An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing a sample block in microtiter tray format. The sample block has local balance and local symmetry. A three zone film heater controlled by a computer and ramp cooling solenoid valves also controlled by the computer for gating coolant flow through the block controls the block temperature. Constant bias cooling is used for small changes. Sample temperature is calculated instead of measured. A platen deforms plastic caps to apply a minimum acceptable threshold force for seating the tubes and thermally isolates them. A cover isolates the block. The control software includes diagnostics. An install program tests and characterizes the instrument. A new user interface is used. Disposable, multipiece plastic microtiter trays to give individual freedom to sample tubes are taught.

Thermal cycler for automatic performance of the polymerase chain reaction with close temperature control

There is disclosed herein a machine for performing nucleic acid amplification under computer control. The machine utilizes any one of a number of heating and cooling systems under control of a host computer which directs the heating and cooling systems to heat and cool a reaction-chamber-containing heat exchanger at appropriate times in the process. The reaction chambers are pre-loaded with the nucleic acid(s) to be amplified, a thermostable enzyme to catalyze polymerization, specific oligonucleotide primers, and four different nucleotide triphosphates. Also disclosed is the process for the amplification chain reaction implemented by the machine, which utilizes a thermostable enzyme.

Apparatus and method for performing automated amplification of nucleic acid sequences and assays using heating and cooling steps

An automated immunostaining apparatus having a reagent application zone and a reagent supply zone. The apparatus has a carousel slide support supporting a plurality of slide supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel slide support for consecutively positioning each of a plurality of slide supports in the reagent application zone. The apparatus also has a carousel reagent support having a plurality of reagent container supports thereon, and drive means engaging the carousel for rotating the carousel and positioning a preselected reagent container support in the reagent supply zone. The apparatus also has a reagent delivery actuator means positioned for engaging a reagent container positioned on a container support in the reagent delivery zone and initiating reagent delivery from the reagent container to a slide supported on a slide support in the reagent receiving zone.

Automated biological reaction apparatus

An automatic analysis apparatus is disclosed which provides for various analytical operations in clinical diagnosis and experiments including measuring the changes in light absorbance of a large number of samples mixed with different reagents in a progressive manner, biochemical, electrolytical, fluorescence, and immunological analysis and EIA analysis of samples in bead solid phase. A plurality of samples are maintained, together with diluents and emergency samples, in an ordered sequence on a sample table rotatably disposed which is rotated by drive means in a stepping manner to move the samples progressively to a predetermined suction position at which a sample pipetter picks up a measured amount of sample and dispenses it to one of a plurality of reaction containers that are arranged in an ordered sequence on a reaction table rotatably disposed, preferably about said sample table. A first and a second reagent table are provided, each carrying a plurality of reagents different in kind from one another, selected for various analyses to be performed. A first and a second reagent pipetter are provided and operated to pick up a measured amount of a particular reagent and mix it with any selected sample in the reaction containers. Each sample and reagent mixture may be scanned to measure the rate of light absorbance during a period of time as the reaction containers is rotated on the reaction table a photometer system including a rotating frame carrying thereon filters for different wavelengths through which the optical beam from a light source is passed to traverse the reaction container to be sensed by an optical sensor as the reaction container is rotated. Each reagent pipetting tube is provided with agitator means which is operated, after each dispensing operation of the pipetting tube into the reaction container, to stir the mixture in the reaction container into a homogenous state for proper reaction.

Automatic analysis apparatus

An automatic chemical analyzer suitable for chemically analyzing a number of analysis items is disclosed. Samples in sample containers are sequentially dispensed to an array of reaction vessels using a first pipetting tube. Reagent solutions selected in accordance with the analysis items are fed to the reaction vessels using a second conductive pipetting tube. The reaction solutions in the reaction vessels are measured by a photometer. When the reagent solutions are sucked into the second pipetting tube, the liquid levels of the reagent solutions in the reagent containers are detected by a liquid level sensor formed by the second pipetting tube and a conductive electrode. The amounts of the reagent solutions remaining in the reagent containers are determined based on the position of the liquid level sensor and the numbers of times of dispense allowed to the reagent solutions with respect to the analysis items are displayed on a cathode ray tube.

Automatic chemical analyzer

An automatic analyzing apparatus for effecting chemical analyses for various sample liquids such as blood, urine, and the like, comprising a sample delivery pump for metering a sample liquid into a reaction cuvette, a reagent delivery pump for delivering to the reaction cuvette a given amount of a given reagent selected from a plurality of reagents contained in a reagent cassette, to form a test liquid, a feed mechanism for successively supplying reaction cuvettes along a circular reaction line, a plurality of photometering sections arranged along the reaction line for effecting a plurality of photometric and/or nephelometric and/or fluorometric measurements for each test liquid at different time instances to produce a plurality of photometric results, and circuitry for receiving the photometric results and selecting therefrom given quantitative analytical data of a given test item.

Automatic analyzing apparatus

A method of enhancing the accuracy and reliability of a chemical analysis, wherein a reaction is carried out by combining a sample liquid with at least one reagent to form a test liquid and the test liquid is photometrically scrutinized a plurality of times over an extended period of time to derive a number of photometric values. The derived values are then stored and a plurality of the stored photometric values are preliminarily selected from a given time frame, wherein the plurality of preliminarily selected values are less than a total number of stored photometric values. Successive preliminarily selected photometric values are compared with at least one predetermined standard to derive a comparison result and upon indication that useful data cannot be calculated from the preliminarily selected photometric values, a secondarily selecting step of selecting at least one photometric value from all of the stored photometric values, which were not preliminarily selected, is used to derive an analytical result which represents a concentration of a chemical substance in the test liquid or an activity of the test liquid.

Sugio Manabe

Papers

Automatic analyzing apparatus

Method of analyzing chemical substances

Automatisches analysiergeraet fuer fluessigproben