Optical inspection apparatus with removable inserts

Abstract

An apparatus in accordance with the invention is directed to an optical inspection apparatus ( 10 ) adapted to inspect a liquid sample. The apparatus includes a tray ( 20 ) that is adapted to be physically coupled to a first liquid sample carrier ( 22 ) and a second liquid sample carrier ( 40 ), each of the first and second liquid sample carriers ( 22, 40 ) being adapted to hold a liquid sample. The first liquid sample carrier ( 22 ) is of a first type and the second liquid sample carrier ( 40 ) is of a second type different from the first type. The apparatus ( 10 ) has a light source ( 108 ) adapted to illuminate one of the liquid samples associated with one of the liquid sample carriers ( 22 or 40 ) when the liquid sample carrier ( 22 or 40 ) is coupled to the tray ( 20 ) at an inspection location and a detector ( 110 ) adapted to receive light from the liquid sample when the liquid sample is being illuminated by the light source ( 108 ).

1. An apparatus adapted to inspect a liquid sample, said apparatus comprising:
 a support tray ( 20 ) that is adapted to support a first insert ( 22 ) and a second insert ( 40 ), each of said first and second inserts ( 22 ,  40 ) being removable from said support tray ( 20 ), each of said first and second removable inserts ( 22 ,  40 ) being adapted to hold a liquid sample, said first removable insert ( 22 ) being of a first type of liquid- carrying mechanism  and said second removable insert ( 40 ) being of a second type of liquid- carrying mechanism  different from said first type;  
 a light source ( 108 ) adapted to illuminate one of said liquid samples associated with one of said removable inserts( 22  or  40 ) when said one removable insert ( 22  or  40 ) is supported by said support tray ( 20 ) at an inspection location; and  
 a detector ( 112 ) adapted to receive light from said one liquid sample when said one liquid sample is being illuminated by said light source ( 108 ).  
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first liquid sample carrier insert ( 22 ) comprises a reagent cassette. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said second removable insert ( 40 ) is adapted to support a reagent strip ( 46 ) having a plurality of reagent pads ( 50 ) disposed thereon. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as defined in  claim 3  wherein said second removable insert ( 40 ) has an elongated channel ( 43 ) formed therein, said channel ( 43 ) being sized to accommodate said reagent strip ( 46 ). 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said apparatus additionally comprises a housing ( 17 ) and wherein said support tray ( 20 ) is movable relative to said housing ( 17 ). 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said apparatus additionally comprises a housing and wherein said support tray ( 20 ) is retractable into said housing. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said support tray ( 20 ) has a recess formed therein, wherein at least a portion of said first removable insert ( 22 ) is sized to fit within said recess ( 30 ), and wherein at least a portion of said second removable insert ( 40 ) is sized to fit within said recess ( 30 ). 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as defined in  claim 7  wherein a locating member ( 34 ) is disposed within said recess ( 30 ), wherein each of said removable inserts ( 22 ,  40 ) has a hole formed therein which is sized to receive said locating member ( 34 ), and wherein said locating member ( 34 ) prevents said removable inserts ( 22 ,  40 ) from being slid outwardly from said support tray ( 20 ) and accurately positions said inserts ( 22 ,  40 ). 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein a portion of each of said removable inserts ( 22 ,  40 ) extends outwardly beyond an outer end of said support tray ( 20 ). 
     
     
       10. An apparatus adapted to inspect a liquid sample, said apparatus comprising:
 a tray ( 20 ) that is adapted to be physically coupled to a first liquid sample carrier ( 22 ) and a second liquid sample carrier ( 40 ), each of said first and second liquid sample carriers ( 22 ,  40 ) being adapted to hold a liquid sample, said first liquid sample carrier ( 22 ) being of a first type of liquid- carrying mechanism  and said second liquid sample carrier ( 40 ) being of a second type of liquid- carrying mechanism  different from said first type;  
 a light source ( 108 ) adapted to illuminate one of said liquid samples associated with one of said liquid sample carriers ( 22  or  40 ) when said one liquid sample carrier ( 22  or  40 ) is coupled to said tray ( 20 ) at an inspection location; and  
 a detector ( 112 ) adapted to receive light from said one liquid sample when said one liquid sample is being illuminated by said light source ( 108 ).  
 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein said first liquid sample carrier ( 22 ) comprises a reagent cassette. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein said second liquid sample carrier ( 40 ) is adapted to support a reagent strip ( 46 ) having a plurality of reagent pads ( 50 ) disposed thereon. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as defined in  claim 12  wherein said second liquid sample carrier ( 40 ) has an elongate channel ( 43 ) formed therein, said channel ( 43 ) being sized to accommodate said reagent strip ( 46 ). 
     
     
       14. A method of using an optical inspection apparatus ( 10 ) having a support tray ( 20 ) that supports a liquid sample to be inspected, a light source ( 108 ) that illuminates said liquid sample supported by said support tray ( 20 ) when said support tray ( 20 ) is at an inspection location, and a detector ( 112 ) that detects light received from said liquid sample, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing onto said support tray ( 20 ) a removable insert ( 22 ) of a first type that carries a liquid sample;  
 (b) causing said liquid sample of said step (a) to be illuminated by said light source ( 108 );  
 (c) causing light received from said liquid sample of said step (a) to be detected by said detector ( 112 );  
 (d) taking said removable insert ( 22 ) off of said support tray ( 20 ) after said step (c);  
 (e) placing onto said support tray ( 20 ) a removable insert ( 40 ) of a second type that carries a liquid sample, said removable insert ( 40 ) of said step (e) having a different physical structure from said removable insert ( 22 ) of said step (a);  
 (f) causing said liquid sample of said step (e) to be illuminated by said light source ( 108 ); and  
 (g) causing light received from said liquid sample of said step (e) to be detected by said detector ( 112 ).  
 
     
     
       15. A method as defined in  claim 14  wherein said step (a) comprises the step of placing said removable insert ( 22 ) into a recess formed ( 30 ) in said support tray ( 20 ). 
     
     
       16. A method as defined in  claim 14  additionally comprising the step of (h) causing said support tray ( 20 ) to be retracted into a housing ( 17 ) of said inspection apparatus ( 10 ), said step (h) being performed after said step (a) and prior to said step (b). 
     
     
       17. A method as defined in  claim 14  wherein said steps (d) and (e) are performed without removing said support tray ( 20 ) from said inspection apparatus ( 10 ). 
     
     
       18. A tray assembly for use with an apparatus adapted to inspect a liquid sample, the tray assembly comprising:
   a first insert being of a first type of liquid - carrying mechanism adapted to hold a liquid sample;        a second insert being of a second type of liquid carrying mechanism different from the first type adapted to hold a liquid sample;        a support tray that is adapted to removably and alternately support the first and the second inserts and be inserted within an inspection location within the liquid sample inspection apparatus so that a light source of the apparatus illuminates a liquid sample associated with one of the first and the second inserts and a detector of the apparatus receives light from the liquid sample when the insert is supported by the support tray at the inspection location.     
     
     
       19. An assembly as defined in  claim 18  wherein the first insert comprises a reagent cassette. 
     
     
       20. An assembly as defined in  claim 18  wherein the second removable insert is adapted to support a reagent strip having a plurality of reagent pads disposed thereon. 
     
     
       21. An assembly as defined in  claim 20  wherein the second removable insert has an elongated channel sized to accommodate the reagent strip. 
     
     
       22. An assembly as defined in  claim 18  wherein the support tray has a recess formed therein, wherein at least a portion of the first removable insert is sized to fit within the recess, and wherein at least a portion of the second removable insert is sized to fit within the recess. 
     
     
       23. An assembly as defined in  claim 22  wherein a locating member is disposed within the recess, wherein each of the removable inserts has a hole formed therein which is sized to receive the locating member, and wherein the locating member prevents the removable inserts from being slid outwardly from the support tray and accurately positions the inserts. 
     
     
       24. An assembly as defined in  claim 18  wherein a portion of each of the removable inserts extends outwardly beyond an outer end of the support tray. 
     
     
       25. A tray assembly comprising:
   a first insert comprising a reagent cassette;        a second insert adapted to support a reagent strip;        a support tray that is adapted to removably and alternately support the first and the second inserts, wherein the support tray has a recess formed therein, wherein at least a portion of the first removable insert is sized to fit within the recess, and wherein at least a portion of the second removable insert is sized to fit within the recess.     
     
     
       26. An assembly as defined in  claim 25  wherein a locating member is disposed within the recess, wherein each of the removable inserts has a hole formed therein which is sized to receive the locating member, and wherein the locating member prevents the removable inserts from being slid outwardly from the support tray and accurately positions the inserts. 
     
     
       27. An assembly as defined in  claim 25  wherein a portion of each of the removable inserts extends outwardly beyond an outer end of the support tray. 
     
     
       28. An assembly as defined in  claim 25  wherein the second removable insert has an elongated channel sized to accommodate the reagent strip.