Patent ID: 7267795
Filing Date: 2007-09-11
Classification: B01F,B01L,B03C,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An automated, computer-controlled instrument for assaying samples contained within a plurality of a reaction receptacles comprising modules for performing multiple assay steps, a receptacle transport mechanism adapted to transport reaction receptacles between the modules of the instrument, and a computer controller for controlling operation of the modules and the receptacle transport mechanism, an incubator for receiving a plurality of reaction receptacles containing reaction fluids and for maintaining the reaction fluids in a temperature controlled environment, said incubator comprising: a housing including a receptacle access opening formed therein for allowing the receptacle transport mechanism to move a reaction receptacle into or out of said housing through said receptacle access opening; a closure mechanism connected to said housing in proximal relation to said receptacle access opening, said closure mechanism including a door operatively positioned with respect to said receptacle access opening and movable between a closed position in which said door cooperates with said housing to substantially close off said receptacle access opening and an open position in which said door is positioned such that said receptacle access opening is sufficiently unblocked so as to permit a reaction receptacle to pass therethrough, said closure mechanism being responsive to commands from said computer controller to move said door between said closed position and said open position in response to corresponding closure movement commands from said computer controller to prevent or permit access to said housing through said receptacle access opening, wherein movement of said door by said closure mechanism is synchronized to movement of the receptacle transport mechanism by the computer controller so that said closure mechanism is commanded by the computer controller to move said door to said open position when the receptacle transport mechanism is commanded by the computer controller to move into a position in which the receptacle transport mechanism is able place a reaction receptacle into or remove a reaction receptacle from said housing through said receptacle access opening; said housing and said closure mechanism constituting an enclosure defining an incubation chamber therein; a heat source in thermal communication with said incubation chamber; sensors operatively associated with said closure mechanism and constructed and arranged to indicate whether said door is in said closed position or in said open position; and a receptacle carrier disposed within said incubation chamber and including a plurality of receptacle stations, each of said receptacle stations being constructed and arranged to carry a single reaction receptacle, said receptacle carrier being constructed and arranged to present any of said plurality of receptacle stations in a receptacle transfer position with respect to said receptacle access opening.