HK1170022B - Automatic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

Automatic analyzer

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to an automatic analyzer capable of performing qualitative/quantitative analysis on biological samples (e.g., blood and urine). More specifically and with regard to the first aspect, the present invention relates to an automatic analyzer including a reagent container holding unit that holds reagent containers each containing a reagent to be used for analysis, and a reagent container supply unit that supplies a reagent container to the reagent container holding unit.

Background

Automated analyzers that automatically analyze blood and other biological samples and output the results are absolutely necessary in numerous facilities to perform efficient analysis at test centers and other medical laboratory facilities that subcontract the testing/examination of the samples on behalf of hospitals and clinics with many patients. It is desirable that these automatic analyzers be more compact, capable of performing a greater variety of analyses, and have higher throughput.

If the reagents prepared in the device are in short supply during the analysis, stopping the analysis before any necessary measures are taken will reduce the efficiency of the analysis. The automatic analyzer is therefore designed such that if a reagent shortage is likely to occur, the device will alert the operator to that shortage, thus avoiding the occurrence of situations during the analysis where the operator will have to stop the device to replace the original reagent with a new reagent of the same type.

JP 4033060 describes a more advanced technique for preventing the occurrence of reagent shortages during analysis. In the technique of JP 4033060, first and second reagent container storage mechanisms are provided in advance, and if the reagent stored in the first reagent container storage mechanism runs short, a reagent container as a replacement is automatically supplied from the second reagent container storage mechanism.

According to the technique described in JP 4033060, although a plurality of reagent containers can be stored in the second reagent container storage mechanism, only one reagent container can be transferred from the second reagent container storage mechanism to the first reagent container storage mechanism at a time. Furthermore, holding a plurality of reagent containers in the second reagent container storage mechanism for an extended period of time requires providing a cold storage mechanism, which can result in an oversized apparatus structure.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic analyzer capable of achieving automatic replacement of a reagent during analysis and eliminating the need for a cold storage mechanism to provide such a reagent as described in patent JP 4033060.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an analyzer comprising a device for providing a reagent to be used in an analysis performed by the analyzer, wherein the device for providing a reagent comprises:

-a turret having an axis of rotation and adapted to store a plurality of reagent container assemblies thereon in at least one arcuate row arrangement;

-at least one processing zone for processing reagent container assemblies stored on the turntable; and

-a processing mechanism for processing a reagent container assembly positioned in the processing zone;

wherein the turntable comprises a compartment arranged to accommodate reagent container assemblies at predetermined positions on the turntable so as to form an arrangement of the at least one arcuate row of reagent container assemblies corresponding to the arrangement of the compartment, and wherein the turntable is adjustable by rotation so as to selectively move a compartment of a predetermined position for handling a reagent container assembly in a predetermined position of the processing zone.

Analyzers of the above-mentioned type are known, for example, from various embodiments of EP 0703457B 1, EP 1275966B 1, US 7547414B 2 and US 7384601B 2.

These analyzers are used to automatically analyze a sample to determine the presence and, in particular, the concentration of a particular component in the sample. Such analyzers are widely used in hospitals and clinical laboratories to analyze biological samples, i.e., body fluids collected from patients, such as blood and urine, in order to diagnose the symptoms of the patients.

A method for analyzing such a biological fluid sample via an analyzer of the above-mentioned type is for example set forth in EP 1051621B 1.

The workflow of analyzers of the above type is typically entirely specimen-oriented, i.e. analytical assays are performed sequentially in respective fluid specimens, wherein for each analytical assay a different set of reagents is used to add to separate portions of the specimen. Therefore, there is a need to provide many different reagents on a turntable of an apparatus for providing reagents, and to access a particular reagent container assembly on the turntable as quickly as possible by a handling mechanism (e.g., a pipetting mechanism or an agitation mechanism) in order to achieve high throughput of the analyzer. Such analyzer devices, and in particular devices for providing reagents, are often required to be of small size in order to save space.

With respect to a second aspect of the invention, it is an object of the invention to provide an analyser of the above-mentioned type having means for providing reagents which can be operated in a more efficient manner than prior art analysers.

In order to attain the above first object, an automatic analyzer according to a first aspect of the present invention is configured as follows:

the analyzer includes: a reagent container carrying unit adapted to mount a plurality of reagent containers thereon and configured to carry the reagent containers to a desired location; a reagent container mounting unit adjacent to the reagent container carrying unit and capable of supplying the reagent container to the reagent container carrying unit; and a reagent container moving unit that moves the reagent container from the reagent container mounting unit to the reagent container carrying unit.

More preferred aspects of the invention are summarized below.

Only a reagent driving disk that moves to a position for reagent dispensing and stirring, reagent container lid opening/closing, and the like is provided as a disk in the automatic analyzer according to aspects of the present invention. However, in an automatic analyzer according to a more preferred aspect of the present invention, a fixed disk having no driver (e.g., a motor) is added at a position adjacent to such a reagent driving disk. The automatic analyzer according to a more preferred aspect further includes a magnetic particle stirring unit at a position adjacent to the fixed tray. This arrangement of the fixed disk and the magnetic particle stirring unit allows the temporarily unused reagent container on the fixed disk to be ready for use on the fixed disk. Thus, the reagent drive disk has a compact configuration. Further, positioning the magnetic particle stirring unit adjacent to the fixed disk enables the magnetic particle stirring unit to be performed on the fixed disk, which ensures sufficient stirring time and achieves uniform stirring without causing adverse events such as bubbling. Further, the reagent can be dispensed into the reagent containers on the fixed disk and the driving disk, so that the magnetic particles in the reagent of one reagent container can be agitated on the fixed disk while the reagent of another reagent container can be dispensed on the fixed disk.

A reagent container moving unit adapted to move reagent containers between the reagent driving disk and the fixed disk is also provided, whereby the reagent containers can be moved between the reagent driving disk and the fixed disk according to a specific analysis situation.

Furthermore, a loading system in a part of the reagent standby tray is provided, enabling reagent container replacement even during operation of the reagent transport tray. Thus, the reagents can be replaced without reducing throughput. Since the cooling function for the loading system is further added and since the cooling function is provided in a part of the reagent disk, the loading system can be provided without increasing the space in any other part of the apparatus. As a result, the reagent disk alone can be miniaturized, and the apparatus is reduced in size accordingly.

The following advantageous effects of the present invention can be pointed out as follows:

(1) a number of reagent containers including spare reagent containers can be provided in the apparatus.

(2) The number of reagent containers that change can be reduced.

(3) The reagent disk can be miniaturized.

(4) The reagent vessel can be replaced without reducing throughput.

According to a second aspect of the invention, an analyser of the above-mentioned type is characterised in that said turret comprises:

a first annular turntable partition centered about an axis of rotation and carrying the arcuate rows of cells; and

a second turntable partition arranged radially adjacent to the first turntable partition and carrying a first compartment for accommodating a reagent container assembly therein;

wherein the first turntable partition is rotatable relative to the second turntable partition about the axis of rotation for selectively adjusting compartments of the first turntable partition into radial alignment with the first compartments of the second turntable partition in a mutual transfer position in which reagent container assemblies are radially displaceable between the aligned compartments in the processing zone.

The analyzer according to the present invention allows to seek specific strategies in supplying the reagents required for performing the analytical determination according to a specific assay protocol.

The step of extracting different reagents from the reagent container assembly may take different times depending on the particular reagent and the specific preparation measures to be taken before the particular reagent can be taken out of the reagent container assembly via pipetting. This preliminary step is a mixing or agitation step, which is necessary for homogenizing the reagents that tend to precipitate. One example of such a reagent is a suspension of microparticles. Such a particle suspension is generally used for almost every analytical measurement process to be carried out by the analyzer according to the present invention. The particles tend to settle on the bottom of the vessel section containing the suspension of particles. If the particles of this precipitated suspension are to be used in the current analytical measurement process, it is necessary to homogenize the suspension by using the motion of a stirrer or the like, which is immersed into the reagent container section. This agitation or mixing step is quite time consuming.

According to the invention, this time-consuming mixing step can be performed by: the specific reagent to be mixed is arranged in the reagent container assembly temporarily stored in the first compartment of the second turntable partition during the mixing step. At the same time, the first turntable partition is operable to provide further reagent container assemblies in the processing zone to be processed on a faster time scale, for example by extracting reagent from said further reagent container assemblies using a pipetting unit. In other words, in the portion of the processing area where the reagent container assemblies are supplied by the first turntable partition, the processing steps can be performed independently and in parallel with the processing steps performed in the portion of the processing area assigned to the second turntable partition.

After terminating the time consuming process steps performed on the reagent container assembly arranged on the second turntable partition, the reagent container assembly can be transported to the first turntable partition. Thereafter, another reagent container assembly can be transferred from the first turntable partition to the second turntable partition when the respective compartments are radially aligned in their mutual transfer position.

The operation of the turntable and the handling means is controlled by a controller in a time-optimized manner.

Preferably, the first annular turntable partition is arranged radially outwardly from the second annular turntable partition with respect to the axis of rotation. This arrangement can be realized in a space-saving manner, wherein the first turntable partition has a relatively large capacity for storing a large number of reagent container assemblies.

The reagent container assembly to be used in the analyzer according to the present invention is preferably a multi-segment container having at least two, preferably three container segments, each container segment having an inner volume containing a specific reagent. The container sections are arranged side-by-side in rows and are connected to form a single cassette assembly having an upper opening for gaining access to the interior volume of the container sections by an agitator, pipetting unit or the like. Each opening is typically closed and covered by a respective end cap that is reversibly movable from its closed covering position to an open position. Typically, the end closure is only briefly in the open position during the temporary phase of access to the internal volume of the respective container section. The end cap may then be moved back to the closed position to avoid evaporation and/or contamination of the reagent in the container section.

The analyzer according to the present invention preferably comprises an end cap manipulator for selectively displacing the end caps of the reagent container sections to their open and closed positions, respectively. The end cap manipulator is part of the processing mechanism of the analyzer.

In order to enable automatic displacement of the reagent container assembly between the first and second turntable partitions, the analyzer of the present invention preferably comprises a container displacement device for displacing the reagent container assembly between the radially aligned compartments of said turntable partitions in their mutual transfer position, wherein said container displacement device comprises a radially movable engagement mechanism for engaging and displacing the reagent container assembly between the compartments in their mutual transfer position. This displacement of the reagent container assembly can only be performed if one of the alignment compartments is empty.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second turntable partition carries a plurality of compartments, including for accommodating reagent container assemblies arranged in arcuate rows radially adjacent to the arcuate rows of compartments of the first turntable partition, wherein at least two of the compartments (preferably all compartments of the second turntable partition) are radially alignable relative to the respective compartments of the first turntable partition so as to be in a mutual transfer position. With regard to the last-mentioned embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the container displacement means are movable about the axis of rotation into selected angular positions corresponding to radially aligned angular positions of the aligned compartments in their mutual transfer position. Thereby, the reagent container assemblies may be exchanged between the compartments of the turntable partition. The compartments of the second turntable partition can be used to store spare reagent container assemblies containing reagents that are to be used in larger amounts than other reagents for analytical determinations performed according to a predetermined assay protocol. Such a spare reagent container assembly can be transferred from the second turntable partition to the first turntable partition in exchange for an at least partially emptied reagent container assembly. In order to achieve such a transfer of the reagent container assemblies between the turntable partitions, it is necessary that at least one compartment is vacant in order to accommodate the reagent container assemblies. The analyzer according to the present invention preferably comprises a processing mechanism, i.e. a pipetting mechanism, which is movable to access at least one reagent container assembly positioned at said predetermined position in said processing area. The pipetting mechanism should be movable to access a reagent container assembly positioned on the first turntable partition and arranged in said treatment zone. According to another embodiment of the invention, the pipetting means are further movable to access a reagent container assembly positioned on the second turntable partition and arranged in said treatment zone.

Preferably, one of the compartments of the first turntable partition and at least one of the compartments of the second turntable partition are radially aligned so as to cause reagent container assemblies contained therein to be handled in a straight radial line when positioned relative to each other in the predetermined position in the processing zone, and the apparatus for providing reagent comprises a drive and guide mechanism for selectively moving the pipetting mechanism to reagent container assemblies positioned relative to each other in the predetermined position in the processing zone.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the pipetting mechanism comprises at least two pipetting units, wherein the drive and guide mechanism is adapted to selectively move each pipetting unit according to a specific treatment program. The pipetting units can be guided for joint movement along a linear guide oriented in the radial direction of the turntable. Each pipetting unit has a pipette tip or a pipette, and the distance between the pipette tips of the jointly horizontally movable pipetting units corresponds to the distance between the centers of the openings of adjacent reagent container sections of the reagent container assembly, so that two pipette tips can be moved simultaneously into adjacent openings of the reagent container assembly positioned in the processing area. For the up-and-down movement of the pipette tips, a vertical drive mechanism is provided, which is preferably controllable to drive the pipette tips independently of each other.

As mentioned above, it is preferred that the handling means comprises an agitation means having an agitator adapted to access a reagent container assembly accommodated in the first compartment of the second turntable partition.

In the case where the receptacle displacement means are adapted to operate in different angular positions outside of the treatment zone section in which the pipetting mechanism operates, it is preferred that the receptacle displacement means and the pipetting mechanism and the agitation mechanism are selectively operable for simultaneously treating the individual reagent receptacle assemblies with the receptacle displacement means, the pipetting mechanism and the agitation mechanism, respectively.

The stirring mechanism and the pipetting mechanism can be operated simultaneously, so that individual reagent container assemblies are treated simultaneously with the stirring mechanism and the pipetting mechanism or, in particular cases, the same reagent container assembly.

Within the framework of the invention, both the first turntable partition and the second turntable partition can be rotated about the axis of rotation in order to place the reagent containers in a predetermined position. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second turntable partition is fixed with respect to the axis of rotation, while the first turntable partition is rotatable around the second turntable partition.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the turntable has a radially inner center comprising the axis of rotation, wherein a cleaning station for cleaning the processing means and an exhaust channel for discharging cleaning fluid are provided in the region of said radially inner center. Such a configuration can be achieved with the hollow shaft of the turntable and at least one source of cleaning fluid (in particular, a nozzle providing cleaning fluid to be discharged into the discharge channel). Since the agitator of the agitation mechanism must normally be cleaned after each mixing operation, it is preferred that the agitation mechanism is movable between a working position, in which it agitates the fluid in the reagent container assembly positioned in the compartment of the second turntable partition (in particular the first compartment thereof), and a cleaning position, in which it is cleaned by the cleaning mechanism of the cleaning station.

Drawings

In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which fig. 1 to 6 relate in particular to a first aspect of the invention, and fig. 7 to 15 relate in particular to a second aspect of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the overall equipment configuration of the automated analyzer of the present invention, including a reagent disk, also referred to hereinafter as a turntable;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reagent disk;

FIG. 3-1 is a perspective view of a reagent disk showing the reagent disk with the cover particularly removed;

3-2 is a top view of the reagent disk showing the reagent disk with the cover particularly removed;

3-3 are perspective views of the reagent disk showing the reagent disk particularly in its state in FIG. 3-2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a loading system;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a reagent vessel moving unit;

FIG. 5-1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a reagent vessel moving unit; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a reagent container moving operation;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a turret of an analyzer according to a second aspect of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an apparatus for providing reagents according to the present invention, the apparatus including the turntable of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9a and 9b are perspective views of the reagent vessel assembly in a closed state and an open state;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a processing mechanism of the apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a treatment area of the apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a detail of the treatment area;

figure 13 is a perspective view of a detail of the turret and container displacement device;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the container shifting device;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a compartment divider wall.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below using the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary configuration of an automatic analyzer of the present invention, which includes a reagent disk (also referred to as a turntable).

A sample transport line 114 in the automated analyzer 101 transports the sample 104 to a sample dispensing pipette adjacent to the sample dispensing unit 115.

The sample dispensing tip/cuvette transport unit 106 is adapted to move in directions of X, Y and the Z-axis over the cuvette handling aperture 102, the sample dispensing tip buffer 103, the reaction solution stirring unit 105, the sample dispensing tip/cuvette station 107 and a portion of the dish 108. The sample dispensing tip/reaction vessel transport unit 106 moves the reaction vessel from the sample dispensing tip/reaction vessel station 107 to the culture vessel tray 108. The sample distribution tip/reaction cuvette transport unit 106 also moves the sample distribution tip to the sample distribution tip buffer 103. The sample distribution unit 115 moves into the upper area of the sample distribution tip buffer 103 and picks up any one of the sample distribution tips, the sample distribution tip buffer 103 having the sample distribution tip placed therein. Next, after moving to the upper region of the specimen and taking the specimen by suction, the specimen dispensing unit 115 also moves to the upper region of the reaction cuvette on the dish plate 108 and discharges the specimen into the reaction cuvette. After this, the sample distribution unit 115 moves to the upper region of the sample distribution tip/reaction cuvette handling hole and pours the sample distribution tip into it for disposal.

The dish tray 108 is capable of holding a plurality of reaction dishes, and each reaction dish is moved to a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the tray 108 by a rotational motion.

The reagent disk 111 is adapted to hold a plurality of reagent vessels 110 and to move each reagent vessel 110 to a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the disk 111 by a rotational motion. The reagent container 110 itself includes a plurality of reagents, which are included in a magnetic powder solution.

The reagent dispensing pipette manager 109 moves to an upper region of a predetermined type of reagent on the reagent tray 111, then aspirates a predetermined amount of reagent, and after moving to an upper region of a predetermined reaction cuvette on the dish plate, discharges the reagent into the reaction cuvette.

A magnetic particle stirring arm 116 (also referred to as a stirrer) as a stirring mechanism is provided on the reagent disk 111. The arm 116 moves to an upper region of a reagent container containing a reagent containing a magnetic particle solution to be stirred and the magnetic particle solution is stirred by lowering the magnetic particle stirring member of the arm 116 and rotating the stirring member. To release the magnetic particles from a natural settling state in the solution, the magnetic particle stirring arm 116 stirs the magnetic particles just before the reagent is dispensed. After the stirring, the magnetic particle stirring arm 116 moves to an upper region of the cleaning unit containing the cleaning liquid, and then lowers and rotates the magnetic particle stirring member to remove the adhered magnetic particles therefrom.

The reaction solution suction nozzle 112 sucks a reaction solution, which is formed after a predetermined reaction time elapses from the distribution of the sample and the predetermined reagent, from the reaction cuvette and then supplies the reaction solution to the detection unit 113. The detection unit 113 analyzes the reaction solution. The sample distribution tip/reaction cuvette transport unit 106 moves the reaction solution to be analyzed to the upper region of the sample distribution tip/reaction cuvette disposal hole and pours the sample distribution tip thereinto for disposal.

These actions of the apparatus are controlled by a host computer, which serves as a control mechanism (not shown).

The apparatus combines and repeats the above actions to analyze multiple samples for multiple analysis items.

Fig. 2 is an external view of a reagent disk 111 according to the present invention. In order to control the reagent vessel 110 to a constant temperature, the reagent disk 111 includes a cover 201 and a shield 202, and the cover 201 has a heat insulating function.

Fig. 3-1 is an external view of the reagent disk 111, showing the disk with the cover 201 particularly removed. The reagent disk 111 includes: a reagent drive disk 301 (also referred to as a first turntable partition) for transporting reagent 110 to a desired location; a reagent driving disk driving unit 302 that drives the reagent driving disk 301; a fixed tray 303 (also referred to as a second turntable partition) adapted such that reagent containers including the same type of reagent container 110 are temporarily prepared thereon; a loading system 304 that allows reagent containers 110 to be installed in the system even during analysis; a reagent container moving unit 305 (also referred to as container displacement means) for moving reagent containers 110 from the reagent driving disk 301 to the fixed disk 303 or the loading system 304; a reagent information reading device 306 for reading information on the reagent, such as analysis time and analysis items; and a partition plate 307 for partitioning a space between the reagent vessels 110.

FIG. 3-2 is a top view of the reagent disk shown in FIG. 3-1. Fixed disk 303 has reagent standby position 308 and reagent stirring position 309. Furthermore, a reagent dispensing position 310 is present on the operating path of the reagent drive disk 301. The reagent agitation location 309 is adjacent to the reagent dispensing location 310 and is present on the operational path of the reagent dispensing pipette manager. This region of the reagent disk is also referred to as the processing region.

Figure 3-3 is a perspective view of the reagent disk shown in figure 3-2. The reagent dispensing pipette manager 109 can dispense the same kind of reagent into other reaction dishes while the magnetic particle stirring arm 116 stirs the internal magnetic particle solution of the reagent container at the reagent stirring position 309. This ensures a sufficient magnetic particle stirring time and enables dispensing and stirring to be performed simultaneously. Therefore, the same item can be analyzed without reducing throughput. In fig. 3-3, the reagent dispensing location 310 and the reagent agitation location 309 are arranged in a linear fashion and both are present in the same location as the operational path of the reagent dispensing pipette manager. This generally applies equally even when the operating path of the reagent dispensing pipette manager is arranged in the circumferential direction.

The process flow of the movement of the reagent vessel during the stirring of the reagent is described below.

The position of the reagent container containing the reagent to be stirred is detected by the host computer. If the reagent container is present on a reagent drive disk, the disk is moved to a position adjacent to the reagent agitation position during the operating cycle time. Next, the reagent container moving unit moves the reagent container to a reagent stirring position in the fixed disk. Stirring can then be carried out by a magnetic powder stirring arm.

If a reagent container is present in the reagent standby position, the reagent drive disk is checked with respect to the vacant position. If there is a void on the reagent drive disk, the reagent drive disk moves to a position adjacent to the reagent standby position where a reagent container is present. Next, the reagent container moving unit moves the reagent container to the reagent driving disk, and then also moves the reagent container to the reagent stirring position as described above. Conversely, if there is no void on the reagent drive disk, the host computer checks all reagent container sets on the reagent drive disk and looks for reagent containers that can be temporarily moved to the reagent standby position. Such finding is carried out, for example, with parameters, for example in ascending order of analysis request frequency or ascending order of measurement request frequency. The detected reagent container is moved to the reagent standby position, and then the reagent container to be subjected to reagent stirring is first moved to the reagent driving disk and then moved to the reagent stirring position.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the loading system 205. The loading system forms part of a fixed disk positioned at an inner circumferential portion of the reagent disk, and the system operates in upward and downward directions. For example, if the fixed disk is present at an outer circumferential portion of the reagent disk, the loading system can be configured such that the system can be pulled out in a vertical or lateral direction. Furthermore, since a part of the fixed disk is a loading system and since the system has a shape that enables the replacement of five reagent containers, two or more reagent containers can be replaced or only one reagent container can be replaced. The loading system 205 includes: a reagent placing unit 401 in which the reagent vessel 110 is placed in the reagent placing unit 401; a reagent actuator 402 adapted to actuate reagents up/down; indicators 403 each indicating whether the reagent can be replaced; a loading system locking unit 404 for locking the loading system; and an indicator light 405 that informs the locking unit that the loading system has been unlocked. Among other methods that may be used to provide information whether the loading system has been unlocked to enable reagent replacement, there is one method: a mechanism is provided to slide the system upward to reveal the surface immediately after unlocking. Furthermore, although the loading system is configured to be manually openable with a handle provided at the actuator, the system can be automatically moved to the reagent change position, for example by adding a drive unit to the actuator itself.

An example of a reagent addition sequence by an operator is described below.

The flow of the continuous reagent loading operation is described first. The operator selects a reagent addition/replacement request via the host computer. The host computer analyzes the current operating state of the apparatus and then, if a reagent change is determined to be performable, activates the locking unit to unlock the loading system and illuminates an indicator light to notify that a reagent change can be performed. With information from the host computer and indicator lights, the operator determines that the reagent can be replaced. After confirming that the reagent replacement can be performed, the operator opens the loading system, then loads the replacement reagent container to the vacant position, and closes the loading system. After completing the replacement reagent container installation and then shutting down the loading system, the operator checks the sensors, etc., and confirms that the loading system is properly shut down.

Next, the flow of the continuous reagent replacement operation is described below. As in the reagent addition sequence, the operator selects a reagent addition/replacement request via the host computer. The host computer then analyzes the current device status. After determining that a reagent replacement can be performed, the host computer unlocks the loading system via the locking unit to enable the replacement to be performed. Since the loading system is also used as a fixed tray, all reagent containers may already be installed in the system when the replacement is carried out. In this case, the indicator indicates whether the reagent container can be replaced. For example, if the indicator has a red-green light source and the red light source is illuminated, the corresponding reagent container cannot be used for replacement, and if the green light source is illuminated, the reagent container can be used for replacement. Alternatively, if the reagent container cannot be used for replacement, the proper provision of the locking unit will prevent the particular reagent container from being pulled out and thus removed. After replacing the reagent containers, the operator closes the loading system correctly and then confirms through the host computer that the loading system has been closed correctly. The confirmation completes the replacement sequence.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a reagent vessel moving unit 305 (also referred to as a vessel shifting device). The reagent pack transfer unit 305 includes an arm device 501 that transfers the reagent pack 110 and a drive unit 502 that rotates the arm device 501. Fig. 5-1 is a schematic view of the arm arrangement 501. The arm device 501 includes: an arm 503 for moving the reagent vessel 110; a lateral arm driving unit 504 for moving the arm forward and backward; and a rotation arm driving unit 505 for rotating the arm. The reagent container moving unit 206 moves reagent containers between the loading system and the reagent driving disk and between the reagent driving disk and the fixed disk. The reagent container movement sequence will be described below with an example regarding movement between the reagent drive disk and the fixed disk. First, the reagent drive disk moves the desired reagent container to a position in the same radial direction as the radial direction of the fixed disk onto which the reagent container is to be stored. After this movement, the arm arrangement is rotated to a position to which the reagent container can be moved. Next, the lateral arm driving section and the rotating arm driving section operate the arm to grasp the reagent container, and then the lateral arm driving section operates so that the arm moves the grasped reagent container from the reagent driving disk to the fixed disk. Finally, the transverse arm drive and the rotating arm drive cause the arm to release the container from the gripping position. This completes the move sequence. When the arm grips the reagent container, an actuator (e.g. a motor) can actuate the arm to hold the container, e.g. from both sides. Further, when the reagent container moving unit moves the reagent container, the arm can be driven by the actuator so as to grip or press against the container, thereby moving.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of analyzing the movement of a reagent vessel on the reagent disk of the present invention. When the operator requests an analysis in step 601, it is then confirmed in step 602 whether a reagent container to be used for the analysis is present on the reagent drive disk. If the reagent containers to be used for the analysis have already been set on the reagent drive disk, a procedure without reagent container movement is performed in step 603, and the analysis is performed immediately in step 609. If the reagent container to be used for analysis is not positioned on the reagent drive disk, any reagent container containing the same type of reagent as the reagent used for analysis is moved from the fixed disk to the reagent drive disk. Prior to this movement, it is confirmed in step 604 whether there are vacant locations on the reagent drive disk. If there are vacant positions, the reagent container moving unit moves any reagent containers containing the same type of reagent from the fixed disk to the reagent driving disk in step 605. If there are no vacant locations, then it is determined whether there are vacant locations on the holding pan in step 606. If there are vacant positions on the fixed disk, then in a moving process step 607, the reagent container that can be moved to the reagent fixing position is moved from the reagent driving disk to the reagent fixing position. If there are no voids, then in step 608 the reagent container moving unit moves any reagent containers containing the same type of reagent from the reagent drive disk to the loading system. After this movement, the same type of reagent container required for the analysis is moved from the fixed disk to the reagent driving disk by the reagent container moving unit in step 605, and then in step 609, the executable analysis state is registered in the host computer.

The reagent disk mounting process can be divided into two main sequences: (1) a sequence from completion of reagent container loading to start of analysis; and (2) a sequence of reagent changes due to lack of reagent or reagent expiration.

(1) Sequence from completion of reagent container loading to start of analysis. An example of a sequence from completion of reagent container loading to start of analysis is described below. After a reagent container containing the required type of reagent has been loaded from the loading system, the host computer enables the locking unit to lock the system by confirming that the operator has correctly closed the loading system, and reads reagent information from the mounted reagent container using a reagent information reading device equipped in or on the disk. The reagent container has a label attached thereto. Measurement items and other information are recorded in advance on the flag. For example, the tag is a bar code, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, or the like. The reagent information will be registered if read correctly and the reagent container is moved by the reagent container moving unit to the reagent drive disk. The host computer will identify the location on the reagent drive disk where the moved reagent container is loaded and register this information. After this movement, the processes required for the analysis, for example calibration, will be carried out. The reagent container after completion of the process will be available and the host computer registers the reagent as one that can be used for analysis.

(2) A sequence of reagent changes due to lack of reagent or reagent expiration. Examples of this sequence will be described below. The main computer measures the amount of reagent in the reagent container. The reagent information registered in the loading system includes a reagent expiration date, and the host computer determines from that date whether the reagent retains its chemical validity. If the reagent has expired or is not in sufficient quantity, the host computer will transmit an alert to the operator informing the reagent that it needs to be replaced. At the same time, the reagent container moving unit moves the reagent container from the reagent driving disk to the loading system. At this time, the host computer will confirm the reagent container information registered in the loading system. If the loading system is now able to accept a plurality of reagent containers and has at least one vacant loading position, then that particular reagent container will be moved to one of the vacancies. If the loading system does not have a void, the reagent container will be moved to the holding tray and made ready on the holding tray until a void loading position is formed. After the reagent container is prepared, when a vacancy occurs in the loading system, the reagent drive disk and the reagent container moving unit will operate to move the replacement reagent container to the loading position. After the movement of the replacement reagent container, the host computer will inform the operator that the reagent container is ready for replacement.

Other embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with fig. 7-15.

The turntable as shown in fig. 7 has a circular configuration with a radially outer annular first partition 3 and a radially inner annular or ring-shaped second partition 5. The first turntable partition 3 is movable relative to the second turntable partition 5 about a vertical central axis of rotation 7. The first turntable partition 3 and the second turntable partition 5 according to the embodiments of fig. 7 to 15 substantially correspond to the reagent drive disk 301 and the fixed disk 303, respectively, according to the first embodiment of fig. 1 to 6.

The first transfer table divider 3 is provided with a plurality of cells 9, i.e., forty-eight cells in the present embodiment. The compartments 9 are separated by partition walls 56. Each compartment 9 is adapted to receive a reagent container assembly 11 in a set position.

Each reagent container assembly 11 comprises three containers or container sections 13a, 13b, 13c, as shown in fig. 9a and 9 b. The containers 13a, 13b, 13c are made of plastic material and are interconnected or fixed to each other at weld points 15, such that the containers 13a, 13b, 13c form the reagent container assembly 11, wherein the three container sections 13a, 13b, 13c are in an in-line configuration. Each container section 13a, 13b, 13c contains a specific reagent that is used in an analytical assay performed, in particular, via a device comprising the analyzer of the turret 1. In this embodiment, the outer vessel section 13a in fig. 9a and 9b contains a suspension of microparticles ("microparticles") which are used in an analytical assay as microcarriers for complex molecules which are characteristic of the assay.

The other container sections 13b and 13c contain other specific reagents to be used in an analysis step according to a specific assay protocol.

Each container section has an upper opening 17 which is normally closed by an end cap 19, as shown in figure 9 a. Each end cap 19 is pivotably mounted to the housing of its container section 13a, 13b, 13c such that it can pivot about a hinge 21 between a closed position according to fig. 9a and an open position according to fig. 9 b. Normally, the container sections 13a, 13b, 13c are closed by said end caps 19 so as to be in a closed position, so as to avoid evaporation of the reagent contained therein.

If access to the inner volume of the container sections 13a, 13b, 13c is required, the container sections 13a, 13b, 13c must be opened according to fig. 9 b. An automated end cap manipulator (not shown) is adapted to selectively open or close the container sections 13a, 13b, 13c by moving the end caps 19 to respective closed or open positions. The end cap handling means are provided in a processing area 23 for processing reagent container assemblies 11 stored on the turntable 1 in the respective compartments 9 and 25. The compartments 9 are arranged side by side to form an arc-shaped or annular row of compartments 9 on the first turntable partition 3. The second turntable partition 5 has a first compartment 25 aligned radially in the processing zone 23. The compartments 25, 27 of the second turntable partition 5 are open at their radially outer ends, while the compartment 9 of the first turntable partition 3 is open at its radially inner end. Since the second turntable partition 5 is fixed with respect to the axis of rotation 7, the first compartment 25 remains in the processing zone 23. As the first turntable partition 3 is rotatable about the second partition 5, each cell 9 of the second turntable partition 3 can be selectively moved into the processing zone 23 and radially aligned with the first cell 25 of the second turntable partition 5 so as to be in a mutual transfer position, as shown in the snapshot in figure 7 with respect to the cell 9a of the first turntable partition 3. In the mutual transfer position, the container assemblies 11 occupying the first compartment 25 can be displaced radially outwards into the compartment 9a of the first turntable partition. Thereafter, the reagent container assembly 11 can be removed from the processing zone 23 by rotating the first turntable partition 3. The first compartment 25 of the second turntable partition 5 is then free and can be loaded with another reagent container assembly 11 from the first turntable partition 3 after this reagent container assembly 11 has been positioned in radial alignment with the first compartment 25.

On the second turntable partition 5, beside the first compartment 25, some other compartments 27 are arranged to form a row of radially oriented compartments 25, 27 in the shape of a circular arc. Each compartment 27 can be used to exchange reagent container assemblies 11 between the first turntable partition 3 and the second turntable partition 5 in the manner described above in relation to the first compartment 25.

The radial displacement of the reagent container assembly 11 between the turntable partitions 3, 5 is performed automatically via the container displacement means 29.

Fig. 8 shows the turntable 1 in the same top plan view as in fig. 7, but with the other components of the apparatus for providing reagent, namely the handling mechanism 31 for handling reagent container assemblies 11 positioned in the handling zone 23.

Fig. 10 also shows a further processing means 37 in a side view. The handling means 37 comprise a frame 33 in the form of a cradle, said frame 33 having a vertical column 34 fixed radially outside the turntable 1 and a boom 35 extending horizontally from said column 33 above the turntable 1 for arranging handling units 37, 39, 41 for functioning in said handling area 23. The processing unit 37 is an agitator as part of an agitation mechanism 38, which agitation mechanism 38 is guided for horizontal movement on a linear guide 43 attached to the cantilever 35. The units 39, 41 are pipettes of a pipetting mechanism 40, which pipetting mechanism 40 is also guided for horizontal movement on said linear guide 43. The stirring mechanism 38 and the pipetting mechanism 40 can be moved independently of each other along the guide 43 by a drive mechanism which is controlled by a control mechanism (not shown).

The stirring mechanism 38 has a vertical driving mechanism 45 for selectively lowering or raising the stirrer 37 and a driver 44 for rotating the stirrer 37.

The pipetting mechanism 40 comprises a vertical drive mechanism 47, 49 for each pipetting unit 39, 41. Said vertical drive mechanisms 47, 49 of the pipetting units 39, 41 can be controlled by the control mechanism in order to raise or lower the pipetting units 39, 41 independently.

In fig. 8, the stirring mechanism 38 is adjusted on the horizontal guide 43 and is in a standby position in which the stirrer 37 is vertically aligned with the radially innermost container section 13a of the reagent container assembly 11 accommodated in the first compartment 25 (see fig. 7 and 11). Before the agitation mechanism 38 is activated to mix the contents of the container section 13a in the first compartment 25, the end cap manipulator must be activated to move the end cap 19 of that container section 13a to the open position (see fig. 9 b). The vertical drive mechanism 45 can then be activated to lower the stirrer 37, so as to insert said stirrer 37 through the uncovered opening 17 into the inner volume of the container section 13a in order to stir the reagent contained therein. The rotation of the propeller 51 of the stirrer 37 about its vertical axis can be controlled by a control mechanism.

As mentioned above, the container section 13a contains a particulate suspension which has to be homogenized (or homogenized) by mixing before it is extracted by the pipetting units 39, 41 for the analysis step. This step of agitating the particle suspension is also referred to as a particle mixing step. The microparticle mixing step is typically more time consuming than the pipetting step of the pipetting mechanism 40. In view of this, the apparatus for providing reagents according to fig. 8 will operate in such a way that each microparticle mixing operation will be performed on the second turntable partition 5, wherein the container section 13a of a particular reagent container assembly 11 is positioned at the radially innermost position of the first compartment 25.

During the microparticle mixing step, the first turntable partition 3 can be driven by its drive mechanism to rotate in order to adjust the reagent container assembly 11 in a predetermined position of the processing region 23. Also, the pipetting mechanism 40 can be operated during the performance of the microparticle mixing step. The pipetting mechanism 40 is used to extract reagent from the reagent container assembly 11 currently adjusted in the processing zone 23. The pipetting means 40 can be moved along its horizontal guide 43 in order to selectively access container sections 13a, 13b, 13c in the first compartment 25 of the second turntable partition 5 or container sections 13a, 13b, 13c of the reagent container assemblies 11 in the respective compartments 9a of the first turntable partition 3 in the treatment zone 23. After the current particle mixing step has been terminated and the stirrer 37 has been withdrawn from the container section 13a of the respective reagent container assembly 11 in the first compartment 25, this reagent container assembly 11 can be transferred to the first turntable partition 3 by displacing the reagent container assembly 11 radially outwards into the vacant compartment of the first turntable partition 3 via the container displacement means 29.

It is noted that both of the radially aligned compartments 9a, 25 in the processing area 23 may be occupied by respective reagent container assemblies 11 at the same time, and that the pipetting mechanism 40 can be used to extract reagent from the container sections 13a, 13b, 13c of the reagent container assemblies 11 in the compartment 9a of the first turntable partition 3 during the time that the stirrer 37 of the stirring mechanism 38 is activated to mix the contents of the container sections 13a of the reagent container assemblies 11 in the compartment 25 of the second turntable partition 5.

Catch springs 53, 54 are provided as snap-in means on the vertical compartment walls 55, 56. The catch spring 53 is mounted at an upper and radially inner position of the compartment partition wall 55 of the second turntable partition 5 so as to be able to snap into an outer recess 57 of the radially innermost positioned container section 13a of the reagent container assembly 11 received in the first compartment 25. The reagent vessel assembly 11 is self-adjusting or self-adjusting when the catch spring enters the radially innermost vertical groove or recess 57 of said reagent vessel assembly 11.

The catch springs 54 are mounted at an upper and radially outer position of the vertical compartment partition walls 56 of the first turntable partition 3 so as to snap into the respective groove-shaped recesses 59 of the reagent container assemblies 11 received in the respective compartments 9 of the first turntable partition 3. Instead of using a catch spring, other snap-in mechanisms can be provided for adjusting the reagent container assembly 11 in the compartments 9, 25, 27.

The compartments 9, 25, 27 can be equipped with spring-loaded bottom elements (not shown) adapted to urge the reagent container assemblies 11 received in the compartments 9, 25, 27 upwardly against upper stops 61 extending from the compartment partition walls 55, 56. The reagent vessel assembly 11 is also adjusted precisely in the vertical direction by this measure. The upper stop 61 is shown in fig. 7 to 13 as a laterally extending boss of a sheet mounted on top of the compartment partition walls 55, 56 via screws. According to an alternative embodiment of the walls 55, 56 as shown in fig. 15, the stop 61 can be an integral part of the walls 55, 56, wherein the walls 55, 56 with integral stop are preferably plastic parts or milled metal parts.

The container displacement device 29 has a displacement arm 62, which displacement arm 62 has two gripping or engaging elements 63, 65, which gripping or engaging elements 63, 65 are pivotable about a longitudinal axis 67 of the displacement arm 62 between an engaged position and a released position. The gripping elements 63 and 65 are each able to engage the reagent container assembly 11 at the upper part at the respective longitudinal end of the reagent container assembly 11. The engagement point is preferably located at a lower level in the upper half of the respective reagent container assembly 11. The radial distance between said gripping elements 63, 65 is slightly larger than the length of the reagent vessel assembly 11, such that the gripping elements 63, 65 are able to accommodate the reagent vessel assembly 11 therebetween. By displacing the displacement arm 62 in its longitudinal direction, reagent container assemblies 11 accommodated between the gripping elements 63, 65 in their engaged position can be transferred between the correspondingly aligned compartments of the first and second turntable partitions 3, 5. The container displacement means 29 is movable to rotate the displacement arm 62 about the rotation axis 7 to selectively enable access to each compartment 25, 27 of the second turntable partition 5 for transferring the reagent container assembly 11 from each compartment 25, 27 of the second turntable partition 5 to the correspondingly aligned compartment of the first turntable partition 3. According to one embodiment, the pivoting movement of the elements 63, 65 can be initiated during the rotation of the displacement arm 62 about the axis 7.

When the clamp grips 63, 65 are in their release positions, these grip elements do not interfere with the reagent container assembly 11 on the turntable 1, so that the shift arm 62 cannot move the reagent container assembly 11.

It is noted that the container displacement device 29 with the gripping elements 63, 65 is operable to hold the reagent container assembly 11 in place in the respective compartment 9, 25, 27, e.g. during opening of the container sections 13a, 13b, 13c of the reagent container assembly 11 via an automated end cap manipulation device.

In the perspective view of the container displacement device of fig. 14, reference numeral 71 denotes a drive mechanism for displacing the displacement arm 62 in its longitudinal direction along a horizontal guide 73. Reference numeral 75 designates a drive mechanism for rotating the displacement arm 62 about its longitudinal axis 67 in order to pivot the gripping elements 63, 65 between their engaged and released positions.

Reference numeral 77 in fig. 14 denotes a drive mechanism for rotating the container displacement device 29 about the vertical axis of rotation 7. The angular position of the container displacement device 29 relative to the axis of rotation 7 is monitored via a photoelectric guard 79, which photoelectric guard 79 acts together with a merlon pattern 81 distributed over an arc of a circle about the axis of rotation 7.

In a similar manner, the displacement position and the pivoting position of the displacement arm 62 are monitored by the photo guard.

The turntable 1 is arranged with a vertical tube in its centre, for example a hollow shaft forming a discharge channel 85, which discharge channel 85 is used for discharging cleaning fluid suitable for cleaning a cleaning station of the agitator 37 of the stirring mechanism 38. In view of this, the agitation mechanism 38 is movable along its horizontal guide 43 between a standby position as shown in fig. 8 and a cleaning position aligned with the discharge passage or pipe 85. A cleaning step of the agitator 37 is generally required after each particle mixing step. Providing a cleaning station in the central area of the turntable is a space-saving measure, which avoids long paths between the standby position and the cleaning position of the beater 37.

A cleaning mechanism for cleaning the pipettes 39, 41 is also provided. These cleaning means are located outside the turntable 1 and are not shown.

According to the invention, time-consuming processing steps can be carried out on the second turntable partition 5, while faster processing steps, including the rotation of the first turntable partition 1 and pipetting operations with respect to the pipetting units 39, 41, can be performed. The apparatus for providing reagents according to the invention can operate very efficiently to achieve a high throughput of the analyzer. As described above, the control mechanism is programmed to control the operation of the apparatus for providing reagents according to the specific program used to carry out a number of analytical assays via the analyzer.

It is noted that the movement of the reagent container assembly 11 on the turntable 1, i.e. the rotation of the turntable 1 in both rotational directions and the displacement of the reagent container assembly 11 between the turntable partitions 3 and 5, should be performed without sudden starts and stops in order to avoid strong shaking of the reagent in the reagent container assembly 11. The control mechanism is thus programmed to control the drive mechanism of the turntable 1 in order to perform the movement of the reagent vessel assembly 11 in a coordinated manner. The same applies to the movement of the displacement means 29.

Also, the movement process of the handling means 38 and 40 is controlled according to a specific scheme in order to achieve a trouble-free and time-optimized operation of the apparatus for providing reagents.

It is noted that in principle all features of the first aspect of the invention can be implemented in an analyser according to the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa.

Reference numerals according to a first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention:

101 automatic analyzer

102 sample dispensing tip/cuvette handling well

103 sample distribution tip buffer

104 test specimen

105 reaction solution stirring unit

106 sample distribution tip/cuvette transport unit

107 sample dispensing tip/cuvette

108 culture dish

109 reagent dispensing pipette manager

110 reagent container

111 reagent tray

112 reaction solution suction nozzle

113 detection unit

114 sample transport line

115 sample distribution unit

116 magnetic powder stirring arm

201 cover

202 shield

205 loading system

301 reagent driving disk

302 reagent drive disk drive unit

303 fixed disk

304 loading system

305 reagent container moving unit

306 reagent information reading device

307 baffle plate

308 reagent standby position

309 reagent stirring position

310 reagent dispensing location

401 reagent placing unit

402 reagent actuator

403 indicator

404 Loading System Lock Unit

405 indicating lamp

501 alarm device

502 drive part

503 arm

504 transverse arm drive

505 rotary arm driving part

601 analysis request procedure

602 Process of confirming whether reagent to be used for analysis is on reagent-driven disk

603 Process for No reagent transfer

604 Process for confirming the presence of vacant sites in a reagent drive disk

605 Process for moving reagent containers from a fixed disk to a reagent drive disk by means of a reagent moving device

606 Process of determining whether there are vacant locations in the platter

Process 607 for moving reagent containers to a reagent standby position by means of a reagent drive disk

608 Process for moving reagent containers to a Loading System by means of a reagent drive disk

609 can perform an analysis process

Reference numerals according to a second embodiment of the second aspect of the invention:

1 rotating platform

3 first partition

5 second partition

7 axis of rotation

9 compartments

11 reagent container assembly

13a, 13b, 13c container section

15 welding spot

17 upper opening

19 end cap

21 hinge

23 treatment area

25, 27 compartments

29 container shifting device

31 processing mechanism

33 frame

34 vertical column

35 cantilever

37 stirrer

37, 39, 41 processing unit

39, 41 pipetting unit

38 stirring mechanism

40 hydraulic mechanism

43 straight horizontal guide

44, 47, 49 drive mechanism

53, 54 stop spring

55, 56 partition walls

57 outer concave part

62 Shift arm

63, 65 gripping or engaging elements

67 longitudinal axis

71, 77 drive mechanism

73 horizontal guide

75 drive mechanism for rotating a displacement arm

79 photoelectric protection device

85 discharge channel

Claims (16)

1. An analyzer comprising a device for providing a reagent, wherein the device for providing a reagent comprises:

-a turntable (1), said turntable (1) having an axis of rotation (7) and being adapted to store thereon a plurality of reagent container assemblies (11) arranged in at least one arcuate row;

-at least one processing area (23), the at least one processing area (23) being for processing reagent container assemblies (11) stored on the turntable (1); and

-a handling mechanism (29, 38, 40), the handling mechanism (29, 38, 40) for handling reagent container assemblies (11) positioned in the handling area (23);

-wherein the turntable (1) comprises a compartment (9), the compartment (9) being arranged to accommodate the reagent container assemblies (11) at predetermined positions on the turntable (1) so as to form the at least one arcuate row arrangement of reagent container assemblies (11) corresponding to the arrangement of the compartment (9),

-wherein the turntable (1) is adjustable by rotation for selectively moving the compartment (9) into a predetermined position for setting the reagent container assembly (11) in a predetermined position in the processing area (23), and the turntable (1) comprises:

-a first annular turntable partition (3), said first annular turntable partition (3) being centered around said axis of rotation (7) and carrying said arc-shaped rows of cells (9); and

-a second turntable partition (5), said second turntable partition (5) being arranged radially adjacent to said first turntable partition (3) and carrying a first compartment (25) for accommodating a reagent container assembly (11) therein;

wherein the first turntable partition (3) is rotatable relative to the second turntable partition (5) about the axis of rotation (7) for selectively adjusting compartments (9) of the first turntable partition into radial alignment with the first compartments (25) of the second turntable partition (5) so as to be in a mutual transfer position in which a reagent container assembly (11) is radially displaceable between the aligned compartments (9, 25) in the treatment zone (23), wherein at least one of the compartments (9) of the first turntable partition (3) and at least one of the first compartments (25, 27) of the second turntable partition (5) are aligned for setting a reagent container assembly (11) contained therein on a straight radial line when positioned relative to each other in the predetermined position in the treatment zone (23), wherein the processing means (29, 38, 40) comprises a pipetting means (40) movable for accessing at least one of the reagent container assemblies (11) positioned in the predetermined position in the processing area (23), characterized in that,

the apparatus for providing reagents comprises a drive and guide mechanism (43, 44, 47, 49) for selectively moving the pipetting mechanism to a reagent container assembly (11), the reagent container assemblies (11) being positioned relative to each other in the predetermined position in the processing zone (23); and

-said processing means (29, 38, 40) comprises stirring means (38) with a stirrer (37), said stirring means (38) being adapted in said processing zone to access reagent container assemblies (11) accommodated in said first compartment (25) of said second turntable partition (5) in order to carry out an agitation step by agitating the contents of the respective container assemblies (11) in said first compartment (25); and is

-during such agitation step, the first turntable partition (3) is operable to provide a reagent container assembly (11) in the treatment zone for treatment by the pipetting mechanism independently of operation of the agitation mechanism.

2. Analyser according to claim 1, wherein the first annular turntable partition (3) is arranged radially outwards from the second turntable partition (5) with respect to the rotation axis (7).

3. The analyzer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus for providing a reagent further comprises a container displacement device (29), the container displacement device (29) being adapted to displace a reagent container assembly (11) between radially aligned compartments (9, 25, 27) of the turntable partition (3, 5) in their mutual transfer position, wherein the container displacement device (29) comprises radially movable engagement means (63, 65), the engagement means (63, 65) being adapted to engage a reagent container assembly (11) and to displace the reagent container assembly (11) between the compartments (9, 25, 27) in their mutual transfer position.

4. The analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the receptacle displacement means (29) and the pipetting mechanism (40) are operable simultaneously for simultaneous processing of individual reagent receptacle assemblies (11) with the receptacle displacement means (29) and the pipetting mechanism (40).

5. The analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the second turntable partition (5) carries a plurality of compartments (25, 27), said compartments (25, 27) including the first compartment (25), the first compartment (25) being adapted to accommodate reagent container assemblies (11) arranged in an arcuate row radially adjacent to the arcuate row of compartments (9) of the first turntable partition (3), wherein at least two of the compartments (25, 27) of the second turntable partition (5) are radially alignable with respective compartments (9) of the first turntable partition (3) in a mutual transfer position.

6. Analyser according to claim 5, wherein all compartments (25, 27) of the second turntable partition (5) are radially alignable with corresponding compartments (9) of the first turntable partition (3) in the mutual transfer position.

7. An analyser according to claim 5 wherein the container displacement means (29) is movable about the axis of rotation (7) into selected angular positions corresponding to the radially aligned angular positions of the compartments (9, 25, 27) aligned in their mutual transfer position.

8. Analyser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each reagent container assembly (11) comprises at least two container sections (13 a, 13b, 13 c), each container section having an upper opening (17) and an end cap (19) for closing the upper opening (17) of the respective container section (13 a, 13b, 13 c), wherein the end cap (19) is selectively and reversibly displaceable from a closed position into an open position for opening the opening (17) of the container section (13 a, 13b, 13 c), characterized in that the processing means comprises at least one end cap manipulation device for selectively displacing the end cap (19) of a reagent container assembly (11) into its open and closed positions, respectively.

9. The analyzer according to claim 8 wherein said container sections are three in number.

10. Analyser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pipetting mechanism (40) comprises at least two pipetting units (39, 41) and the driving and guiding mechanism (43, 44, 47, 49) is adapted to selectively move each pipetting unit (39, 41) according to a specific treatment program.

11. The analyzer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stirring mechanism (38) and the pipetting mechanism (40) are operable simultaneously for simultaneously processing individual reagent container assemblies (11) with the stirring mechanism (38) and the pipetting mechanism (40).

12. An analyser according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the analyser comprises a control mechanism for controlling the apparatus for providing reagents according to a predetermined program.

13. Analyser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second turntable partition (5) is fixed with respect to the axis of rotation (7) and the first turntable partition (3) is rotatable around the second turntable partition.

14. Analyser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the turntable (1) has a radially inner centre comprising the axis of rotation (7), wherein a cleaning station for cleaning the handling means (37, 38) and a discharge channel (85) for discharging cleaning fluid are arranged in the region of the radially inner centre.

15. The analyzer according to claim 14, wherein the stirring mechanism (37, 38) is movable between an operating position in which the stirring mechanism (37, 38) stirs fluid in a reagent container assembly (11) positioned in the first compartment (25) and a cleaning position in which the stirring mechanism (37, 38) is cleaned by the cleaning processing mechanism of the cleaning station.

16. Analyser according to claim 1, wherein the second turntable partition (5) is a fixed turntable partition.