Patent US4896963A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4896963A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic analyzer
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1988-11-23
•
Granted: 1990-01-30
•
Expires: 2008-11-23
Abstract
Abstract An automatic analyzer of a single-line and multi-item type having a circular reaction line along which a number of reaction vessels are transported in the stepwise manner, and a photometering apparatus in which white light is divided into a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths, by means of a diffraction grating, and the light beams are transmitted by means of light guides whose exit ends are arranged along the reaction line with a pitch which is different from that with which the reaction vessels are arranged. While the reaction vessels are moved by one pitch, a plurality of reaction vessels are photometered in time sequential manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Yutaka Kato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/251; G01N21/253; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/04; G01N2201/0415; G01N2201/0453; G01N2201/08; G01N2201/0826
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An automatic analyzer comprising a reaction line; means for transporting a number of reaction vessels arranged on the reaction line with a first pitch, said reaction vessels containing therein test liquids; and photometering means including a light source for emitting white light, means for dividing the white light into a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths, a plurality of light guides each having incident ends arranged to receive a respective one of said plurality of light beams and exit ends arranged along the reaction line with a second pitch which is different from said first pitch for projecting the light beams onto reaction vessels along measuring optical paths, and a plurality of light detectors each arranged on respective measuring optical paths to receive respective light beams emitted from the exit ends of respective light guides and transmitted through reaction vessels; whereby test liquids contained in a plurality of reaction vessels situating at the measuring optical paths are photometered with the aid of said plurality of light beams having different wavelengths in a time sequential manner, while the reaction vessels are moved along the reaction line over the first pitch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
An automatic analyzer comprising a reaction line; means for transporting a number of reaction vessels arranged on the reaction line with a first pitch, said reaction vessels containing therein test liquids; and photometering means including a light source for emitting white light, means for dividing the white light into a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths, a plurality of light guides each having incident ends arranged to receive a respective one of said plurality of light beams and exit ends arranged along the reaction line with a second pitch which is different from said first pitch for projecting the light beams onto reaction vessels along measuring optical paths, and a plurality of light detectors each arranged on respective measuring optical paths to receive respective light beams emitted from the exit ends of respective light guides and transmitted through reaction vessels; whereby test liquids contained in a plurality of reaction vessels situating at the measuring optical paths are photometered with the aid of said plurality of light beams having different wavelengths in a time sequential manner, while the reaction vessels are moved along the reaction line over the first pitch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
An automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said first pitch P S with which the reaction vessels are arranged and said second pitch P L with which the exit ends of light guides are arranged satisfy the condition that P S >P L +Δl, wherein Δl is a distance of a central portion of reaction vessel through which the photometering is effected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An analyzer according to claim 2, wherein said reaction vessels are transported along the reaction line in a stepwise manner, and the photometering is effected while the reaction vessels are moved.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An analyzer according to claim 3, wherein said distance Δl is determined such that when a central portion of a reaction vessel has just passed through a measuring optical path, a central portion of a next reaction vessel has just entered into a next measuring optical axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An analyzer according to claim 4, wherein said photometering means further comprises a selection circuit for selecting an output signal supplied from a light detector which receives a light beam transmitted through a central portion of reaction vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said means for dividing the white light into said plurality of light beams having different wavelengths comprises a diffraction grating, and each of said light guides is formed by an optical fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An analyzer according to claim 6, wherein said reaction line is formed into a circular shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
An automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said first pitch P S with which the reaction vessels are arranged and said second pitch P L with which the exit ends of light guides are arranged satisfy the condition that P S <P L -Δl, wherein Δl is a distance of a central portion of reaction vessel through which the photometering is effected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4762420A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-29 | 1993-07-31 | 1994-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-29 | 1997-07-31 | 1998-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-29 | 2001-07-31 | 2002-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |