Patent ID: 8097209
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for detecting substances or analytes from the analysis of one or several samples, comprising: a sample homogenizer module acting on a sample contained in a container to produce the homogenization thereof; a sample processing module including a series of independent containers, each one of which is intended for receiving one of the samples to be analyzed; a reaction module including a series of reaction chambers, as many as there are containers included in the sample processing module, each one of which is communicated with one of said containers through a controlled passage conduit and includes a sensor system for detecting substances; a sample distribution module including a hopper or funnel with a fixed position in which samples to be analyzed are poured, the sample distribution module being responsible for adding or distributing samples to a chosen processing module container or containers and for bringing samples contained in a chosen container into contact with the sample homogenizer module and is fed by sample injectors from samples stored in multiwell plates; a reagent and solution management module storing and dispensing the reagents and solutions necessary in each process step; a data reading module through which the reactions occurring in the reaction chambers are detected and the detected signals are processed; and an overall controller supervising the process and each of the sample homogenizer module, sample processing module, reaction module, sample distribution module, reagent and solution management module, and data reading module.