Single-channel analyzer

Abstract

Abstract AN APPARATUS ESPECIALLY SUITED FOR USE IN AUTOMATED CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. A PLURALITY OF OPEN ENDED REACTION TUBES ARE CARRIED BY A TURNTABLE WITH THE LOWER ENDS OF THE TUBES SLIDABLY AND SEALINGLY ENGAGING THE CONTACT SURFACE OF A PLATFORM. THE CHAMBERS OF THE REACTION TUBES ARE THEREFORE CLOSED AT THEIR LOWER ENDS BY THE CONTACT SURFACE AND STANDARD CLINICAL CHEMISTRY TESTS OR REACTIONS MAY THUS BE CARRIED OUT IN SUCH CHAMBERS. OPENINGS IN THE CONTACT SURFACE ALONG THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE REACTION TUBES, IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONDUITS AND APPARATUS COMMUNICATING WITH SUCH OPENINGS, RESULT IN THE SUCCESSIVE DRAINING OF EACH TUBE''S CONTENTS, THE COLORIMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SUCH CONTENTS, AND THE SUBSEQUENT FLUSHING AND RINSING OF EACH TUBE. A TRANSFER MECHANISM COORDINATED IN ITS OPERATION WITH THE TURNTABLE WITHDRAWS MEASURED PORTIONS OF FLUID SAMPLES CARRIED BY CUPS SUPPORTED BY THE TURNTABLE AND DISCHARGES THOSE MEASURED PORTIONS ALONG WITH A MEASURED VOLUME OF A TEST REAGENT INTO THE REACTION TUBES. EACH REACTION TUBE HAS A DOWNWARDLY TAPERED CHAMBER AND, LIKE THE CONTACT SURFACE OF THE PLATFORM, IS FORMED FROM A RESILIENT PLASTIC MATERIAL WHICH WILL INSURE A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN THE SURFACES OF THE SLIDABLY-ENGAGING PARTS.

Inventors

• 👤 Alan Richardson Jones

Bibliographic Details