Multiple chamber chemiluminescent analyzer

Claim 2

Apparatus for observing chemiluminescent reaction comprising: a plurality of reaction chambers having optical openings therein; means for supplying reagents and samples to each of said reaction chambers; a photodetector spatially arranged to observe sites of reaction in each of said chambers for detecting radiant energy given off as a result of chemiluminescent reaction in said chambers and for generating an output responsive to said detected energy; and means periodically coupling and uncoupling radiant energy from each of said chambers to said photodetector for forming in said output a sequence of discrete time-wise interlaced signals.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photodetector is a photomultiplier providing an output which is essentially proportional to the detected radiant energy.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said radiant energy coupling means comprise means periodically blocking and unblocking in alternating sequence the optical paths between each of said reaction chambers and said photomultiplier.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising optical spectrum selection means for attenuating a selected spectrum of the radiant energy prior to detection by said photomultiplier.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for comparing said discrete time-wise interlaced signals for generating a sequence of signals derived therefrom.

Claim 7

Apparatus for observing chemiluminescent reaction comprising: a plurality of reaction chambers having optical openings and adapted for containing gases near ambient pressure therein; means for supplying reagents and samples to each of said reaction chambers, whereby reagents and samples intimately mix upon entrance into said chambers to interact in substantially complete chemical reaction; a photodetector having a window and optical detection means therein, said wndow confronting substantially all reaction sites in said chambers, said chambers being fixed in relation to said window of said photodetector for detecting radiant energy emitted as a result of chemiluminescent reaction in said chambers and for generating an output essentially proportional to the detected radiant energy; and means periodically coupling and uncoupling emitted radiant energy from each of said reaction chambers to said photodetector for forming in said output a sequence of discrete timewise interlaced signals, each signal containing information indicative of the quantity of radiant energy emitted from one of said chambers during one coupling event.

Claim 8

Apparatus for observing chemiluminescent reaction comprising: a plurality of reaction chambers having optical openings and adapted for containing gases near ambient pressure therein; means for supplying reagents and samples to each of said reaction chambers, whereby reagents and samples intimately mix upon entrance into said chambers to interact in substantially complete chemical reaction; a photodetector having a window and optical detection means therein, said wndow confronting substantially all reaction sites in said chambers, said chambers being fixed in relation to said window of said photodetector for detecting radiant energy emitted as a result of chemiluminescent reaction in said chambers and for generating an output essentially proportional to the detected radiant energy; and means periodically coupling and uncoupling emitted radiant energy from each of said reaction chambers to said photodetector for forming in said output a sequence of discrete timewise interlaced signals, each signal containing information indicative of the quantity of radiant energy emitted from one of said chambers during one coupling event.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said photodetector comprises a photomultiplier and said optical detection means comprise a photocathode, and wherein said radiant energy coupling means comprise means for directing emitted radiant energy from each of said reaction chambers to selected spatial portions of said photocathode.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said radiant energy coupling means further comprise electrostatic deflection means, and wherein said reaction chambers impinge upon said photodetector window minimizing optical path lengths from said detector to said sites of reaction.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said radiant energy coupling means further comprise electromagnetic deflection means and wherein said reaction chambers impinge upon said photodetector window for minimizing optical path length from said detector to said sites of reaction.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said radiant energy coupling means comprise means sequentially blocking and unblocking the optical paths between each of said reaction chambers and said photodetector.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising means mounting said reaction chambers closely adjacent said photodetector for minimizing said optical paths.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said optical blocking means comprise a rotating element having at least one space therein for the passage therethrough of radiant energy emitted from said chambers and directed toward said photodetector.

Claim 15

Apparatus for chemiluminescent analysis comprising: a plurality of reaction chambers spatially arranged in close proximity adapted for containing gases at near ambient pressure and having openings therein spatially arranged for viewing substantially all reaction sites therein from a point on one surface on a plane external to all of said chambers; means for supplying reagents and samples to each of said chambers, whereby reagents and samples intimately mix upon entrance into said chambers for engaging in chemiluminescent reaction emitting radiant energy in proportion to the extent of said reaction in said chambers; a photodetector having a window and optical detection means therein, wherein said window is closely adjacent and in view of substantially all reaction sites in said chambers, said chambers being fixed in relation to said photodetector, for detecting radiant energy emitted as a result of chemiluminescent reaction in said chambers and for generating an output essentially proportional to the detected radiant energy; optical spectrum selection means for transmitting only a portion of a selected spectrum of said emitted radiant energy to said photodetector; means successively coupling and uncoupling radiant energy emitted from each of said chambers to said optical detection means in said photodetector for forming in said output a rapidly occurring sequence of discrete time-wise interlaced signals, each signal containing information indicative of quantity of radiant energy emitted from one of said chambers; and signal processing means for discriminating between said signals and for interpreting said signal information.

Claim 16

Apparatus for chemiluminescent analysis comprising: a plurality of reaction chambers spatially arranged in close proximity adapted for containing gases at near ambient pressure and having openings therein spatially arranged for viewing substantially all reaction sites therein from a point on one surface on a plane external to all of said chambers; means for supplying reagents and samples to each of said chambers, whereby reagents and samples intimately mix upon entrance into said chambers for engaging in chemiluminescent reaction emitting radiant energy in proportion to the extent of said reaction in said chambers; a photodetector having a window and optical detection means therein, wherein said window is closely adjacent and in view of substantially all reaction sites in said chambers, said chambers being fixed in relation to said photodetector, for detecting radiant energy emitted as a result of chemiluminescent reaction in said chambers and for generating an output essentially proportional to the detected radiant energy; optical spectrum selection means for transmitting only a portion of a selected spectrum of said emitted radiant energy to said photodetector; means successively coupling and uncoupling radiant energy emitted from each of said chambers to said optical detection means in said photodetector for forming in said output a rapidly occurring sequence of discrete time-wise interlaced signals, each signal containing information indicative of quantity of radiant energy emitted from one of said chambers; and signal processing means for discriminating between said signals and for interpreting said signal information.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein each said reaction chamber comprises a concave cavity having an inner surface reflective to radiant energy emission disposed to direct said emission toward said photodetector and wherein said means for supplying reagents and samples directs such samples and reagents towards said photodetector.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said photodetector comprises a photomultiplier and said radiant energy coupling means comprise means sequentially blocking and unblocking the optical paths between each of said reaction chambers and said photomultiplier.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said optical blocking means comprise a rotating element having at least one space therein for the passage of radiant energy emitted from said chambers and directed toward said photomultiplier.

Claim 20

Apparatus adapted for measuring constituent concentration by chemiluminescent analysis comprising: a plurality of reaction chambers adapted for containing gases at near ambient pressure spatially arranged in close proximity and having optical openings therein spatially arranged for viewing substantially all reactions therein through an aperture in a plane external to all of said chambers; means arranged to introduce reagents and samples in intimate proximity into each of said reaction chambers toward said aperture, whereby reagents and samples contain substances disposed to chemiluminescent reaction with one another interact in rapid and substantially complete chemiluminescent reaction emitting radiant energy in substantial proportion to the concentration of known constituents in the samples; a photodetector comprising a photomultiplier having a window of less than two inches width spatially arranged closely adjacent the optical openings of all of said reaction chambers and fixed with respect thereto for detecting radiant energy given off by chemiluminescent reaction in said chambers and for generating an output essentially proportional to the detected radiant energy; optical filter means located between said photodetector and sites of chemiluminescent reaction in said chambers for attenuating radiant energy transmission outside the spectrum of interest; mechanical means for sequentially chopping the optical paths between each of said optical openings and said window for periodically coupling and uncoupling radiant energy emitted from each of said reaction chambers with said photodetector and for forming in said output a rapidly occurring sequence of time-wise interlaced signals each signal containing information indicative of the concentration of at least one constituent in each of said chambers; and signal processing means for discriminating between said signals and for interpreting and comparing said signal information to indicate the concentration of selected constituents in the samples.

Claim 21

Apparatus adapted for measuring constituent concentration by chemiluminescent analysis comprising: a plurality of reaction chambers adapted for containing gases at near ambient pressure spatially arranged in close proximity and having optical openings therein spatially arranged for viewing substantially all reactions therein through an aperture in a plane external to all of said chambers; means arranged to introduce reagents and samples in intimate proximity into each of said reaction chambers toward said aperture, whereby reagents and samples contain substances disposed to chemiluminescent reaction with one another interact in rapid and substantially complete chemiluminescent reaction emitting radiant energy in substantial proportion to the concentration of known constituents in the samples; a photodetector comprising a photomultiplier having a window of less than two inches width spatially arranged closely adjacent the optical openings of all of said reaction chambers and fixed with respect thereto for detecting radiant energy given off by chemiluminescent reaction in said chambers and for generating an output essentially proportional to the detected radiant energy; optical filter means located between said photodetector and sites of chemiluminescent reaction in said chambers for attenuating radiant energy transmission outside the spectrum of interest; mechanical means for sequentially chopping the optical paths between each of said optical openings and said window for periodically coupling and uncoupling radiant energy emitted from each of said reaction chambers with said photodetector and for forming in said output a rapidly occurring sequence of time-wise interlaced signals each signal containing information indicative of the concentration of at least one constituent in each of said chambers; and signal processing means for discriminating between said signals and for interpreting and comparing said signal information to indicate the concentration of selected constituents in the samples.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said optical blocking means comprise a thin rotating disk element having at least one space therein for the passage of emitted radiant energy from said chambers to said photodetector.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said signal processing means are adapted to analyze the concentration of the oxides of nitrogen in reaction with ozone.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the average diameter of each of said reaction chambers is less than one-half the width dimension of said photodetector window.