An automated process for preparing and amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence within a stand-alone unit.

Automated process for isolating and amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence

The present invention relates to an automated analyzer (50) for use in performing a nucleic acid-based assay, the analyzer (50) comprising within a housing (60): a magnet moving structure (810) for subjecting a sample to a magnetic field, wherein the magnet moving structure (810) carries a plurality of magnets (814); an aspirator tube (860) for aspirating a fluid component of the sample while the sample s subjected to the magnetic field of the magnet moving structure (810); an amplification incubator (604) comprising a housing (610) including a receptacle access opening (614) that is sized for moving a reaction receptacle (162) into or out of the amplification incubator (604), wherein the reaction receptacle (162) is suspected of containing a target nucleic acid separated from the fluid component of the sample; and a detection device (950) for detecting a light signal associated with an amplification product formed in the amplification incubator (604), the amplification product being indicative of the presence of the target nucleic acid in the sample.

Automated diagnostic analyzer and method

Signal measuring system for conducting real-time amplification assays

An assembly comprising: a first ring assembly constructed and arranged to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation, said first ring assembly including an annular fluid container carrier portion having an inner periphery and an outer periphery between which said fluid container carrier portion is defined, said fluid container carrier portion being constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of fluid containers; and a second ring assembly constructed and arranged to be rotatable independent of said first ring assembly about a second axis of rotation that is generally parallel to said first axis of rotation, said second ring assembly being positioned with respect to said first ring assembly so that at least a portion of an outer perimeter of said second ring assembly is disposed radially inwardly of said inner periphery of said fluid container carrier portion of said first ring assembly, said second ring assembly being constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of pipette tips thereon.

Multiple ring assembly for providing specimen to reaction receptacles within an automated analyzer

Instrument for detecting light emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle

There is disclosed an automatic biochemical analyzer having a sample turntable and a reaction turntable. Plural sample containers for holding samples are arrayed on the sample turntable. Plural reaction containers are arrayed on the reaction turntable. A sampling pipette draws in a sample from some sampling container and injects the sample into some reaction container. A reagent pipette draws in some reagent from some reagent container and injects the reagent into the same reaction container. The resulting mixture is stirred by a stirring device. Produced reaction products are detected by a detector. Let N be the number of the reaction containers on the reaction turntable. The reaction turntable is rotated in M pitches in one step. Note that M and N do not have any common factor. First and second injecting positions adjacent to each other are established as positions where the reagent pipette can inject a reagent into the reaction container in position. First and second stirring positions adjacent to each other are established as positions where the stirring device can stir liquids in the reaction container in position. The stirring device can be moved between the first and second stirring positions. Thus, one reagent pipette can be used for two kinds of reagents. Also, one stirring device can be used for two kinds of reagents.

Automatic biochemical analyzer

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure many samples in a predetermined time by increasing the degree of freedom of design while eliminating the need of reagent pipet and stirrer for each reagent thereby setting the injection and stirring timing optimally for each reagent. SOLUTION: A first reagent pipet 17 can dispense a first reagent into a reaction case 11 on a reaction turn table at same position of center of rotation numbered '1' and can dispense a fourth reagent into a reaction case 11 numbered '2'. A first reaction stirrer 19 can move straight in the tangential direction of a reaction turn table 12 by one pitch (arranging pitch of adjacent reaction cases 11) between number 4 and '5'. Consequently, stirring can be performed at different positions using a single stirrer.

Saburo Yoshimi

Papers

Automatic biochemical analyzer

Reagent injector/stirrer in automatic biochemical analyzer