3 4
tional design. Each of the modules 24, 26, 28, 30 in- adapted to extend the probe travel arc 22 beyond the
eludes a sample receiving port and is adapted to receive side 59 to a position that is outside of the frame 42.
sample volumes from the probe 20 and perform analyses With reference now to FIG. 2, a large menu, random
thereon. The modules 24, 26, 28, 30 may be similar to, access clinical modular analyzer 60 is shown therein,
for example, various of the modules included in the 5 The modular analyzer 60 includes a frame 62 supporting
ASTRA ® Analyzer from Beckman Instruments, Inc. a working surface 64. The working surface 64 includes
of Brea, California. a sample carousel 66 adapted to receive a plurality of
The arc 22 also swings over a sample injection cell 32 sample sectors 68, each of the sectors 68 including ten
adapted to receive sample volumes from the probe 20 openings 70 therein each for receiving a sample cup 72.
and flow such volumes to a flow analysis module 34 10 The sample carousel 66 is automatically rotated by
capable of analyzing "electrolytes" including chloride, means of, for example, a stepper motor as is well known
sodium, potassium, and C02. The flow analysis module m the aIi
34 may be similar to the flow analysis techniques used in The sample sectors 68 are loaded onto the modular
theE4ATM Analyzer from Beckman Instruments, Inc., analyzer 60 at a loading tray 74. The loading tray 74
of Brea, California. The sample injection cell 32 in- 15 includes a transfer mechanism 76 which transfers one
eludes means for sealing the probe 20 therein while sample sector 68 from the loading tray 74 to a transfer
sample volumes are injected from the probe 20 into the Position 78 and simultaneously transfers a sample sector
cejj 32 68 at the transfer position to the loading tray 74. In the
The modular analyzer 10 also includes locations embodiment disclosed herein, the transfer mechanism about the arc 22 for wells 38 and 40 adapted to receive 20 76 °Pera^s by lifting the sample sectors 68 on the loadcalibration reagents which may be required for calibra- m8 tray 74 ^ at the transfer position 78 up and above tion of various of the modules 24, 26, 28, 30, 34. the samPle sfctors <» °« the sample carousel 66. The
The working surface of the modular analyzer 10 is mechanism 76 then steps one sector position
supported by means of a frame 42. The frame 42 also „ clockTMse f seen fTMmab°ve >n FIG. 2, lowering the
supports an electronics card cage 44 which includes a 25 *amPle sectors ba<* ^ °adm§ tray J4 a«d °nt°
I T* c ■ u J A* _■• i J- At J the sample carousel 68 at the transfer position 78.
plurality of circuit boards 46, a disk drive 47, and re- ~ r .. , v _^
f. , / . . . .. , . , , The working surface 64 also supports a reaction
lated electronic circuitry for controlling the modular . , on ?. . i r i
i mn-j • „ j. . ^ r. wheel 80 which m turn carries a plurality of sample
analyzer 10. Fluid reservoirs 48 contain reagents for use «. «m u * •* • t. m. *• u i on
■ ^ J i ,„ ,„ ,,. . * • , cuvettes 82 about its periphery. The reaction wheel 80
in the modules 24, 26 28, 30 34 A conventional com- 3Q ^ IQmed fe means 0£s£ motor that is controlled
puter terminal including a keyboard and CRT, and a m nse tQ tfae m electronics and control cir.
printer (not shown) are connected to the electronic cuit A flash photometer w at the periphery of the
circuitry included in the card cage 44 for providing reaction whed „„ cooperates with the wheel 80 to di
operating instructions to, as well as receiving results rect u ht thr h the cuvettes 82 M the reaction wheel
from, the modular analyzer 10, all m a conventional 35 80 is rotated In the embodiment disclosed herein, the
fashion. reaction wheel 80 may support eighty cuvettes 82 and
The modular analyzer 10 as described above is thus a be controlled so as to intermittently rotate at approxi
high-throughput, limited-menu analyzer of the type mately ninety RPM during which time the flash pho.
known in the art which is adapted to perform parallel tometer 34 operates to obtain polychromatic colorimet
analyses concurrently in the modules 24, 26, 28, 30, 34 w ric data for the fluids carried within the cuvettes 82. A
for a sample volume drawn from the sample carousel CUVette wash station 85 also at the periphery of the
12. The operating cycle of the modular analyzer 10 reaction wheel 80 washes the cuvettes 82 to clean and
generally mcludes drawmg a sample volume from the prepare the cuvettes 82 for another analysis,
sample carousel 12 into the probe 20, rotating the arm A refrigerated storage compartment 86 contains a
16 to the sample injection cell 32 and injecting a portion 45 plurality of reagent cartridges 88 supported by a rea
of the sample volume into the cell 32 for analysis by the gent carousel 90. Each of the cartridges 88 includes
flow analyzer module 34. The arm 16 raises the probe three separate compartments adapted to hold reagents
20 and rotates the probe 20 along the arc 22 to deposit for a particular test or chemistry performed by the
portions of the sample volume to the analyzer modules modular analyzer 60. The reagent cartridges 88 may be
24, 26, 28, 30 for individual analysis therein. The probe 50 placed onto and removed from the reagent carousel 90
32 is then moved to the cell 32 for washing the probe tip via a front door 92 in the compartment 86. The com
and to complete the analysis and calibration cycle for partment 86 includes a rotational mechanism 93 for
the flow analysis module 34, preparing the modular rotating the reagent carousel 90 so as to position one of
analyzer for the next operation cycle. the reagent cartridges 88 under three openings 94, 96,
The modular analyzer 10 is adapted in accordance 55 98 formed in the top of the compartment 86. The open
with the present invention to operate as a portion of a ings 94, 96, 98 allow access to the reagent cartridges 88
system of modular analyzers. More particularly, the for removal of reagent therefrom,
frame 42 includes a plurality of holes 50, index plates 52, The working surface 64 also supports a sample trans
54, and holes 56, 58 in such plates 52, 54. Each of the fer and stirring mechanism 100 and a reagent transfer
index plates 52, 54 is precisely located with respect to 60 and stirring mechanism 102. Preferably, the sample
the displacement mechanism 18 and the arc 22 de- transfer and stirring mechanism 100 includes a fluid
scribed by the probe 20. The holes 50 are placed in the probe assembly 104 pivoted about a pivot point 106. A
frame 42 proximate a side 59 of the modular analyzer 10 probe 108 is carried by the assembly 104. The assembly
nearest the displacement mechanism 18. The portion of 104 is adapted to withdraw a predetermined sample
the frame 42 through which the holes 50 pass defines a 65 volume from a sample sector 68, raise the probe 108
plane that is a predetermined distance from the displace- above the sample sector 68, pivot the probe 108 to a
ment mechanism 18. Further in accordance with the sample injection position above a predetermined cu
present invention, the displacement mechanism 18 is vette 82 on the reaction wheel 80, lower the probe 108
