Importance

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Abstract

A liquid handling system that is particularly useful in a clinical analysis system includes a cuvette loading station for receiving a centrifugal analyzer rotor with two compartment cuvettes. Fixedly mounted on transfer structure are two spaced apart liquid handling probes such that the two probes may be simultaneously inserted into the two compartments of an analysis cuvette. A sample station has a sample container support mechanism, and means for indexing the support mechanism past the sample station for sequentially positioning successive sample containers at the sample station. An auxiliary station that is spaced from the sample station a distance corresponding to the spacing of the two probes includes a support mechanism for supporting a plurality of auxiliary containers and a drive mechanism for selectively positioning auxiliary containers at the auxiliary station. A first drive provides relative movement between the transfer structure and the loading sample and auxiliary stations; a second drive is adapted to concurrently insert the tips of the two liquid handling probes into containers at the loading, sample or auxiliary stations. First and second liquid metering means are coupled to the probes by storage chamber structure so that each metering means controls the flow of a liquid into and out of its storage chamber through its probe; and control means operate the drive mechanisms and the liquid metering means in coordinated manner to transfer sample and reagent materials from sample and auxiliary containers at the sample and auxiliary stations to an analysis cuvette at the loading station. The system provides coordinated automatic pipetting and transfer of sample, diluent and reagent liquids in rapid, efficient and precise manner.

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First Claim