AUTOMATED ANALYZER FOR ASSAYING ANALYTES IN LIQUIDS USING LIGHT DIFFRACTION

• Main Authors: WU, HUATANG, LIEDERMAN, ADAM, TURLEA, SORIN, CRACAUER, RAYMOND, FRANCIS, GANSKE, ROCKY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.08.2011
• Subjects: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; TESTING

An analyzer, in particular in the form of a bench top machine, for performing chemical, biochemical or biological assays using diffraction of light, includes a disposable sensor including at least one sample well and at least one pre-selected pattern of analyte-specific receptors bound to a surface of the respective sample wells. A sensor station receives the disposable sensor and a fluid holding sample container holds assay fluids used in performing the assays and samples being tested for presence or absence of analytes which bind to said analyte-specific receptors. A fluid flow and handling system in flow communication with the sensor, sources of samples and sources of assay fluids used in performing the assays is configured to deliver the samples and fluids to the wells in the disposable sensor and the fluid holding sample container. The fluid flow and handling system includes a fluid pump to pump fluids and samples from their respective sources to the disposable sensor, to the fluid holding sample container and to fluid waste containers, and fluid dispensers to dispense samples and fluids to the fluid holding sample container and to dispense samples and assay fluids from the fluid holding sample container to the sensor. A robotic manipulator is connected to the fluid holding sample container to pre-position the fluid holding sample container with respect to the fluid dispensers. A temperature controller controls a temperature of an interior of the analyzer. An optical system produces and directs a coherent beam of light toward the sensor station to impinge on the surface of the sample wells and includes a first optical detector configured to measure diffracted light signals from the patterns of analyte-specific receptors and a scanning mechanism for scanning the coherent beam of light with respect to the sample wells. A microprocessor controller is connected to the temperature controller, the robotic manipulator, the fluid flow and handling system, the optical system and optical detector, and to the scanning mechanism, and includes a user interface enabling interaction between the analyzer and an operator.