Device for biochemical quantitative analysis of successive samples

Claim 1

An automatic sequential apparatus for quantitative analysis of successive samples carried in tubes and in which a luminescence reaction is produced by means of an appropriate reactant, said apparatus comprising the combination of: a frame; a plate rotatably mounted on said frame and provided proximate to its periphery with regularly spaced vertical sockets adapted to receive the tubes filled with the samples to be analyzed, each socket comprising a lateral opening, an upper opening, and a lower opening which respectively open onto a peripheral face, an upper face, and a lower face of said plate, said lateral opening exposing only a portion of a tube; luminescence analyzing means arranged laterally opposite the peripheral face and lateral opening of said plate; first displaceable ring means externally concentric with said analyzing means, and first seal means engaged with, and adapted to be actuated by, said first ring means for sealing the lateral opening to ensure light tightness between said analyzing means and the peripheral face of said plate; a reactant injection assembly arranged above the upper face of said plate opposite the upper opening thereof; second displaceable ring means externally concentric with said injection assembly, and second seal means engaged with, and adapted to be actuated by, said second ring means for sealing the upper opening to ensure light tightness between said injection assembly and the upper face of said plate; cradle means disposed, and adapted to be substantially vertically actuated, below the lower face of said plate, and third seal means rigidly connected to said cradle means opposite the lower opening and adapted to be actuated by said cradle means to seal the lower opening to ensure light tightness of the same upon vertical displacement of said cradle means; and stationary substantially circular rail means provided within the lower opening for retaining the tubes in the respective sockets during one part of a rotational path of travel of said tubes with said plate, before the tubes reach said analyzing means.