Linear Track Diagnostic Analyzer

Abstract

A diagnostic analyzer system includes a linear track, at least one pipetting device, and at least one diagnostic module. The linear track includes a pre-treatment lane disposed parallel to at least one processing lane. The linear track moves reaction vessels, containing samples, held by the pre-treatment lane and by the at least one processing lane. The pre-treatment lane pre-treats the samples in the reaction vessels of the pre-treatment lane. The pre-treatment lane is not connected to any diagnostic module for testing the samples in the reaction vessels of the pre-treatment lane. The at least one pipetting device transfers the pre-treated samples from the reaction vessels in the pre-treatment lane to the reaction vessels in the at least one processing lane. The at least one diagnostic module is connected to the at least one processing lane for testing the pre-treated samples transferred into the reaction vessels in the at least one processing lane.

1 . A diagnostic analyzer system comprising:
 a primary process lane, comprising a plurality of movable reaction vessels, configured to diagnostically test samples in the plurality of movable reaction vessels, a mixer configured to agitate the samples in the plurality of movable reaction vessels, and a diagnostic reaction optical detection unit in light communication with one of the samples in one of the plurality of moveable reaction vessels;   a pretreatment process lane comprising a second plurality of movable reaction vessels operable to incubate, within the second plurality of movable reaction vessels, samples containing reagent to form pretreated samples, at least a portion of the pretreatment process lane not being coextensive with the primary process lane; and   a transferring device configured to transfer the pretreated samples from the pretreatment process lane to the primary process lane.   
     
     
         2 . The diagnostic analyzer of  claim 1  wherein the primary process lane and the pretreatment process lane are linear. 
     
     
         3 . The diagnostic analyzer of  claim 1  wherein the primary process lane and the pretreatment process lane are defined by a translatable track having a plurality of openings operable to hold the plurality of movable reaction vessels and the second plurality of moveable reaction vessels. 
     
     
         4 . A diagnostic analyzer system comprising:
 a linear track comprising a pre-treatment lane disposed parallel to at least one processing lane, the linear track configured to move reaction vessels, containing samples, held by the pre-treatment lane and by the at least one processing lane;   the pre-treatment lane configured to pre-treat the samples in the reaction vessels in the pre-treatment lane, the pre-treatment lane not being connected to any diagnostic module configured to test the samples in the reaction vessels in the pre-treatment lane;   at least one pipetting device configured to transfer the pre-treated samples from the reaction vessels in the pre-treatment lane to the reaction vessels in the at least one processing lane; and   at least one diagnostic module connected to the at least one processing lane and configured to test the pre-treated samples transferred into the reaction vessels in the at least one processing lane.   
     
     
         5 . The diagnostic analyzer system of  claim 4  wherein there are two processing lanes and the pre-treatment lane is disposed between and parallel to the two processing lanes. 
     
     
         6 . The diagnostic analyzer system of  claim 4  wherein each of the pre-treatment lane and the at least one processing lane comprise a plurality of slots in the linear track which are configured to hold the reaction vessels within the plurality of slots with each slot sized to hold one of the reaction vessels. 
     
     
         7 . The diagnostic analyzer system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one pipetting device comprises at least one sample pipettor configured to pipette the samples into the reaction vessels of the pre-treatment lane and into the reaction vessels of the at least one processing lane. 
     
     
         8 . The diagnostic analyzer system of  claim 7  further comprising at least one reagent pipettor configured to pipette reagents into the reaction vessels of the pre-treatment lane and into the reaction vessels of the at least one processing lane. 
     
     
         9 . The diagnostic analyzer system of  claim 8  comprising a plurality of reagent pipettors each dedicated to only one lane of the at least one processing lane and the pre-treatment lane. 
     
     
         10 . The diagnostic analyzer system of  claim 4  further comprising at least one washing module, comprising at least one actuated magnet and at least one washing pipette, connected to the at least one processing lane and configured to wash the reaction vessels of the at least one processing lane, wherein the at least one washing module is not connected to the pretreatment lane. 
     
     
         11 . The diagnostic analyzer system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one diagnostic module comprises a trigger dispensing and reading module, and further comprising a washing module, a conjugate dispensing module, a mixing module, and a pre-trigger dispensing and mixing module, all being connected to the at least one processing lane to operate upon the samples disposed in the reaction vessels of the at least one processing lane, but none being connected to the pretreatment lane to operate upon the samples disposed in the reaction vessels of the pretreatment lane.