Analysis instrument having a blow molded reaction chamber

Claim 2

An analysis instrument adapted to form reaction chambers from plastic material within the instrument and to analyze a sample placed within the chambers so formed comprising: a mold member having a plurality of mold cavities formed on a periphery thereof, a portion of each mold cavity being transparent to interrogating radiation; means for placing an inner piece of plastic material on the mold member at a first application point; means disposed in proximity to the mold member adjacent to the first application point for deforming the inner piece of plastic material into close contact with boundaries of the cavity then proximal to the deforming means and into bonded relationship with the transparent portion of the cavity; means for placing an outer piece of plastic material on the mold member at a second application point spaced on the mold member from the deforming means, the second piece of plastic material being disposed in a superimposed relationship with respect to the first piece of plastic material such that the inner and outer pieces of plastic material are spaced apart by a distance lying within a predetermined close tolerance of a predetermined distance; a sealing arrangement for joining the inner and outer pieces of plastic material together to define a partially enclosed reaction chamber therebetween; and a reaction monitoring device mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold member, the monitoring device being positionable adjacent to any one of a predetermined number of locations on the mold member having a reaction chamber therein, the monitoring device being operable to direct a beam of interrogating radiation through the transparent portion of the cavity of the mold member.

Claim 3

The analysis instrument of claim 1 further comprising: a dispensing arrangement mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold member, the dispensing arrangement being positionable at any location about the periphery of the mold member.

Claim 4

The analysis apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mold cavity has a first and second wall and further comprising: means for tensioning the outer piece of plastic material so that the same lies on a substantially straight line between the side walls of the mold cavity.

Claim 5

The analysis instrument of claim 1 further comprising: means mounted to the mold member for maintaining the temperature thereof at a predetermined temperature level.

Claim 6

The analysis instrument of claim 4 further comprising: a dispensing arrangement mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold member, the dispensing arrangement being positionable at any location about the periphery of the mold member.

Claim 7

The analysis instrument of claim 1 further comprising: means for rotating the member about an axis of rotation, the rotating means comprising a driven member engaging the inner and outer pieces of plastic material such that movement of the driven member rotates the mold member.

Claim 8

The analysis instrument of claim 6 further comprising: a dispensing arrangement mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold member, the dispensing arrangement being positionable at any angular location about the axis.

Claim 9

The analysis instrument of claim 6 further comprising: means mounted to the mold member for maintaining the temperature thereof at a predetermined temperature level.

Claim 10

The analysis instrument of claim 8 further comprising: a dispensing arrangement mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold member, the dispensing arrangement being positionable at any angular location about the axis.

Claim 11

An analysis instrument adapted to form reaction chambers from plastic material within the instrument and to analyze a sample placed within the chambers so formed comprising: a mold ring having a plurality of mold cavities formed on a periphery thereof, a portion of each mold cavity being transparent to interrogating radiation; means for placing an inner piece of plastic material on the mold member at a first application point; an air jet arrangement disposed in proximity to the mold member adjacent to the first application point for directing a jet of heated air at the inner piece of plastic material to soften the same and cause it to deform into close contact with boundaries of the mold cavity then proximal to the deforming means and into a thermally bonded relationship with the transparent portion of the cavity; means for placing an outer piece of plastic material on the mold ring at a second application point spaced on the mold ring from the air jet arrangement, the second piece of plastic material being disposed in a superimposed relationship with respect to the first piece of plastic material such that the inner and outer pieces of plastic material are spaced apart by a path length distance lying within a predetermined close tolerance of a predetermined distance; a sealing arrangement for joining the inner and outer pieces of plastic material together along an interface that surrounds the deformed portion of the inner piece to define a partially enclosed reaction chamber between the inner and outer pieces of plastic material; and a reaction monitoring device mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold member, the monitoring device being positionable adjacent to any one of a predetermined number of locations on the mold member having a reaction chamber therein, the monitoring device being operable to direct a beam of interrogating radiation through the transparent portion of the cavity of the mold member.

Claim 12

An analysis instrument adapted to form reaction chambers from plastic material within the instrument and to analyze a sample placed within the chambers so formed comprising: a mold ring having a plurality of mold cavities formed on a periphery thereof, a portion of each mold cavity being transparent to interrogating radiation; means for placing an inner piece of plastic material on the mold member at a first application point; an air jet arrangement disposed in proximity to the mold member adjacent to the first application point for directing a jet of heated air at the inner piece of plastic material to soften the same and cause it to deform into close contact with boundaries of the mold cavity then proximal to the deforming means and into a thermally bonded relationship with the transparent portion of the cavity; means for placing an outer piece of plastic material on the mold ring at a second application point spaced on the mold ring from the air jet arrangement, the second piece of plastic material being disposed in a superimposed relationship with respect to the first piece of plastic material such that the inner and outer pieces of plastic material are spaced apart by a path length distance lying within a predetermined close tolerance of a predetermined distance; a sealing arrangement for joining the inner and outer pieces of plastic material together along an interface that surrounds the deformed portion of the inner piece to define a partially enclosed reaction chamber between the inner and outer pieces of plastic material; and a reaction monitoring device mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold member, the monitoring device being positionable adjacent to any one of a predetermined number of locations on the mold member having a reaction chamber therein, the monitoring device being operable to direct a beam of interrogating radiation through the transparent portion of the cavity of the mold member.

Claim 13

The analysis instrument to claim 10 further comprising: means mounted to the mold ring for maintaining the temperature thereof at a predetermined temperature level.

Claim 14

The analysis instrument of claim 10 wherein the monitoring device includes a source of interrogating radiation disposed on one radial side of the reaction chamber and a radiation responsive element on the radially opposite side of the chamber.

Claim 15

The analysis instrument of claim 10 wherein the sealing arrangement comprises an air jet itself comprising a shoe with a hollow having a pressure equalizing profile and an outlet aperture at the base of the hollow.

Claim 16

The analysis instrument of claim 10 further comprising: means for fully enclosing the reaction chamber prefatory to discarding the same.

Claim 17

The analysis instrument of claim 10 wherein the mold cavity has a first and second wall and further comprising: means for tensioning the outer piece of plastic material so that the same lies on a substantially straight line between the side walls of the mold cavity.

Claim 18

The analysis instrument of claim 10 further comprising: means for introducing a sample of material under test into the reaction chamber.

Claim 19

The analysis instrument of claim 16 further comprising: a reagent dispensing arrangement mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold ring, the dispensing arrangement being positionable at any selected angular position about the mold ring.

Claim 20

The analysis instrument of claim 16 further comprising: means mounted to the mold ring for maintaining the temperature thereof at a predetermined temperature level.

Claim 21

The analysis instrument of claim 16 further comprising: means for rotating the member about an axis of rotation, the rotating means comprising a driven member engaging the inner and outer pieces of plastic material such that movement of the driven member rotates the mold member.

Claim 22

The analysis instrument of claim 19 further comprising: means mounted to the mold ring for maintaining the temperature thereof at a predetermined temperature level.

Claim 23

The analysis instrument of claim 19 further comprising: a reagent dispensing arrangement mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold ring, the dispensing arrangement being positionable at any selected angular position about the mold ring.

Claim 24

The analysis instrument of claim 10 further comprising: means for rotating the member about an axis of rotation, the rotating means comprising a driven member engaging the inner and outer pieces of plastic material such that movement of the driven member rotates the mold member.

Claim 25

The analysis instrument of claim 22 further comprising: a reagent dispensing arrangement mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold ring, the dispensing arrangement being positionable at any selected angular position about the mold ring.

Claim 26

The analysis instrument of claim 22 wherein the driven member comprises a capstan connected to the pieces of plastic material to draw the same onto the ring and simultaneously to rotate the ring.

Claim 27

The analysis instrument of claim 22 further comprising: means mounted to the mold ring for maintaining the temperature thereof at a predetermined temperature level.

Claim 28

The analysis instrument of claim 10 further comprising: a reagent dispensing arrangement mounted for relative movement with respect to the mold ring, the dispensing arrangement being positionable at any selected angular position about the mold ring.

Claim 29

The analysis instrument of claim 26 further comprising: means for rotating the mold ring about an axis of rotation to displace the reaction chamber to any location with respect to the axis.

Claim 30

The analysis instrument of claim 26 wherein the reaction monitoring device is disposed below the mold ring while the reagent dispensing arrangement is disposed above the mold ring.

Claim 31

The analysis instrument of claim 26 wherein the dispensing arrangement is mounted above the mold ring and further comprising: a reagent supply vessel disposed on an upper surface of the ring.

Claim 32

The analysis instrument of claim 29 wherein the dispensing arrangement includes a dispensing tube that is movably radially inwardly and outwardly of the ring to respectively communicate with the supply vessel and the reaction chamber.

Claim 33

The analysis instrument of claim 30 wherein the reagent supply vessel contains passages for the circulation of a cooling fluid therethrough.