Multicuvette centrifugal analyzer rotor with annular recessed optical window channel

Claim 1

A multicuvette rotor for use in an analytical photometer, said rotor defining a circumferential array of elongated radially extending cuvettes and comprising a one-piece body member of molded transparent material that has a planar upper surface and that defines a circumferential array of elongated cuvette recesses, and a one-piece cover member of molded transparent material that has a planar lower surface parallel to the planar upper surface of said body member with a continuous seal extending around each said cuvette recess between said upper and lower surfaces to define said circumferential array of analytical cuvettes, an annular optical window recess in said cover member adjacent the periphery thereof, the base of said recess being planar and having an optical finish, said cover member having a first set of loading ports arranged in a circumferential ring and a second set of loading ports arranged in a circumferential ring, each said elongated cuvette including structure defining a first chamber for receiving a first constituent introduced through a loading port of said first set in said cover member, structure defining a second chamber region for storing a second constituent introduced through a loading port of said second set in said cover member, barrier structure between said first and second chamber regions, said barrier structure having a crest portion spaced from said lower surface of said cover member so that a transfer passage between said first and second chamber regions is defined between said crest portion and said lower surface of said cover member through which said first constituent may be flowed into said second chamber region for forming a reaction product with said second constituent, said second chamber region including an analysis region where said reaction product is subjected to analysis, and structure in the base of each said second chamber region defining an optical window aligned with a corresponding portion of said annular recess for defining a path for a beam of analysis radiation through said analysis region for analyzing the reaction product of the mixture of said first and second constituents in said analysis region.