Vessel transport device for automatic chemical analysis
US5601783A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 1994 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 15, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/114165
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a vessel shuttle which can be used, for example, for moving reaction vessels to or from an assay resource station in an automated chemical analyzer. The vessel shuttle has a plurality of movable plates including first and second vessel carrying plates adapted to move cooperatively with respect to one another to advance a vessel stepwise along a linear path without net motion of the first and second vessel carrying plates as the vessel is advanced one step. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second vessel carrying plates each comprise a plurality of fingers defining recesses for receiving vessels and the first vessel carrying plate is adapted to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vessels' linear path and the second vessel carrying plate is adapted to move rectilinearly both generally parallel to and generally perpendicular to that linear path. The present invention may also include a waste chute for disposing of spent reaction vessels, the waste chute having a novel gate design. In accordance with this embodiment, the vessel shuttle can move a new vessel to a position for access by a pipettor or the like, transport a reaction …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.