Automated liquid-phase immunoassay apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is an automated liquid-phase immunoassay apparatus used with a cuvette having a plurality of chambers containing a reagent necessary for detection of an analyte in a biological specimen. The apparatus includes a movable cuvette module equipped with the cuvette, an optical reading module for optical assaying of a material resulting from a reaction between the specimen and the reagent, and a dispenser module which is positioned on the cuvette module and which dispenses the specimen and the reagent to the plurality of chambers of the cuvette and washes the specimen and the reagent therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cuvette for a liquid-based immune response analysis device using magnetic beads, the analysis device including a straw arm in which a hollow is formed inside and a magnetic body in the form of a beam configured to move up and down through the hollow, the cuvette comprising:
 a washing tip fitting hole in which a washing tip of a cup shape is seated, wherein the washing tip is detachably fitted to one end of the straw arm;   a sample chamber in which a sample is filled;   a reaction chamber in which the sample, reagent, and magnetic beads are filled, and a combination of the sample, the reagent, and the magnetic beads is formed by a specific reaction;   a washing chamber filled with a washing solution for washing a surface of the washing tip to which the combination is attached; and   a detection chamber in which the combination washed in the washing chamber is detected,   wherein the magnetic beads are attached to the washing tip when the magnetic body moves down in the hollow of the straw arm.   
     
     
         2 . The cuvette of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing tip fitting hole in which a dispensing tip of a tubular shape is seated. 
     
     
         3 . The cuvette of  claim 2 , wherein the reaction chamber are filled with the sample, the reagent, and the magnetic beads by the dispensing tip. 
     
     
         4 . The cuvette of  claim 1 , further comprising an MB chamber filled with magnetic beads. 
     
     
         5 . The cuvette of  claim 4 , wherein the MB chamber is filled with reagent combined to the magnetic beads.