaf attached to a bottom side of the disk. The disk is movable between a first position in which the second leaf engages the bottom flange of the bottom-most cup and a second position in which the first leaf is inserted into the groove of the next-bottom-most cup and engages the top flange of the next-bottom-most cup and in which the second leaf no longer engages the bottom flange of the bottom-most cup. In the second position, the bottom-most cup is free to fall through the aperture formed in the disk.

Cup handling subsystem for an automated clinical chemistry analyzer system

A sample rack for holding sample tubes in a single row includes a frame having a longitudinally extending vertical rear wall and a horizontal top wall. The top wall includes a plurality of sample tube openings. A plurality of vertical partitions and opposite end walls are joined to the frame in spaced arrangement to define sample tube chambers for receiving sample tubes. A front marginal section of the frame connects the bottom portions of vertical partitions and a leaf spring device is attached to the marginal section. The leaf spring device includes a support section and a plurality of arms that extend upwardly from the support section into the sample tube chambers.

Sample tube rack

A sample rack for holding sample tubes in a single row includes an angle shaped frame formed by a longitudinally extending vertical rear wall and a horizontal top wall. The top wall includes a plurality of sample tube openings. A plurality of vertical partitions are joined to the angle shaped frame in spaced arrangement to define sample tube chambers for receiving sample tubes. At least one front vertical connecting section connects the bottom portions of two adjacent partitions opposite the rear wall. A leaf spring device is attached to the connecting section. The leaf spring device includes a support section and a plurality of arms opposite the rear wall extending upwardly from the support section into the sample tube chambers.

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Stamford, CT, United States of America

Nicolae Dumitrescu