Automated liquid-phase immunoassay apparatus
Inventors
Choi, Eui Yul • JOO, Hoo Don • KIM, Hyung Hoon • Cho, Chuhyun • IM, Uk Bin • Oh, Young Jin • IM, Youn Tae • Jung, Ji Woon
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11693019-B2
Publication Date
2023-07-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed is an automated liquid-phase immunoassay apparatus used with a cuvette having a plurality of chambers containing a reagent necessary for detection of an analyte in a biological specimen. The apparatus includes a movable cuvette module equipped with the cuvette, an optical reading module for optical assaying of a material resulting from a reaction between the specimen and the reagent, and a dispenser module which is positioned on the cuvette module and which dispenses the specimen and the reagent to the plurality of chambers of the cuvette and washes the specimen and the reagent therefrom.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an automated liquid-based immune reaction analysis device using a cuvette having a plurality of chambers. The chambers include chambers filled with a sample, a reagent, and magnetic beads, and the chambers include chambers seated with a dispensing tip of a tubular shape and a washing tip of a cup shape. A cuvette module mounts the cuvette and supports a multi-step workflow including dispensing and washing while incorporating magnetic-bead separation.
The device includes a sampling arm in which a dispensing tip is detachably fitted and a straw arm in which a hollow is formed. The washing tip is detachably fitted to the straw arm, and a magnetic body in the form of a beam is configured to move up and down through the hollow so that the magnetic body attaches the magnetic beads to the washing tip. A remover module having a remover plate detaches the dispensing tip from the sampling arm and detaches the washing tip from the straw arm, and places the dispensing tip and the washing tip on the cuvette.
An optical reading module detects assay signals for the immune reaction, including fluorescence, visible color/absorbance, or chemiluminescent signal. A heat plate provides temperature control for the mounted cuvette. The holder further includes a standard block and optical scanning/capture to correct inter-instrument deviation by ratioing standard signals to sample signals, with an optional no-standard configuration for chemiluminescence, and the housing architecture supports the multi-cuvette and multi-incubation workflow.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim that defines the core architecture and operation of a liquid-based immune reaction analysis device with a multi-chamber cuvette, detachable dispensing and washing tips, magnetic-bead attachment using a beam-shaped magnetic body, and a remover module that detaches and places tips back onto the cuvette. Dependent claims further refine optical detection, temperature control, standard-material correction, and structural features of the remover plate and cuvette module.
Multi-chamber cuvette with sample, reagent, and magnetic beads
A cuvette having a plurality of chambers including chambers filled with a sample, a reagent and magnetic beads, and chambers seated with a dispensing tip of a tubular shape and a washing tip of a cup shape.
Sampling arm and straw arm with detachable tips
A sampling arm in which the dispensing tip seated on the cuvette is detachably fitted to one end of the sampling arm, and a straw arm in which a hollow is formed inside, the washing tip seated on the cuvette being detachably fitted to one end of the straw arm.
Beam-shaped magnetic body moved through hollow to attach beads to washing tip
A magnetic body in the form of a beam configured to move up and down through the hollow, wherein the magnetic body is configured to attach the magnetic beads to the washing tip when moved down in the hollow of the straw arm.
Remover module detaches tips and places them on the cuvette using remover plate
A remover module having a remover plate, wherein the remover module detaches the dispensing tip from the sampling arm and the washing tip from the straw arm by using the remover plate, and places the dispensing tip and the washing tip on the cuvette.
Optical reading module detecting fluorescence, visible color, or chemiluminescence
An optical reading module comprising an optical reader configured to detect reaction products by reading a fluorescent signal, a visible color signal, or a chemiluminescent signal.
Temperature control via heat plate for the mounted cuvette
A cuvette module including a heat plate to maintain the temperature of the mounted cuvette.
Remover plate structure with vertically penetrating holes and depression
The remover plate has a plurality of vertically penetrating holes and a depression on one side of the remover.
Standard-material correction using optical signal detection
The cuvette module holds a standard material and the optical reading module detects a signal to correct deviations by using the standard material.
Multi-mounting channels and tip placement back onto cuvette
A cuvette module having a plurality of mounting channels, together with a remover module that places the dispensing tip and the washing tip back onto a cuvette.
Across the independent claim and its dependents, the inventive features are centered on a multi-chamber cuvette with sample, reagent, and magnetic beads, detachable tubular dispensing and cup-shaped washing tips carried by a sampling arm and straw arm, magnetic-bead attachment using a beam-shaped magnetic body moved through a hollow, and tip detachment/placement back to the cuvette using a remover module with a remover plate, with further refinements including optical detection, heat-plate temperature control, optional standard-material correction, and specific structural features.
Stated Advantages
Throughput improvement by enabling simultaneous processing across multiple cuvettes.
Reduced inspection time.
Temperature control for the mounted cuvette using a heat plate.
Correction of inter-instrument deviation by ratioing standard signals to sample signals.
Documented Applications
Automated liquid-phase immune reaction analysis using a multi-chamber cuvette for immunoassay workflows, including dispensing, washing with magnetic-bead separation, and optical reading.
Multi-incubation and multi-cuvette workflows enabled by detaching and re-placement of dispensing and washing tips on the cuvette.
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