Method for automatic alignment of metering system for a clinical analyzer

1. A method for calibrating a clinical analyzer having a dispenser, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) loading a calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer;

(b) moving a dispenser of the clinical analyzer in a pre-determined direction (Y) to a position over the calibration element;

(c) measuring the height (Z) from the dispenser to the calibration element and determining a position coordinate (Y i , Z i );

(d) storing the position coordinate (Y i , Z i ) and repeating steps (b)-(d);

(e) determining a maximum height (Z max ) for the dispenser positioned over the calibration element defined as position coordinate (Y opt , Z max ); and

(f) storing the position coordinate including the maximum height (Z max ) for the dispenser positioned over the calibration element.

2. The method according to claim 1 , including repeating steps (b)-(d) for a plurality of pre-determined steps in the Y direction.

3. The method according to claim 2 , including moving the portion of the clinical analyzer in the X-direction and measuring the height (Z) from the dispenser to the calibration element and determining a position coordinate (X i , Y opt , Z i ).

4. The method according to claim 3 , including determining the maximum height (Z max ) for the dispenser positioned over the calibration element defined as position coordinate (X opt , Y opt , Z max ).

5. The method according to claim 4 , including storing the position coordinate (X opt , Y opt , Z max ) as an alignment point for the dispenser.

6. The method according to claim 5 , including operating the clinical analyzer by activating the dispenser at the alignment point.

7. The method according to claim 5 , including repeating step (a) for another portion of the clinical analyzer and repeating all steps for the other portion of the clinical analyzer.

8. The method according to claim 7 , including operating the clinical analyzer by activating the dispenser at the alignment point.

9. The method according to claim 2 , including measuring the height (Z) of the dispenser to the calibration element by pressure level sensing with the dispenser.

10. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a sample tray in step (a) and defining the portion of the clinical analyzer as the sample tray.

11. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a primary metering point.

12. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a reflex metering point.

13. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a STAT metering point.

14. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a thin film metering point.

15. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a tip seal.

16. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a first tip pick-up point.

17. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a first tip eject point.

18. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a second cuvette metering point.

19. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a second tip pick-up point.

20. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a cuvette metering point.

21. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a micro-tip pick-up point.

22. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a second tip eject point.

23. The method according to claim 2 , including loading the calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a wet reagent metering point.

24. The method according to claim 2 , wherein step (a) includes a calibration element in the form of a test tube.

25. The method according to claim 2 , wherein step (a) includes a calibration element in the form of a sample container.

26. The method according to claim 2 , wherein step (a) includes a calibration element in the form of a reagent container.

27. The method according to claim 2 , wherein step (a) includes a calibration element in the form of an Eppendorf tube.

28. The method according to claim 1 , including using a control system for steps (b)-(f).

29. A method for automatically aligning a dispenser of a clinical analyzer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) loading a calibration element at a portion of the clinical analyzer;

(b) moving a dispenser of the clinical analyzer in a pre-determined direction (Y) to a position over the calibration element;

(c) measuring the height (Z) from the dispenser to the calibration element and determining a position coordinate (Y i, Z i );

(d) storing the position coordinate (Y i, Z i ) and repeating steps (b)-(d);

(e) determining a maximum height (Z max ) for the dispenser positioned over the calibration element defined as position coordinate (Y opt , Z max ); and

(f) storing the position coordinate including the maximum height (Z max ) for the dispenser positioned over the calibration element.

30. The method according to claim 29 , including repeating steps (b)-(d) for a plurality of pre-determined steps in the Y direction.

31. The method according to claim 30 , including moving the portion of the clinical analyzer in the X-direction and measuring the height (Z) from the dispenser to the calibration element and determining a position coordinate (Xi, Y opt , Z i ).

32. The method according to claim 31 , including determining the maximum height (Z max ) for the dispenser positioned over the calibration element defined as position coordinate (X opt , Y opt , Z max ).

33. The method according to claim 32 , including storing the position coordinate (X opt , Y opt , Z max ) as an alignment point for the dispenser.

34. The method according to claim 33 , including operating the clinical analyzer by activating the dispenser at the alignment point.

35. The method according to claim 33 , including repeating step (a) for another portion of the clinical analyzer and repeating all steps for the other portion of the clinical analyzer.

36. The method according to claim 35 , including operating the clinical analyzer by activating the dispenser at the alignment point.

37. The method according to claim 30 , including measuring the height (Z) of the dispenser to the calibration element by pressure level sensing.

38. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration element at a sample tray in step (a) and defining the portion of the clinical analyzer as the sample tray.

39. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a primary metering point.

40. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a reflex metering point.

41. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a STAT metering point.

42. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a thin film metering point.

43. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a tip seal.

44. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a first tip pick-up point.

45. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a first tip eject point.

46. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a second cuvette metering point.

47. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a second tip pick-up point.

48. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a cuvette metering point.

49. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a micro-tip pick-up point.

50. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a second tip eject point.

51. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a wet reagent metering point.

52. The method according to claim 30 , wherein step (a) includes a calibration element in the form of a test tube.

53. The method according to claim 30 , wherein step (a) includes a calibration element in the form of a sample container.

54. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as a reagent container.

55. The method according to claim 30 , including loading the calibration at a portion of the clinical analyzer in step (a) defined as an Eppendorf tube.

56. The method according to claim 29 , including using a control system for steps (b)-(f).