Biological analyzer and method

Claim 2

A FLOW THROUGH METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE CONCENTRATION OF A COMPONENT OF INTEREST IN A SAMPLE WHEREIN THE DETECTION OF THE CONCENTRATION OR CHANGE THEREIN OF A GASEOUS INDICATING SPECIES FOLLOWING AN ENZYME-CATALYZED REACTION IS INDICATIVE OF THE CONCENTRATION OF THE COMPONENT OF INTEREST, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: COMBINING SAID SAMPLE WITH A CARRIER SOLUTION, CAUSING THE COMBINED SOLUTION TO FLOW PAST A QUANTITY OF AN ENZYME SELECTED TO CATALYZETHE DESIRED REACTION, WHEREIN SAID ENZYME IS IMMOBILIZED IN A MANNER WHICH ALLOWS FREE CONTACT BETWEEN THE COMPONENTS IN SAID COMBINED SOLUTION AND THE ENZYME MOLECULES OCCASIONING LITTLE OR NO LOSS OF ENZYME THEREBY, AFTER SAID REACTION IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE, CAUSING THE REACTED SOLUTION TO IMPINGE UPON A MEMBRANE SELECTIVELY PERMEABLE TO SAID GASEOUS INDICATING SPECIES AT AN ANGLE WITH SAID MEMBRANE, MONITORING THE CONCENTRATION OF SAID INDICATING SPECIES DIFFUSING THROUGH SAID MEMBRANE, GENERATING AN OUTPUT INDICATIVE OF THE CONCENTRATION SAID INDICATING SPECIES,

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, including the step of: flushing the entire system with an additional amount of said carrier solution thereby regenerating the original conditions prior to the introduction of a subsequent sample.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, including the step of: controlling the velocity in contacting said immobilized enzyme and said diffusion membrane so that the time interval between the start of the reaction and the measurement of the concentration of the indicating species is fixed.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said reacted solution is caused to impinge on said membrane such that said membrane is continually cleansed by said reacted solution.

Claim 6

A flow-through chemical analysis apparatus for determining the concentration of a component of interest in a sample wherein the detection of the concentration of an indicating species following an enzyme-catalyzed reaction is indicative of the concentration of the component of interest in the sample, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber for containing an amount of an immobilized enzyme disposed therein in a manner which allows free contact between said enzyme and a solution flowing therethrough to thereby catalyze said enzyme-catalyzed reaction; means for introducing a carrier solution into said first chamber; means for introducing a sample into said solution; a second chamber for receiving said solution from said first chamber; sensor means for detecting said indicating species in said solution, said sensor means being separated from the said second chamber by a membrane permeable to said indicating species; flow means connecting the outlet of said first chamber with said second chamber, in a manner which causes said solution to impinge on said membrane at an angle with said membrane; means for generating an output from said sensor related to the concentration of said indicating species; drain means for removing said solution after contacting said membrane; and transducing means for transducing said output into one indicative of the concentration of the component in the sample sought to be determined.

Claim 7

A flow-through chemical analysis apparatus for determining the concentration of a component of interest in a sample wherein the detection of the concentration of an indicating species following an enzyme-catalyzed reaction is indicative of the concentration of the component of interest in the sample, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber for containing an amount of an immobilized enzyme disposed therein in a manner which allows free contact between said enzyme and a solution flowing therethrough to thereby catalyze said enzyme-catalyzed reaction; means for introducing a carrier solution into said first chamber; means for introducing a sample into said solution; a second chamber for receiving said solution from said first chamber; sensor means for detecting said indicating species in said solution, said sensor means being separated from the said second chamber by a membrane permeable to said indicating species; flow means connecting the outlet of said first chamber with said second chamber, in a manner which causes said solution to impinge on said membrane at an angle with said membrane; means for generating an output from said sensor related to the concentration of said indicating species; drain means for removing said solution after contacting said membrane; and transducing means for transducing said output into one indicative of the concentration of the component in the sample sought to be determined.

Claim 8

THE APPARATUS OF CLAIM 5 WHEREIN SAID FIRST CHAMBER IS IN THE FORM OF AN ENCLOSED PACKED COLUMN.

Claim 9

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said system is a gravity flow-through system, wherein said reagent-containing solution is fed to the top of said column at an adjustable rate and wherein said second chamber is disposed in a manner which allows it to drain also by gravity.

Claim 10

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising: means to control the rate of flow of said solution through said first and said second chambers.

Claim 11

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for supplying said sample is an injection port wherein an accurately determined amount of such sample may be injected into said solution.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sensor is an electrochemical detector and said indicating species to be detected is a dissolved gas, said detector having a sensoring electrode disposed opposite and in close proximity to said membrane.

Claim 13

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 Wherein the outlet of flow means is disposed in a manner which causes said solution to impinge on said membrane at right angles to said membrane opposite the location of said sensor.