PROBE WASHING ARRANGEMENT WITH MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS FOR SAMPLE ANALYZER AND METHOD OF USING

摘要

Various hollow probes (P) may be used to handle various fluids within a sample analysis system, such as a biological testing instrument. The probes (P) may aspirate and/or dispense the various fluids from and/or to at least one sample vessel (220, 320) at various probe receiving stations (PS). The probes (P) may be cleaned by a probe washer (30, 130, 500). The probe washer (30, 130, 500) may be arranged and/or implemented to reduce time lost in cleaning the probe (P) and/or to minimize space lost to the probe washer (30, 130, 500). The probe (P) is movable along a probe path (300). The probe washer (30, 130, 500) is moveable between at least first (pw1, PW1) and second (pw2, PW2) positions. When the probe washer (30, 130, 500) is at the first position (pw1, PW1), the probe path (300) clears the probe washer (30, 130, 500) and thereby allows the probe (P) to travel past the probe washer (30, 130, 500). When the probe washer (30, 130, 500) is at the second position (pw2, PW2), the probe path (300) intersects the probe washer (30, 130, 500) and thereby allows the probe (P) to travel into the probe washer (30, 130, 500).