Cirrus Diagnostics, Inc.

Cooperbiomedical, Inc.

Victor R Huebner

Arthur L Babson

Douglas R Olson

Gershon Giter

Scott K Hartman

Arthur F Ross

An automated immunoassay analyzer includes a computer controlled instrument (10) and display (16). The display (16) provides a real-time presentation of all operations being performed within the instrument (10). A large number of samples can be loaded into the instrument (10), and the order of testing the samples can be rearranged according to a priority determined by the operator at any time. A wide variety of immunoassays can be performed on each sample and several different immunoassays can be performed on any one sample. Information related to the type of immunoassays being performed on particular samples is collected by a bar code reader (44) and this information is conveyed to the computer (12) for presentation on the display (16). The computer (12) tracks the progress of each immunoassay through the reaction circuit to the detection station (46). The time to completion for particular immunoassays as well as the concentration information for recently completed immunoassays is provided in a readily usable format. The immunoassay automation process is improved by performing the washing operation with an assay tube (26) which allows water to be expelled by centrifugal forces generated by rotating the tube about its longitudinal axis; rather, than by using more conventional aspirating equipment. Bound label is detected by chemiluminescence using a photomultiplier tube (96).

Automated immunoassay analyzer with pictorial display of assay

An optical detector circuit for a photometric instrument for providing a high precision, low cost A/D conversion of a detected optical signal. A sampled signal is integrated in a sample signal integrator while a reference signal integrator is integrated in a reference signal integrator. Using dual slope techniques, the integrated reference signal is provided as an input signal to the sample signal integrator during a de-integration cycle to provide a ratio of the detected signal to the reference signal, useful in nephelometers. An inverted blanking signal may also be integrated in the sample integrator prior to an integration of the sample signal to improve the accuracy of the dual slope integration. The period of integration is selected as a multiple of the primary sources of interfering noise such as power line and flourescent light frequencies.

Optical detector circuit for photometric instrument

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Newtown Square, PA, United States of America

Victor R Huebner