Immune reaction analysis device equipped with incubation chamber

Inventors

AN, Jae Un • Park, Dong Ki • IM, Uk Bin • IM, Youn Tae • Cha, Min Seok • Lee, Kang Hyuk • Park, Jae Ho • Shin, Jeong Ae

Assignees

Boditech Med Inc

Abstract

The present invention relates to an immune reaction analysis device. The analysis device of the present invention comprises: an incubation chamber which has a plurality of slits for accommodating cartridges, and in which an incubation for an immunodiagnostic reaction is performed; a cartridge input driving unit for inputting the cartridge into the slit of the incubation chamber; a determination unit for determining the result of the reaction in the cartridge; a cartridge withdrawal driving unit for withdrawing the cartridge accommodated in the slit of the incubation chamber; a cartridge transfer driving unit for transferring the withdrawn cartridge to the determination unit; and a control unit for controlling the cartridge input driving unit, the cartridge withdrawal driving unit, and the cartridge transfer driving unit. The immune reaction analysis device of the present invention provides excellent ease of use and can accurately perform a good number of incubations.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an immune reaction analysis device that performs an incubation for an immunodiagnostic reaction in a cartridge accommodated in an incubation chamber. The incubation chamber comprises a plurality of slits for accommodating cartridges, and the cartridge incubation is performed in the slits while the cartridges are handled by an automated cartridge input, withdrawal, and transfer sequence. The device further includes a determination unit configured for determining the result of the reaction in the cartridge and a control unit configured for controlling the cartridge input driving unit, the cartridge withdrawal driving unit, and the cartridge transfer driving unit.

The incubation chamber includes a shelf configured to form the plurality of slits arranged in a vertical direction, and the shelf is vertically driven by a shelf lifting unit. A first cartridge sensor is installed at an inlet of at least one slit, and a second cartridge sensor is installed at an outlet of at least one slit. The device controls incubation timing in an independent manner per slot by using the vertically driven shelf and the associated cartridge presence and stuck detection at the slit inlet and outlet.

The device also provides temperature control in the incubation chamber using a temperature control mechanism including Peltier element(s) and temperature sensors arranged at upper and lower surfaces. In addition, the device includes a cartridge imaging module with a camera and a user interface that displays the photographed location and marks of the cartridge housing, and a barcode recognition module that recognizes a barcode for cartridge type and lot. After reaction reading by an optical determination module, the device includes an automated cartridge discharge mechanism driven to discharge the cartridge, with discharge detection.

Claims Coverage

Independent claim coverage defines the core immune reaction analysis device architecture and operation flow with 7 inventive features. The claim set further adds cartridge discharge, cartridge imaging with location display, barcode recognition, temperature control, and time-based shelf elevation movement between inlet and outlet heights.

Overall, the independent claim covers a slit-based incubation chamber that performs an immunodiagnostic incubation in cartridge-held slits, followed by automated withdrawal and transfer to a determination unit under control. The dependent claim coverage adds post-determination cartridge discharge, cartridge imaging with a location display, barcode recognition, Peltier-based temperature control with sensor feedback, and preset incubation time-based shelf elevation to move slits between inlet and outlet heights.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications