Patent ID: 6746648
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A transporting and storing system used in conjunction with an immunodiagnostic instrument, comprising:a. a multiplicity of reagent packs, each pack having a body with two generally opposite outer sides, wherein each outer side has at least one hole with tappered conical opening; gantry movably mounted on a rack structure for carrying a gripper mechanism, the gripper mechanism having a pair of oppositely disposed gripping jaws moving synchronically toward or away from each other, each gripping jaw having an inner side with at least one conical pin, which extends toward the opposite gripping jaw, wherein each of said conical pins is complementary to said at least one hole and wherein a movement of gripping jaws toward each other causes the conical pins to engage the holes, wherein an engagement of said complementary holes by conical pins retain said reagent pack without assistance of additional mechanical structures during transport of the reagent pack; b. a power assembly for actuating the respective movement of said gantry, said gripper mechanism and said gripping jaws; c. a storage nest having a multiplicity of compartments aligned in vertical columns and horizontal rows, each compartment adapted for storing a respective one of said reagent packs; d. a pipetting nest having a multiplicity of compartments aligned in at least one horizontal row, each compartment adapted for retaining a respective one of said reagent packs for simultaneous pipetting; e. at least one transport route for allowing movement of said gripper mechanism carried by said gantry for transporting said reagent packs between said storage nest and said pipetting nest; f. means for maintaining precise pipetting position of said reagent pack.