High-speed, automated chromatographic analyzer for determination of nonglycated and glycated proteinaceous species in blood samples

1. A sample analyzer comprising an analysis assembly operable to individually analyze a plurality of samples each within a separate container, respective pluralities of said containers located within elongated, shiftable racks, and apparatus operable to shift said racks within the sample analyzer for analysis of each of said samples, said apparatus comprising:

structure presenting a pair of opposed side margins and a pair of opposed end margins;

a fore-and-aft shifting assembly operable to individually shift each of said racks in a first direction adjacent one of said side margins, and in the opposite direction along the other of said side margins; and

a lateral shifting mechanism operable to shift each of said racks in a first lateral direction adjacent one of said end margins, and in the opposite lateral direction adjacent the other of said end margins,

whereby each of said racks follows a quadrate path of travel,

said lateral shifting mechanism comprising a first pair of axially spaced apart, laterally extending rack-supporting belts proximal to one of said end margins, and a second pair of axially spaced apart, laterally extending rack-supporting belts proximal to the other of said end margins, said first pair of belts shiftable in one direction, and the other pair of belts shiftable in the opposite direction.

2. The analyzer of claim 1 , said fore-and-aft shifting assembly including a pair of elongated, shiftable belts respectively located adjacent said side margins and shiftable in opposite directions, respectively, each of said belts supporting a rack shifter operable to engage and shift a respective rack.

3. The analyzer of claim 1 , the belts of said first and second belt pairs each supported on a pair of eccentric pulleys, said pulleys operable to withdraw end sections of said belts in order to prevent interference between the belts and the fore-and-aft shifting of said racks.

4. The analyzer of claim 3 , said structure comprising a base plate, said eccentric pulleys located below said base plate, said base plate having slots formed therein adjacent each of said pulleys.

5. The analyzer of claim 1 , the belts of said first and second belt pairs each supported on a pair of pulleys, one pulley of each of said sets thereof including a rack-engaging lug operable during rotation of the pulley to engage an adjacent rack to assist in lateral movement thereof.

6. The analyzer of claim 1 , said fore-and-aft shifting assembly operable to shift each rack individually and axially, and said lateral shifting mechanism operable to simultaneously shift a plurality of adjacent racks.

7. The analyzer of claim 1 , said analysis assembly including a needle operable to extract a portion of each of said samples in order to permit analysis thereof, there being structure operably supporting said analysis needle in order to selectively axially rotate the needle, and to selectively axially shift the needle.

8. The analyzer of claim 1 , said container having an external identifying bar code thereon, said sample analyzer including a bar code reader, each of said containers having a septum, said analyzer including a needle operable to pass through said septums, said containers being rotatable in response to rotation of said needle, in order to move said identifying bar codes to a position to be read by said bar code reader.

9. A sample analyzer comprising an analysis assembly operable to individually analyze a plurality of samples each within a separate container, respective pluralities of said containers located within elongated, shiftable racks, and apparatus operable to shift said racks within the sample analyzer for analysis of each of said samples, said apparatus comprising:

structure presenting a pair of opposed side margins and a pair of opposed end margins;

a fore-and-aft shifting assembly operable to individually shift each of said racks in a first direction adjacent one of said side margins, and in the opposite direction along the other of said side margins; and

a lateral shifting mechanism operable to shift each of said racks in a first lateral direction adjacent one of said end margins, and in the opposite lateral direction adjacent the other of said end margins,

whereby each of said racks follows a quadrate path of travel,

said analysis assembly including a needle operable to extract a portion of each of said samples in order to permit analysis thereof, there being structure operably supporting said analysis needle in order to selectively axially rotate the needle, and to selectively axially shift the needle.

10. The analyzer of claim 9 , said fore-and-aft shifting assembly including a pair of elongated, shiftable belts respectively located adjacent said side margins and shiftable in opposite directions, respectively, each of said belts supporting a rack shifter operable to engage and shift a respective rack.

11. The analyzer of claim 9 , said lateral shifting mechanism comprising a first pair of axially spaced apart, laterally extending rack-supporting belts proximal to one of said end margins, and a second pair of axially spaced apart, laterally extending rack-supporting belts proximal to the other of said end margins, said first pair of belts shiftable in one direction, and the other pair of belts shiftable in the opposite direction.

12. The analyzer of claim 11 , said structure comprising a base plate, the belts of said first and second belt pairs each supported on a pair of eccentric pulleys, said pulleys operable to withdraw end sections of said belts below said base plate in order to prevent interference between the belts and the fore-and-aft shifting of said racks along said base plate.

13. The analyzer of claim 12 , said eccentric pulleys located below said base plate, said base plate having slots formed therein adjacent each of said pulleys.

14. The analyzer of claim 11 , the belts of said first and second belt pairs each supported on a pair of pulleys, one pulley of each of said sets thereof including a rack-engaging lug operable during rotation of the pulley to engage an adjacent rack to assist in lateral movement thereof.

15. The analyzer of claim 9 , said fore-and-aft shifting assembly operable to shift each rack individually and axially, and said lateral shifting mechanism operable to simultaneously shift a plurality of adjacent racks.

16. A sample analyzer comprising an analysis assembly operable to individually analyze a plurality of samples each within a separate container, respective pluralities of said containers located within elongated, shiftable racks, and apparatus operable to shift said racks within the sample analyzer for analysis of each of said samples, said apparatus comprising:

structure presenting a pair of opposed side margins and a pair of opposed end margins;

a fore-and-aft shifting assembly operable to individually shift each of said racks in a first direction adjacent one of said side margins, and in the opposite direction along the other of said side margins; and

a lateral shifting mechanism operable to shift each of said racks in a first lateral direction adjacent one of said end margins, and in the opposite lateral direction adjacent the other of said end margins,

whereby each of said racks follows a quadrate path of travel,

said container having an external identifying bar code thereon, said sample analyzer including a bar code reader, each of said containers having a septum, said analyzer including a needle operable to pass through said septums, said containers being rotatable in response to rotation of said needle, in order to move said identifying bar codes to a position to be read by said bar code reader.

17. The analyzer of claim 16 , said fore-and-aft shifting assembly including a pair of elongated, shiftable belts respectively located adjacent said side margins and shiftable in opposite directions, respectively, each of said belts supporting a rack shifter operable to engage and shift a respective rack.

18. The analyzer of claim 16 , said lateral shifting mechanism comprising a first pair of axially spaced apart, laterally extending rack-supporting belts proximal to one of said end margins, and a second pair of axially spaced apart, laterally extending rack-supporting belts proximal to the other of said end margins, said first pair of belts shiftable in one direction, and the other pair of belts shiftable in the opposite direction.

19. The analyzer of claim 18 , said structure comprising a base plate, the belts of said first and second belt pairs each supported on a pair of eccentric pulleys, said pulleys operable to withdraw end sections of said belts below said base plate in order to prevent interference between the belts and the fore-and-aft shifting of said racks along said base plate.

20. The analyzer of claim 19 , said eccentric pulleys located below said base plate, said base plate having slots formed therein adjacent each of said pulleys.

21. The analyzer of claim 18 , the belts of said first and second belt pairs each supported on a pair of pulleys, one pulley of each of said sets thereof including a rack-engaging lug operable during rotation of the pulley to engage an adjacent rack to assist in lateral movement thereof.

22. The analyzer of claim 16 , said fore-and-aft shifting assembly operable to shift each rack individually and axially, and said lateral shifting mechanism operable to simultaneously shift a plurality of adjacent racks.

23. The analyzer of claim 16 , said analysis assembly including a needle operable to extract a portion of each of said samples in order to permit analysis thereof, there being structure operably supporting said analysis needle in order to selectively axially rotate the needle, and to selectively axially shift the needle.