Customizable instrument

Abstract

Methods and apparatus that mix a plurality of individual capture reagents for diagnostic assays are described herein. In an embodiment, a system for optically analyzing a patient sample includes an automated immunochemistry analyzer storing a plurality of capture reagents and a plurality of paramagnetic particles, a user interface configured to allow a selection of a combination of two or more of the capture reagents, and a logic implementer configured to cause the automated immunochemistry analyzer to (i) mix together each capture reagent of the combination of two or more of the capture reagents; (ii) bind the mixture of the combination of two or more of the capture reagents to the paramagnetic particles; (iii) bind the patient sample to the bound mixture of the combination of two or more of the capture reagents; and (iv) optically analyze the patient sample.

1 . A system for identifying allergens in patient samples, the system comprising:
 an automated immunochemistry analyzer configured to store a plurality of capture reagents in a reagent rotor;   a memory device storing for each of the plurality of capture reagents, a name and cross-reactivity interference information in relation to other capture reagents;   a user interface configured to display information to a user and receive inputs made by the user; and   a logic implementer communicatively coupled to the an automated immunochemistry analyzer, the memory device, and the user interface, the logic implementer configured to:
 receive, from the user interface, a selection to create a solid phase for identifying allergens within at least one patient sample, 
 cause the user interface to display information indicative of the plurality of capture reagents, 
 receive, from the user interface, a first capture reagent selection identifying a first capture reagent of the plurality of capture reagents, 
 use the cross-reactivity interference information of the first capture reagent to determine a second plurality of capture reagents that can be combined with the first capture reagent, the second plurality of reagents being a subset of the plurality of capture reagents, 
 cause the user interface to display information indicative of the second plurality of capture reagents, 
 receive, from the user interface, a second capture reagent selection identifying a second capture reagent of the second plurality of capture reagents, 
 receive, from the user interface, a selection finalization indication for the solid phase, and 
 cause the automated immunochemistry analyzer to add the first capture reagent and the second capture reagent to at least one cuvette for identifying allergens within the at least one patient sample. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the logic implementer is further configured to:
 use the cross-reactivity interference information of the first capture reagent and the second capture reagent to determine a third plurality of capture reagents that can be combined with the first capture reagent and the second capture reagent, the third plurality of reagents being a subset of the plurality of capture reagents;   cause the user interface to display information indicative of the third plurality of capture reagents;   receive, from the user interface, a third capture reagent selection identifying a third capture reagent of the third plurality of capture reagents; and   cause the automated immunochemistry analyzer to add the third capture reagent to the at least one cuvette for identifying allergens within the at least one sample.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the automated immunochemistry analyzer is configured to store a container of fluo-beads, and
 wherein the logic implementer is further configured to:
 determine an amount of the fluo-beads that is needed based on the first capture reagent and the second capture reagent, and 
 cause the automated immunochemistry analyzer to add the determined amount of the fluo-beads to the at least one cuvette. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory device stores for each of the plurality of capture reagents, an allergy class and an allergy subclass. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the allergy subclass includes at least one of a grass allergy, a mold allergy, or an environmental allergy. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the logic implementer is further configured to:
 receive, from the user interface, a save command; and   cause a solid phrase profile to be stored to the memory device, the solid phase profile including information indicative of the first capture reagent and the second capture reagent.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface and the logic implementer are included within the automated immunochemistry analyzer. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface and the logic implementer are separate from and communicatively coupled to the automated immunochemistry analyzer via a wireless or wired data connection. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory device stores for each of the plurality of capture reagents, an amount of the capture reagent that is currently held within the reagent rotor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the logic implementer is further configured to:
 determine, as omitted capture reagents, which of the plurality of capture reagents in the reagent rotor have volumes that are less than volumes needed for the solid phase; and   remove the omitted capture reagents from the information indicative of plurality of capture reagents that is displayed by the user interface.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the logic implementer is further configured to at least one of:
 cause the user interface to display an indication of the omitted capture reagents; or   cause the user interface to display an instruction to refill the omitted capture reagents in the reagent rotor.   
     
     
         12 . A system for identifying allergens in patient samples, the system comprising:
 an automated immunochemistry analyzer configured to store capture reagents in a reagent rotor;   a memory device storing for each of the capture reagents, a name, cross-reactivity interference information in relation to other capture reagents, and allergy class/subclass information;   a user interface configured to display information to a user and receive inputs made by the user; and   a logic implementer communicatively coupled to the an automated immunochemistry analyzer, the memory device, and the user interface, the logic implementer configured to:
 receive, from the user interface, a selection to create a solid phase by identifying at least one allergy class/subclass for identifying allergens within at least one patient sample, 
 determine a plurality of capture reagents, of the capture reagents stored in the automated immunochemistry analyzer, that provide for determination of the at least one allergy class/subclass using the allergy class/subclass information, 
 cause the user interface to display information indicative of the plurality of capture reagents, 
 receive, from the user interface, a first capture reagent selection identifying a first capture reagent of the plurality of capture reagents, 
 use the cross-reactivity interference information of the first capture reagent to determine a second plurality of capture reagents that can be combined with the first capture reagent, the second plurality of reagents being a subset of the plurality of capture reagents, 
 cause the user interface to display information indicative of the second plurality of capture reagents, 
 receive, from the user interface, a second capture reagent selection identifying a second capture reagent of the second plurality of capture reagents, 
 receive, from the user interface, a selection finalization indication for the solid phase, and 
 cause the automated immunochemistry analyzer to add the first capture reagent and the second capture reagent to at least one cuvette for identifying allergens within the at least one patient sample. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the allergy class/subclass information includes at least one of a grass allergy, a mold allergy, or an environmental allergy. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface and the logic implementer are at least one of (i) included within the automated immunochemistry analyzer, or (ii) separate from and communicatively coupled to the automated immunochemistry analyzer via a wireless or wired data connection. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the automated immunochemistry analyzer is configured to store a container of fluo-beads, and
 wherein the logic implementer is further configured to:
 determine an amount of the fluo-beads that is needed based on the first capture reagent and the second capture reagent, and 
 cause the automated immunochemistry analyzer to add the determined amount of the fluo-beads to the at least one cuvette. 
   
     
     
         16 . A system for identifying allergens in patient samples, the system comprising:
 an automated immunochemistry analyzer configured to store capture reagents in a reagent rotor;   a memory device storing (i) a relationship between allergy classes/subclasses and at least one patient symptom, and (ii) for each of the capture reagents, a name, cross-reactivity interference information in relation to other capture reagents, and allergy class/subclass information;   a user interface configured to display information to a user and receive inputs made by the user; and   a logic implementer communicatively coupled to the an automated immunochemistry analyzer, the memory device, and the user interface, the logic implementer configured to:
 receive, from the user interface, an input indicative of at least one patient symptom for creating a solid phase to identify allergens within at least one patient sample, 
 determine at least one allergy class/subclass that corresponds to the input indicative of at least one patient symptom using (i). 
 determine a plurality of capture reagents, of the capture reagents stored in the automated immunochemistry analyzer, that provide for determination of the at least one allergy class/subclass using (ii), 
 cause the user interface to display information indicative of the plurality of capture reagents as a suggested combination of capture reagents, 
 receive, from the user interface, a selection finalization indication for the solid phase, and 
 cause the automated immunochemistry analyzer to add the plurality of capture reagents to at least one cuvette for identifying allergens within the at least one patient sample. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the allergy class/subclass information includes at least one of a grass allergy, a mold allergy, or an environmental allergy. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the logic implementer is further configured to:
 receive, from the user interface, a first capture reagent selection identifying a first capture reagent of the plurality of capture reagents;   use the cross-reactivity interference information of the first capture reagent to determine a second plurality of capture reagents that can be combined with the first capture reagent, the second plurality of reagents being a subset of the plurality of capture reagents;   cause the user interface to display information indicative of the second plurality of capture reagents;   receive, from the user interface, a second capture reagent selection identifying a second capture reagent of the second plurality of capture reagents;   receive, from the user interface, the selection finalization indication for the solid phase after the selection of the first and second capture reagents; and   cause the automated immunochemistry analyzer to add the plurality of capture reagents by adding the first capture reagent and the second capture reagent to the at least one cuvette for identifying allergens within the at least one sample.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the automated immunochemistry analyzer is configured to store a container of fluo-beads, and
 wherein the logic implementer is further configured to:
 determine an amount of the fluo-beads that is needed based on the plurality of capture reagents, and 
 cause the automated immunochemistry analyzer to add the determined amount of the fluo-beads to the at least one cuvette. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the memory device stores for each of the plurality of capture reagents, an amount of the capture reagent that is currently held within the reagent rotor, and
 wherein the logic implementer is further configured to:
 determine, as omitted capture reagents, which of the plurality of capture reagents in the reagent rotor have volumes that are less than volumes needed for the solid phase; and 
 remove the omitted capture reagents from the information indicative of plurality of capture reagents that is displayed by the user interface.