US 11,703,504 B2
Electrochemiluminescence method of detecting an analyte in a liquid sample and analysis system
Ralf Kraus, Peissenberg (DE); Oliver Larbolette, Penzberg (DE); Friedrich Staebler, Peissenberg (DE); Yoshihiro Yamashita, Tokyo (JP); Yukinori Sakashita, Tokyo (JP); Shinya Matsuoka, Tokyo (JP); Michihiro Saito, Tokyo (JP); Taku Sakazume, Ibaraki Pref (JP); and Katsuaki Takahashi, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC., Indianapolis, IN (US); and HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US); and Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Sep. 5, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/561,284.
Application 16/561,284 is a division of application No. 14/968,118, filed on Dec. 14, 2015, granted, now 10,422,797.
Application 14/968,118 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2014/060149, filed on May 16, 2014.
Claims priority of application No. 13172826 (EP), filed on Jun. 19, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2020/0003768 A1, Jan. 2, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 33/543 (2006.01); G01N 21/66 (2006.01); G01N 21/76 (2006.01); G01N 33/58 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/69 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/5438 (2013.01) [G01N 21/66 (2013.01); G01N 21/69 (2013.01); G01N 21/76 (2013.01); G01N 33/54326 (2013.01); G01N 33/54393 (2013.01); G01N 33/582 (2013.01); G01N 35/0098 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00534 (2013.01); G01N 2201/12 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
 
1. An electrochemiluminescence analysis system for detecting an analyte in a liquid sample and generating an output comprising:
a receptacle containing a test fluid comprising protein coated magnetic microparticles;
a measuring unit operable to generate a first signal indicative of an amount of test fluid in the receptacle;
a stirring unit for stirring the test fluid within the receptacle to form a stirred test fluid;
a control unit comprising memory including matching information relating amounts of test fluid in the receptacle with rotational frequencies of the stirring unit, the control unit being configured to receive the first signal from the measuring unit and to determine a rotational frequency for the stirring unit using the first signal and the matching information in memory, and the control unit being configured to control the stirring unit to stir the test fluid for a period of time by applying the determined rotational frequency;
a marker capable of effecting luminescence upon application of excitation energy;
an incubator for receiving and incubating a test mixture comprising the liquid sample, the marker, and a portion of the stirred test fluid to form an incubated test mixture including complexes formed by a specific biochemical reaction binding the analyte and the marker, the complexes being bound to the magnetic microparticles;
a measurement cell for receiving a portion of the incubated test mixture;
a trigger component for applying the excitation energy to the test mixture in the measurement cell and causing the luminescence;
and an acquisition component for measuring the luminescence, the acquisition component operable to provide a measurement signal indicative of the analyte in the liquid sample.