Cassette for a single row of test tubes or similar containers

Abstract: A device (1) for use in an analyzer is described comprising a plurality of receptacles (2) which are arranged in a single row and into which containers (30, 35, 36) of different length and diameter containing a liquid can easily be inserted. For this purpose, the device (1) is provided with holding elements (5) at different levels along a side (6) for insertable platforms transversing the receptacles (2) and mounting means (50) along the upper edge (14) for an insertable adapter (60) covering the openings of the receptacles (2). The holding elements (5) and the mounting means (50) are partly designed as positioning means (10) and/or as latch means (11, 65). Within the receptacles (2) platform (20) and the bottom in base (15) of device (1) have a ramp (12) and the exterior wall (4) is provided with a recess (13) at the upper edge (14). Furthermore, a carrying means (40) comprising a handle (42) with a cam (41) and a support (43) is arranged at an end face (9) of device (1). Due to this design of the device (1), the openings of the containers (30, 35, 36) are aligned in a predetermined position above the upper edge (14) and, thus, containers having differing rims and/or sealing members (32) can easily be scanned and processed. Moreover, the carrying means (40), in connection with a widened base (15), guarantees failsafe handling of the containers (30, 35, 36) inside and outside the analyzer.

Description: The invention relates to a device comprising a plurality of receptacles which are arranged in a single row and in which containers filled with a liquid and being of different heights and diameters are positioned, said receptacles having a base for supporting the bottom of containers, and the exterior walls of said receptacles being provided with apertures for scanning the containers. Devices for holding and transporting containers filled with a liquid are known which are used in an analyzer to process a number of body fluids or samples to be examined. EP-B-0 159 346 discloses a cassette for holding a plurality of liquid containers arranged in a single row and having different diameters and/or different lengths for transporting the containers to a testing station. The openings of the containers are located at the same level and the containers are centered and fixed by means of a spring element. The containers sealed by stoppers are transported horizontally and for liquid removal are moved to an inclined position in which the stopper points downwards. For removing the liquid, the stopper is pierced by the hollow needle of an aspirator. EP-A-0 200 579 discloses a holding device for a plurality of liquid containers. The device of this disclosure can be used in two different modes. The first mode of use incorporates a horizontal platform which allows two tiers of liquid containers to be held. The second mode of use is without the platform and a single tier of taller containers is held in the device. It is the object of the invention to provide a device of the generic type permitting easy inserting into and removal of the containers out of the device as well as the use of containers having different rims and/or sealing members (stopper or cup). Also, removal of liquid, scanning of the containers and removal of stoppers from their openings are to be easily performed and failsafe handling of the containers inside and outside the analyzer is to be warranted. The above object is attained as defined in Claim 1, in that holding means are vertically arranged at different levels for supporting at least one insertable platform for supporting containers of lower heights. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the holding means are defined as slots and arranged along one of the exterior walls of the device so that the platform when inserted transverses the receptacles, and the holding means are spaced away from the base at a level required so that containers of said lower heights can be aligned with their openings at a predetermined level. Appropriately, the holding means are spaced apart within the one exterior wall in a direction parallel to the base, a distance corresponding to a shortest length of the platform, are formed as positioning means comprising a different slot-width to cooperate with means for positioning of said platform when being inserted, and wherein the platform comprises means for latching with means at the exterior wall of said device opposite to said one exterior wall. Advantageously, both the platform and the bottom surface of the base of the device within the receptacles are formed as a ramp, and in the area of the upper edge of the exterior wall a recess is provided which together with the ramp serves for positioning purposes. The above object is advantageously attained in that in such a device which is designed as a tray, containers of differents height and diameters can easily be placed in the tray on the platform which can be positioned at different levels and removed therefrom. This means that the openings of the containers are aligned in a predetermined position above the upper edge of the tray and, thus, containers having differing rims and/or sealing members can easily be scanned and processed. A detailled description of the device according to the invention will be apparent from the features of the subclaims as well as from the description of an embodiment shown in the drawing. Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a cross-section along the line A-A of the device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a top view of the device according to Fig. 1 (cross-section along the line B-B) Fig. 4 represents a top view of a platform used with the device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 5 represents the platform according to Fig. 4 as seen from the line C-C, Fig. 6 represents the platform according to Fig. 4 as seen in a side elevation from the line D-D, A tray 1 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 consists of a plurality of receptacles 2 arranged in a single row for holding containers 30, 35, of a base 15, a carrying means 40 at an end face 9 and an eyelet-shaped entrainment member 48 at the opposed end face 49. Receptacles 2 are enclosed by walls and have an octagonal crosssection. At the exterior walls 4 and 4' of the receptacles 2 extending along the two sides 6 and 6' of the device 1 holding elements 5 are arranged for one or several platforms 20, apertures 3 and an uninterrupted protruding rim at the upper edge 14. The holding elements 5 shaped as cavities 7 are arranged at three different levels along a side 6 of tray 1. In the area of the end face 49 and in the central portion of tray 1 the holding elements 5 are vertically arranged and have wider slots so as to form positioning means 10 for the platform 20. Latch means 11, which in the area of the apertures 3 at the outer edges of the exterior walls 4 are designed as depressions, are associated with said positioning means 10 and are arranged on the opposite side 6'. The latch means, thus, are used for holding and, in addition, for supporting a platform 20 transversing the receptacles 2. The apertures 3 and 3' formed in the exterior walls 4 and 4' of the receptacles 2 are designed as vertically extending slots starting in the area of base 15. At the side 6' of tray 1 they end below the upper edge 14 and at the opposite side 6 they extend through the upper edge 14. At the upper edge 14, each of the apertures 3 is provided with a recess 13 adapted to the different diameters of the various containers 30, 35, 36. The widened apertures 3 arranged beneath the recesses 13 are intended for scanning the containers 30, 35, 36 by an automatic scanning means. Furthermore, the apertures 3 and 3' provided with index marks arranged on the exterior walls 4 and 4' are used for visually detecting the liquid level within the containers. The base 15 of tray 1 has a lower section which measured across the longitudinally extending exterior walls 4 and 4' is wider than the receptacles 2. The wider section of base 15 serves to increase stability and to guide and retain device 1 on a transport path in an analyzer. In the upper section of base 15 serving as a support a ramp 12 is arranged in each receptacle 2. The higher edge 16 of ramp 12 faces recess 13 in the exterior wall 4 and along the central axis of its inclined surface 17 the ramp 12 has a slot-shaped opening 18 with the upper edge being chamfered. The opening and the chamfered edge are adapted to shape and size of the bottom of a container. When a container 30 or 35 is placed in receptacle 2, ramp 12 effects a lateral tilt of the container towards the recess 13 at the upper edge 14 of exterior wall 4 so that the upper portion of the container 30 or 35 is centered and clamped in recess 13 and its lower portion between ramp 12 and the exterior wall 4'. This facilitates insertion and removal of the containers 30 or 35 and fixes them in tray 1 in a defined and stable position for subsequent transport. The octagonal cross-section of receptacle 2 permits an additional centered position of container 30, 35 which is opposite to the first position and taken when a container is present in one of the processing stations. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show a platform 20 adapted to the structure of tray 1 according to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Platform 20 consists of a connecting member 21 of rectangular cross-section which on one side is provided with a plurality of ramps 12' at a distance corresponding to that of the individual receptacles 2 of tray 1. The higher edge 16' of ramp 12' faces the connecting member 21. Ramp 12' is comprised of two ribs 22 arranged on a base plate 25 having a slot-shaped opening 18' with shape and dimensions corresponding to ramp 12 in base 15 of tray 1. The two exterior ramps 12' comprise latch means 11' having detents 23 and a slot 26 at the outer end of each base plate 25. Furthermore, the two base plates 25 are provided with outwardly directed lateral guide surfaces 27 extending beyond connecting member 21. On its upper side, one of said guide surfaces 27 has a positioning means 10' also extending beyond the adjacent protruding end portion of connecting member 21. Platform 20 is used when the openings 31 of containers 36 which are lower in height than the containers 30 and 35 are to be aligned to a predetermined level above the upper edge 14 of tray 1, which is required for processing (see Fig. 1). For this purpose, one or two platforms 20 are inserted in the holding elements 5 of tray 1 at the level required. Ramp 12' of platform 20 thereby penetrates the apertures 3, 3' and is positioned in the receptacle 2 normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, with the detents 23 engaging with the depressions of latch means 11 and the connecting member 21 abutting at the bottom of the holding elements 5. Correct and secure position of platform 20 is guaranteed by the positioning means 10, 10'. Also the guide surfaces 27 facilitate insertion of platform 20.

Claims: A device (1) comprising a plurality of receptacles (2) which are arranged in a single row and in which containers (30, 35, 36) filled with a liquid and being of different heights and diameters are positioned and whose openings (31) are aligned at a predetermined level, said receptacles (2) having a base (15) for supporting the bottom of containers, and exterior walls (4,4') provided with apertures (3) for scanning the containers, said device also comprising at least one insertable platform (20) for supporting containers (36) of lower heights, and holding means (5) vertically arranged at different levels for supporting one or more of said platforms (20) characterised in that said platform (20) has a length effective to support said containers (36) away from said base (15), that is less than the length of the device, so that only some of the receptacles (2) are blocked by said platform (20) when said platform (20) is inserted into the device (1). A device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said holding means (5) are defined as slots and arranged along one of the exterior walls (4) of the receptacles (2) so that the platform (20) when inserted traverses the receptacles (2). A device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that said holding means (5) are spaced apart within said one exterior wall (4) in a direction parallel to said base (15), a distance corresponding to a shortest length of said platform (20). A device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said base (15) is inclined at an angle effective to tilt containers (30,35,36) in said device (1) as out of plumb. A device (1) according to claim 4, wherein said platform (20) is shaped, and said holding means (5) are constructed, to dispose said platform (20) when mounted in said device (1), at said effective angle. A device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said one exterior wall (4) includes said apertures (3), and each of said apertures (3) is a slot generally aligned with and open into one of said receptacles (2), and each of said angled platforms (20) is disposed with its highest edge adjacent to said one exterior wall (4). A device (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein said one exterior wall (4) includes said apertures (3), and each of said apertures (3) is a slot generally aligned with and open into one end of said receptacles (2), and said angled base (15) is disposed with the highest edge adjacent to said one exterior wall (4). A device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least said base (15) includes an opening (18), within each of said receptacles (2) that is shaped and sized to receive and hold a bottom end of a container (30,35,36). A device (1) according to claim 8, wherein said supporting platform (20) includes openings (18) disposed to align with each of said receptacles (2) occupied by said base (15) when mounted, that are shaped and sized to receive and hold a bottom end of a container (30,35,36).

Inventors: HEISSLER WALTER, HEISSLER, WALTER, HEISSLER, WALTER, C/O KODAK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Applicants: JOHNSON & JOHNSON CLIN DIAG, KODAK AG, JOHNSON & JOHNSON CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS, INC., KODAK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B01L9
IPC codes: G01N1, B01L9, G01N35