Apparatus for the automatic performance of immunohaematology analysis on gel cards
Inventors
Martinell Gispert-Sauch, Enrique • PUIG CEBRIA, Jordi
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10107806-B2
Publication Date
2018-10-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
The apparatus has a containing body with a flat upper functional floor for containing receptacles of reagents, diluents and samples, as well as housings for gel cards and incubators for the same; a lower floor containing receptacles for washing liquids and the collection of waste and cards and for housing the fluid control and electronic control system; a series of longitudinal and transverse guides associated with the upper part of the apparatus, suitable for carrying in suspension the moving heads of the apparatus, the heads being movable on the transverse guides; two heads, respectively for perforation and pipetting and for the transport of gel cards; two centrifuges and a gel card reader; and a folding touch screen providing information and control.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for automatic immunohematological analysis on gel cards. The apparatus includes a containing body with a flat functional upper floor and a lower floor that houses a fluidic and electronic control system. The single working level on the flat functional upper floor supports receptacles of reagents, diluents and samples, a dilution well, and card drawers housing the gel cards.
The apparatus further includes probe and card-handling moving heads that cooperate with guided movement on the upper part of the apparatus. A first transverse guide attaches to a first moving head comprising a first probe configured for perforating stoppers of receptacles and a second probe configured for pipetting a liquid in the receptacle, while a second transverse guide attaches to a second moving head comprising a clamp configured for transporting the gel cards. The first and second moving heads are movable in a transverse direction on the transverse guides, and the transverse guides are movable in a longitudinal direction on a longitudinal guide.
The invention also integrates two gel card centrifuges and a gel card reader arranged on the bottom side of the single working level underneath the top side, with gel card incubators arranged along a central area of the top side between zones for reagents, diluents, samples and the dilution well, and zones for card drawers, centrifuges, gel card reader, and the opening to the scrap receptacle. A folding information and control touch screen is included for information and control. The lower floor includes receptacles for washing liquids and for collection of waste liquid and scrap cards.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes one independent claim. It specifies an integrated automatic gel-card immunohematological analysis apparatus with a single-level flat working floor, guided transverse and longitudinal movement of a probe/perforation-and-pipetting head and a card clamp head, and coordinated gel-card processing stations plus a scrap-card transfer to a lower scrap receptacle.
Flat functional single working level with receptacles, dilution well, and card drawers
A flat functional upper floor comprised of a single working level, the single working level having receptacles on its top side containing reagents, diluents and samples, further comprising a dilution well, and card drawers housing the gel cards.
Lower floor with wash liquids and waste and scrap collection
A lower floor comprising receptacles for washing liquids and for collection of waste liquid and scrap cards, and housing a fluidic and electronic control system.
Transverse and longitudinal guide system for perforating and pipetting head and gel-card clamp head
A first transverse guide and a second transverse guide associated with an upper part of the apparatus configured such that a first moving head movable on the transverse guides in a transverse direction includes a first probe for perforating stoppers and a second probe for pipetting, and a second moving head includes a clamp configured for transporting gel cards; and a longitudinal guide attached to the first and second transverse guides configured such that the first and second transverse guides are movable on the longitudinal guide in a longitudinal direction.
Integrated gel card centrifuges and gel card reader under the upper floor
Two gel card centrifuges and a gel card reader arranged on the bottom side, underneath the top side of the single working level.
Scrap-card opening to a lower scrap receptacle
The upper floor having an opening to send gel cards to a scrap receptacle in the lower floor for receiving scrap cards to be scrapped or temporarily stored for their eventual re-use.
Central-zone arrangement of gel card incubators
Gel card incubators arranged along a central area on the top side of the single working level between a zone for reagents, diluents, samples and the dilution well, and a zone for card drawers, the centrifuges, the gel card reader, and the opening to the scrap receptacle.
Folding information and control touch screen
A folding information and control touch screen for information and control.
Across the independent claim, the apparatus is characterized by a single-level flat functional upper floor with receptacles and drawers, guided movement in transverse and longitudinal directions between a perforating and pipetting probe head and a gel-card clamp head, coordinated gel-card processing stations including two centrifuges and a reader underneath the upper floor, incubators arranged in a central area between functional zones, and an upper-floor opening that transfers scrap cards to a lower scrap receptacle, all controlled via a folding touch screen.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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