Patent ID: 8669112

Claim:
An automated, self-contained instrument for assaying and measuring of samples, wherein the samples are sample discs impregnated with blood and located in wells of sample plates, the instrument comprising: (a) at least 4 vertical frames in adjacent pairs forming a frame structure; (b) a turnable manipulator located inside the frame structure for transferring sample plates in three orthogonal directions or combinations thereof; (c) a plurality of units for processing or storing sample plates, the units being installed on and outside the frame structure and adjacent to said turnable manipulator in order to be accessible by the turnable manipulator, said units comprising: (i) at least one dispensing unit for dispensing reagents or other assay components to the sample wells, (ii) at least two units for simultaneously processing or storing a plurality of sample plates, (iii) at least one unit for removing substance from the sample wells, and (iv) one or several measurement units, the measurement unit(s) providing a capability for the instrument to optically measure samples in at least two measurement modes, wherein the turnable manipulator is configured to turn by at least 270 degrees in relation to a vertical axis in order to transfer sample plates between all units installed on the frame structure.