US3816743A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scintillation counting systems and components
Assignee: Beckman Coulter Inc
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Filing: 1971-08-30
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1991-08-30
Abstract
Abstract Scintillation counting systems employing a permanently connected flowpath for introducing and removing mixtures of fluid scintillator and sample must be protected against admission of light and ultra-violet rays to the scintillation sensor through the flowpath. The invention provides an improved protection arrangement including a light trap which is a trap for light and a conductor for fluids. The use of two of those light traps, one upstream and one downstream from the sensor, are combined with a novel mixer to provide a continuous flow monitoring counter in which mixing of sample and scintillator and their introduction to the mixer can be visually monitored without introduction of outside light to the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 P Ting
- 👤 R Litle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T7/00; G01T7/02; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
For inclusion in a scintillator counting system of the kind which employs a conduit leading to the counting cell for introducing fluid samples to the cell from a place external to the sensor which is exposed to ambient light; a light trap comprising an opaque area of conduit formed into a multi-turn helix and having irregularities along the inner surface of said helix over a substantial length thereof; and means for precluding entry of light into said conduit downstream from said trap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
For inclusion in a scintillator counting system of the kind which employs a conduit leading to the counting cell for introducing fluid samples to the cell from a place external to the sensor which is exposed to ambient light; a light trap comprising an opaque area of conduit formed into a multi-turn helix and having irregularities along the inner surface of said helix over a substantial length thereof; and means for precluding entry of light into said conduit downstream from said trap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said irregularities along the inner surface of said helix are formed of an inert, granulated material fused to the inner surface of said conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said conduit is glass and said granulated material is alumina fused thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention defined in claim 1 in which said trap further includes a portion along its length filled with loose particles of opaque material which is chemically inert.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
The invention defined in claim 1 which further comprises means for introducing a continuous flow of liquid sample and liquid scintillator into said counting cell including a second conduit in series with said first mentioned conduit and leading from said cell, a second light trap in series in the second conduit, means for precluding introduction of light into the second conduit upstream from said second light trap, and mixing means for mixing a liquid scintillator with a liquid sample and introducing the mixture into said first mentioned conduit upstream from said first mentioned light trap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention defined in claim 5 in which said mixing means comprises a mixer formed of two closed liquid chambers in series, the downstream chamber having an elevated outlet and an inlet at a point below said outlet, the upstream chamber having an outlet above the outlet of said downstream chamber and an inlet for scintillator liquid below its inlet, and means for introducing sample liquid into the upstream chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention defined in claim 6 in which said uPstream chamber is transparent at a point above its outlet and said means for introducing sample liquid comprises a resilient closure member located above the transparent point of the chamber whereby drops of sample fluid are visible as they are introduced to the chamber through said closure member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention defined in claim 7 which further comprises two magnets, one disposed in each of said chambers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention defined in claim 8 in which the trap comprises a glass tube having alumina and potassium silicate fused thereto along a length of its inner surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention defined in claim 4 in which said trap further comprises inert, graular material fused to the inner surface of said conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
125 words
For inclusion in a scintillator counting system of the kind in which a continuous flow of sample liquid is to be monitored and which includes a flowpath through the sensing units: mixing means for combining liquid scintillator with sample liquid and introducing it into said flowpath upstream of the sensing unit; and means for impeding the introducing of light into the sensing unit through the flowpath downstream from the mixing means and downstream from the sensing unit; said mixing means comprising a pair of closed containers each having an inlet near its lower end and an elevated outlet, the two containers being connected in series with one another such that the outlet of the upstream container is elevated above the outlet of the downstream container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
125 words
For inclusion in a scintillator counting system of the kind in which a continuous flow of sample liquid is to be monitored and which includes a flowpath through the sensing units: mixing means for combining liquid scintillator with sample liquid and introducing it into said flowpath upstream of the sensing unit; and means for impeding the introducing of light into the sensing unit through the flowpath downstream from the mixing means and downstream from the sensing unit; said mixing means comprising a pair of closed containers each having an inlet near its lower end and an elevated outlet, the two containers being connected in series with one another such that the outlet of the upstream container is elevated above the outlet of the downstream container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention defined in claim 11 in which the upstream container is closed by a removable stopper, the container wall being transparent whereby the introduction of fluid may be observed; and which comprises a pair of magnets one disposed in each container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention defined in claim 11 in which said means for impeding the introduction of light comprises means for rendering the flowpath opaque.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention defined in claim 13 in which the means for impeding the introduction of light further comprises a pair of light traps in series with said flowpath, one downstream from the sensor and one between the sensor and said mixing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3520660A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |