Patent ID: 6355488
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for analysing samples contained in recipients by means of an autoanalyser comprising a pipetting head movable along two perpendicular axis above a pipetting area containing said recipients disposed according to a matrix distribution, for injecting products or for taking samples in said recipients, said method comprising a preliminary phase of placing said recipient inside containers each having a longitudinal axis wherein said containers are vertically centred and disposed in line along said longitudinal axis and an operating cycle comprising the following phase,i. a first phase of moving successively said containers along a first rectilinear path to an access zone of said pipetting area, said containers being oriented parallel to said first path, ii. a second phase of identifying said recipients while said containers are moving along said first rectilinear path, iii. a third phase of moving step by step said containers along a second rectilinear path perpendicular to said first path wherein said containers are placed side by side, parallel to said first path and are moved in translation, iv. a fourth phase of moving said containers along a third rectilinear path parallel to said first path, said containers being oriented parallel to said first path, v. a fifth phase of moving step by step said container along a fourth rectilinear path parallel to the second path, ending in an outlet zone in said first path, said containers being side by side and axed parallel to said first path wherein at each step, the recipient of the containers present in the second and four paths are disposed in the pipetting area according to said matrix configuration, vi. a sixth phase of moving each of said containers along said first path so as to bring this container either to the first access zone and to restart said operating cycle or to a zone for evacuating this container.