Apparatus for analysis of blood

Claim 1

Apparatus for determining corpuscle sedimentation rates comprising, first support means supporting a plurality of graduated tubes having upper and lower ends, said tubes being held vertically and spaced apart horizontally on said first support means, second support means supporting a plurality of containers having open upper ends and closed lower ends and being of a size such that the lower ends of said tubes can be inserted into the containers for receiving blood samples, said containers being held generally vertically and spaced apart horizontally on said second support means such that said containers are in respective alignment with said tubes, said first and second support means being movable with respect to each other to a first position in which the tubes on the first support means are spaced from the containers on the second support means, a second position in which the lower ends of the tubes on the first support means extend into the containers on the second support means, and a third position in which sedimentation of blood within said graduated tubes can occur, suction means for applying a suction to the upper ends of said tubes to draw blood samples into the tubes from said containers when said support means are in said second position, and seal means for sealing the lower ends of the tubes to prevent loss of blood samples from said tubes when said support means are in said third position, said seal means comprising a tubular elastic sleeve mounted on the lower end of each of the tubes, and extending downwardly from the lower ends of the tubes, wherein said first support means is moved downwardly from said second position to said third position, and means in said containers for deforming the tubular elastic sleeves to seal the lower ends of the tubes in said third position of the support means, said suction means maintaining suction in said tubes at least until said support means are moved to said third position.