Automatic analyzer for monitoring pipetting operations
US6456944B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2035/1018
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An automatic analyzer for the assay of liquid samples pipetted from a container into a mixing chamber includes a controller for controlling the operation of the analyzer in response to sensors that monitor the functions of the analyzer. Within the analyzer, the responses of the sensors are evaluated and, when such responses do not meet prescribed criteria, error messages are provided. In the disclosed embodiments, the controller is implemented using at least one program-controlled processor. In order to monitor the pipetting operations in an effective manner, the automatic analyzer, in one embodiment, uses a plurality of operation and monitoring control units which operate independently of one another. Each of these units is by a central processing unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.