Patent ID: 6299839
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B01F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A system for performing assays employing a disposable sample receptacle and a disposable rotor, said system comprising:a frame having longitudinal, transverse, and vertical axes;a rotational drive unit for removably receiving and selectively rotating the rotor including a non-rotating rotor support having a plurality of fixed magnets therein for agitating magnetically responsive mixing elements to effect mixing in the rotor as the rotor is rotated;a positioning assembly on the frame which translates the rotational drive unit along a predetermined linear path within the system;a liquid reagent dispenser disposed along the predetermined path;a sample dispensing unit disposed along the predetermined path, wherein the sample dispensing unit removably receives the sample receptacle and includes a drive mechanism for dispensing liquid sample from the sample receptacle to a rotor;a signal detector disposed along the predetermined path of the rotational drive unit; anda controller operatively connected to the rotational drive unit, the positioning assembly, the liquid reagent dispenser, the sample dispensing unit, and the detector, wherein the controller controls (a) the positioning assembly to translate the rotational drive unit among the liquid reagent dispenser, the sample dispensing unit, and the detector, (b) the rotational drive unit to rotate the rotor, (c) the liquid reagent dispenser to dispense liquid reagent to the rotor, (d) the sample dispensing unit to dispense sample to the rotor, and (e) the signal detector to detect signal produced in the rotor.