Multi-compartment reagent container having means to inhibit re-use thereof

Abstract

A method for automatically determining whether a reagent container is new and unused or whether the reagent container has been previously used whenever reagent containers are initially placed onto an analyzer. Unused containers have a weakened member that can be deformed by a moveable sensor probe when containers are placed onto the analyzer.

1 . A mechanism for confirming that a reagent container has not previously been used on a clinical analyzer, the mechanism comprising: 
 a probe;    a weakened member on the reagent container; and,    a sensor providing a signal representative of interactions between the probe and the lock-out member when the reagent container is placed on the analyzer.    
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the probe is urged against the weakened member when the reagent container is placed on the analyzer.  
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the container comprises a generally linear multi-well array having opposed edgewalls between two sidewalls.  
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 3  wherein the weakened member is attached to one of said edgewalls.  
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 4  wherein the weakened member is mounted between pylons attached to the one edgewall.  
     
     
         6 . The mechanism of  claim 5  wherein the weakened member and the pylons define an open region proximate said edgewall.  
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 5  wherein the weakened member comprises a bridge weakened in its central region by a notch contiguous with the open region.  
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 7  wherein the bridge is weakened by a pair of cusps formed at the ends of the weakened bridge.  
     
     
         9 . The mechanism of  claim 8  wherein the cusps are formed on the opposite side of the bridge from the notch.  
     
     
         10 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the analyzer is equipped with a computer-implemented control program that monitors the output signal representative of interactions between the probe and the weakened member to confirm that the reagent container is new and unused.  
     
     
         11 . The analyzer of  claim 10  wherein the output signal reflects the length of travel of the probe or the displacing force of the probe or the resilience of the weakened member.  
     
     
         12 . The mechanism of  claim 10  wherein the computer-implemented control program compares the output signals to a range of predetermined signal values in order to determine whether the reagent container is unused or previously used.