ASSAY TIMING IN A CLINICAL ANALYZER USING A CUVETTE CARRIER

摘要

The clinical analyzer (100) includes a cuvette carrier (102) that is moved in a manner to provide flexible assay timing and variable incubation periods. Multiple assays having such varied incubation times can be run concurrently in random- access, avoiding timing conflicts. Fluid delivery stations are placed around the cuvette carrier (102) in positions that are independent of assay timing. The cuvettes (108) move in unison, in multiples of incremental steps, along a closed geometrical path. The cuvette carrier (102) is movable variable distances in opposite directions in a single time cycle to position specific cuvettes at specific locations for delivery of sample or reagent. The direction of movement of the cuvette carrier (102) is preferably based on a determination of the shortest distance between the cuvette and respective fluid delivery stations. However, in each time cycle there is a net progressive incremental stepwise movement of the cuvettes (108) in a selected direction.