Bead dispenser and bead dispenser system for immunoassay analysis

Abstract

A bead dispenser device, and a system comprising a plurality of same, useful for supplying, one at a time, beads for heterogenous immunoassay, including a track capable of storing and feeding a plurality of substantially spherical beads by effect of gravity to a lower track end, where the track is sealingly housed within an enclosure having a base including upper and lower sections defining a plunger chamber, and a bead chamber defined in the upper section communicating with the lower track end and the bead chamber being offset along the plunger chamber relative to a bead exit opening in the lower section, with a plunger sealingly provided in the plunger chamber capable of horizontal reciprocal movement within the plunger chamber, the plunger having a throughhole defining another bead chamber normally aligned with the first-mentioned bead chamber at the lower track end and with a plunger portion concurrently blocking the exit opening via a horizontal biasing device acting on the plunger, wherein when opposing horizontal force is exerted adequate to overcome the normal bias force the plunger moves horizontally to align the other bead chamber with the exit opening and allow a bead to be dispensed.