The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 19, 1995
Filed:
Aug. 20, 1993
William J Raymoure, Lake Bluff, IL (US);
Frederic L Clark, Plano, TX (US);
Gibert Clift, Mesquite, TX (US);
Kendall B Hendrick, Southlake, TX (US);
William J Kanewske, III, Dallas, TX (US);
Peter A Lagocki, Park Ridge, IL (US);
Richard R Martin, Irving, TX (US);
James E Mitchell, Lake Barrington, IL (US);
Larry E Moore, Plano, TX (US);
Charles D Pennington, Lake Zurich, IL (US);
Edna S Walker, Chicago, IL (US);
B Jane Smith, Vernon Hills, IL (US);
Apparao Tayi, Grayslake, IL (US);
James A Vaught, Euless, TX (US);
David A Yost, Poolesville, MD (US);
Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL (US);
Abstract
A method for modifiying a liquid assay reagent to provide prolonged homogeneity thereof, particularly where the liquid assay reagent comprises microparticles for performing a heterogeneous immunoassay, is provided wherein the addition of an inert material to a liquid assay reagent achieves neutral density to thereby prolong the homogeneity thereof for extended periods of time. A method for the automated agitation of assay reagents to maintain the homogeneity thereof with an automated, continuous and random access analytical instrument is also provided. The automated mixing is accomplished by a back and forth motion of a carousel onto which assay reagent containers or packs are mounted with asymmetric pauses which can be completed within a short period of time. The carousel acceleration, velocity, distance moved, and pause-asymmetry are optimized to provide rapid assay reagent resuspension without foaming or bubble formation. Accordingly, periodic removal of assay reagent packs by an operator in order to mix the reagents is not necessary.