Method and apparatus for continuous flow analysis of liquid sample

Claim 1

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample, comprising: means for introducing a carrier liquid into a main single tubular conduit to form a carrier stream; a reagent metering pipe having a predetermined capacity; means for introducing a reagent liquid into the reagent metering pipe; a sample metering pipe having a predetermined capacity; means for introducing a sample liquid into the sample metering pipe; means for connecting the reagent metering pipe and the sample metering pipe with each other in series and for connecting the main conduit with the reagent metering pipe and the sample metering pipe so that the reagent liquid from the reagent metering pipe and the sample liquid from the sample metering pipe can be carried in series into the main conduit by directing the carrier liquid from said main conduit into the reagent metering pipe and the sample metering pipe; means for reacting said sample liquid with said reagent liquid; and means for detecting a reaction condition of said sample liquid with said reagent liquid.

Claim 2

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample, comprising: means for introducing a carrier liquid into a main single tubular conduit to form a carrier stream; a reagent metering pipe having a predetermined capacity; means for introducing a reagent liquid into the reagent metering pipe; a sample metering pipe having a predetermined capacity; means for introducing a sample liquid into the sample metering pipe; means for connecting the reagent metering pipe and the sample metering pipe with each other in series and for connecting the main conduit with the reagent metering pipe and the sample metering pipe so that the reagent liquid from the reagent metering pipe and the sample liquid from the sample metering pipe can be carried in series into the main conduit by directing the carrier liquid from said main conduit into the reagent metering pipe and the sample metering pipe; means for reacting said sample liquid with said reagent liquid; and means for detecting a reaction condition of said sample liquid with said reagent liquid.

Claim 3

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample, comprising: a main single tubular conduit; means for introducing a carrier liquid into the main single tubular conduit to form a carrier stream; first and second reagent metering pipes having a predetermined capacity, each of said first and second metering pipes having first and second ends; means for introducing a reagent liquid into the first and second reagent metering pipes; a sample metering pipe having a predetermined capacity; means for introducing a sample liquid into the sample metering pipe; means for connecting the sample metering pipe between the first ends of each of the first and second reagent metering pipes so that the first reagent metering pipe, the sample metering pipe and the second reagent metering pipe are in series, and for connecting the second end of each of the first and second reagent pipes with the main conduit; means for reacting said sample liquid with said reagent liquid; and means for detecting a reaction condition of said sample liquid with said reagent liquid.

Claim 4

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample, comprising: a main single tubular conduit; means for introducing a carrier liquid into the main single tubular conduit to form a carrier stream; first and second reagent metering pipes having a predetermined capacity, each of said first and second metering pipes having first and second ends; means for introducing a reagent liquid into the first and second reagent metering pipes; a sample metering pipe having a predetermined capacity; means for introducing a sample liquid into the sample metering pipe; means for connecting the sample metering pipe between the first ends of each of the first and second reagent metering pipes so that the first reagent metering pipe, the sample metering pipe and the second reagent metering pipe are in series, and for connecting the second end of each of the first and second reagent pipes with the main conduit; means for reacting said sample liquid with said reagent liquid; and means for detecting a reaction condition of said sample liquid with said reagent liquid.

Claim 5

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample comprising: a first pipe means for metering a liquid sample of a predetermined volume; means for introducing the liquid sample into the first pipe means; second pipe means for metering a reagent solution of a predetermined volume; means for introducing the reagent solution into the second pipe means; a reaction zone to react the sample with the reagent; a detection zone to detect the sample reacting with the reagent; a main conduit for forming a carrier stream of a carrier liquid; means for directing the carrier stream to the reaction zone and the detection zone; means for cutting off the first pipe means from the main conduit when the sample is introduced into the first pipe means and for cutting off the second pipe means from the main conduit when the reagent is introduced into the second pipe means; means for connecting the first and second pipe means in series; means for communicating the main conduit with the first and second pipe means connected in series for introducing the sample and the reagent into the main conduit in series by diverting the carrier stream so as to pass the carrier stream through the first and second pipe means connected in series.

Claim 6

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample comprising: a first pipe means for metering a liquid sample of a predetermined volume; means for introducing the liquid sample into the first pipe means; second pipe means for metering a reagent solution of a predetermined volume; means for introducing the reagent solution into the second pipe means; a reaction zone to react the sample with the reagent; a detection zone to detect the sample reacting with the reagent; a main conduit for forming a carrier stream of a carrier liquid; means for directing the carrier stream to the reaction zone and the detection zone; means for cutting off the first pipe means from the main conduit when the sample is introduced into the first pipe means and for cutting off the second pipe means from the main conduit when the reagent is introduced into the second pipe means; means for connecting the first and second pipe means in series; means for communicating the main conduit with the first and second pipe means connected in series for introducing the sample and the reagent into the main conduit in series by diverting the carrier stream so as to pass the carrier stream through the first and second pipe means connected in series.

Claim 7

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample, comprising: a sample metering pipe having first and second ends; a first reagent metering pipe having first and second ends; a second reagent metering pipe having first and second ends; a reaction zone to react a sample with a reagent; a detection zone to detect the sample reacted with the reagent; a main conduit for carrying a carrier stream of a carrier liquid; means for directing the carrier stream to the reaction zone and the detection zone; and means for connecting the first end of the sample metering pipe with the first end of the first reagent metering pipe, for connecting the second end of the sample metering pipe with the first end of the second reagent metering pipe, and for connecting the second ends of each of the first and second reagent metering pipes with the main conduit, so that the carrier stream may be passed through the first reagent metering pipe, the sample metering pipe and the second reagent metering pipe.

Claim 8

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample, comprising: a sample metering pipe having first and second ends; a first reagent metering pipe having first and second ends; a second reagent metering pipe having first and second ends; a reaction zone to react a sample with a reagent; a detection zone to detect the sample reacted with the reagent; a main conduit for carrying a carrier stream of a carrier liquid; means for directing the carrier stream to the reaction zone and the detection zone; and means for connecting the first end of the sample metering pipe with the first end of the first reagent metering pipe, for connecting the second end of the sample metering pipe with the first end of the second reagent metering pipe, and for connecting the second ends of each of the first and second reagent metering pipes with the main conduit, so that the carrier stream may be passed through the first reagent metering pipe, the sample metering pipe and the second reagent metering pipe.

Claim 9

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample, comprising: detecting means for detecting a reaction condition of a sample liquid with a reagent liquid; a main conduit for forming a carrier stream of a carrier liquid; means for directing the carrier liquid in the main conduit toward the detecting means; a single metering pipe, having first and second ends, for the introduction of a sample liquid therein; two reagent metering pipes, each having first and second ends, for the introduction of the reagent liquid therein; valve means for connecting the first end of the sample metering pipe to the first end of one of the reagent metering pipes, for connecting the second end of the sample metering pipe to the first end of the other reagent metering pipe, for connecting the second ends of each of the two reagent metering pipes to the main conduit, for cutting off the sample metering pipe from the main conduit and for cutting off the two reagent metering pipes from the main conduit; means for introducing the sample liquid into the sample metering pipe when the valve means cuts off the sample metering pipe from the main conduit; and means for introducing the reagent solution into the two reagent metering pipes when the valve means cuts off the two reagent metering pipes from the main conduit.

Claim 10

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample, comprising: detecting means for detecting a reaction condition of a sample liquid with a reagent liquid; a main conduit for forming a carrier stream of a carrier liquid; means for directing the carrier liquid in the main conduit toward the detecting means; a single metering pipe, having first and second ends, for the introduction of a sample liquid therein; two reagent metering pipes, each having first and second ends, for the introduction of the reagent liquid therein; valve means for connecting the first end of the sample metering pipe to the first end of one of the reagent metering pipes, for connecting the second end of the sample metering pipe to the first end of the other reagent metering pipe, for connecting the second ends of each of the two reagent metering pipes to the main conduit, for cutting off the sample metering pipe from the main conduit and for cutting off the two reagent metering pipes from the main conduit; means for introducing the sample liquid into the sample metering pipe when the valve means cuts off the sample metering pipe from the main conduit; and means for introducing the reagent solution into the two reagent metering pipes when the valve means cuts off the two reagent metering pipes from the main conduit.

Claim 12

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample, comprising: means for detecting a reaction condition of a sample liquid with a reagent liquid; a main conduit for forming a carrier stream of a carrier liquid; means for directing the carrier liquid in the main conduit toward the detecting means; a single sample metering pipe, having first and second ends, for the introduction of the sample liquid therein; two reagent metering pipes, each having first and second ends, for the introduction of the reagent liquid therein; a first connecting means selectively connected to the main conduit and a second connecting means selectively connected to the sample metering pipe; wherein the first end of each of the two reagent metering pipes is connected to the first connecting means, the second end of each of the two reagent metering pipes is connected to the second connecting means and the first and second ends of the sample metering pipe are connected to the second connecting means; the first and second connecting means each having two operative positions, one of the operative positions allowing the main conduit, the two reagent metering pipes and the sample metering pipe to be independent of one another and the second operative position allowing the main conduit, the two reagent metering pipes and the sample metering pipe to be connected in series.

Claim 13

An apparatus for flow analysis of a liquid sample, comprising: means for detecting a reaction condition of a sample liquid with a reagent liquid; a main conduit for forming a carrier stream of a carrier liquid; means for directing the carrier liquid in the main conduit toward the detecting means; a single sample metering pipe, having first and second ends, for the introduction of the sample liquid therein; two reagent metering pipes, each having first and second ends, for the introduction of the reagent liquid therein; a first connecting means selectively connected to the main conduit and a second connecting means selectively connected to the sample metering pipe; wherein the first end of each of the two reagent metering pipes is connected to the first connecting means, the second end of each of the two reagent metering pipes is connected to the second connecting means and the first and second ends of the sample metering pipe are connected to the second connecting means; the first and second connecting means each having two operative positions, one of the operative positions allowing the main conduit, the two reagent metering pipes and the sample metering pipe to be independent of one another and the second operative position allowing the main conduit, the two reagent metering pipes and the sample metering pipe to be connected in series.