US5035866A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Luminescence reaction test apparatus
Assignee: ANALYTICAL LUMINESCENCE LABORATORY Inc A CA CORP
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Filing: 1988-02-16
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Granted: 1991-07-30
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Expires: 2008-02-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for performing and measuring chemical reactions includes a reaction test apparatus having reaction wells wherein reactants are controllably mixed, and exposure apparatus which receives and positions the reaction test apparatus adjacent a photographic film. Each of the reaction wells includes at least two reaction cups, arranged one above the other. The uppermost reaction cups have orifices in the bottoms, so that liquid can be mixed and reacted in the uppermost cup, and then controllably transferred to the lower cup to be mixed with additional reactants. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction cups are supported in plates that are structurally integral with the cups, and are superimposed to make a test block. The test block is retained in the exposure apparatus, and liquid is forced from the upper cup to the lower cup by application of pressure to the top of the upper cup. The apparatus of the invention is particularly suited for measuring reactions that produce luminescence of short duration, as the reactants can be conveniently mixed in darkness, while the film is being exposed.
Inventors
- 👤 Jon C. Wannlund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:04
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5025; B01L3/50255; C; C12; C12M; C12M21/00; C12M21/18; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M23/12; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N21/75; G01N21/76; G01N2021/0325; G01N2021/0328; G01N2021/0357; G01N21/17; G01N2021/1765; G01N2021/1768; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/04; G01N2201/0446; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/807; Y10S436/809; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/2575
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An article of manufacture for testing a specimen therein, comprising: a plurality of test wells, each of said test wells including a lower reaction cup having a final reactant therein, the lower reaction cup further having a flat, solid bottom with no opening therethrough, and an upper reaction cup positioned above said lower reaction cup and having a penultimate reactant therein, said upper reaction cup further having means for defining an orifice in the bottom thereof disposed such that liquid flowing through said orifice is discharged into said lower reaction cup; and a support for said test wells and said reaction cups thereof, said support including an upper plate supporting said upper reaction cups, and a lower plate supporting said lower reaction cups, said upper and lower plates being keyed to register said upper and lower reaction cups for each of said test wells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
An article of manufacture for testing a specimen therein, comprising: a plurality of test wells, each of said test wells including a lower reaction cup having a final reactant therein, the lower reaction cup further having a flat, solid bottom with no opening therethrough, and an upper reaction cup positioned above said lower reaction cup and having a penultimate reactant therein, said upper reaction cup further having means for defining an orifice in the bottom thereof disposed such that liquid flowing through said orifice is discharged into said lower reaction cup; and a support for said test wells and said reaction cups thereof, said support including an upper plate supporting said upper reaction cups, and a lower plate supporting said lower reaction cups, said upper and lower plates being keyed to register said upper and lower reaction cups for each of said test wells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said upper reaction cups are integral with said upper plate, and said lower reaction cups are integral with said lower plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The article of manufacture of claim 1, further including, for each test well, a top reaction cup positioned above said upper reaction cup, said top reaction cup having means for defining an orifice in the bottom thereof disposed such that liquid flowing through said orifice is discharged into said upper reaction cup, and a top plate supporting said top reaction cups.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein said top reaction cups are integral with said top plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said final reactant is a solid comprising a luminescent enzyme.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
An article of manufacture for testing a liquid placed therein, comprising: at least one test well, each of said test wells having therein a lower reaction cup having a final reactant therein, the lower reaction cup having a flat bottom with no opening therein; an upper reaction cup positioned above said lower reaction cup and having a penultimate reactant therein, said upper reaction cup further having means for defining an orifice in the bottom thereof disposed such that liquid flowing through said orifice is discharged into said lower reaction cup, the orifice being plugged with a viscous solid plug, so that a pressure applied to the top of said upper reaction cup forces liquid contained in said upper reaction cup downwardly through said orifice into said lower reaction cup; and a support for each of said test wells and the cups thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
An article of manufacture for testing a liquid placed therein, comprising: at least one test well, each of said test wells having therein a lower reaction cup having a final reactant therein, the lower reaction cup having a flat bottom with no opening therein; an upper reaction cup positioned above said lower reaction cup and having a penultimate reactant therein, said upper reaction cup further having means for defining an orifice in the bottom thereof disposed such that liquid flowing through said orifice is discharged into said lower reaction cup, the orifice being plugged with a viscous solid plug, so that a pressure applied to the top of said upper reaction cup forces liquid contained in said upper reaction cup downwardly through said orifice into said lower reaction cup; and a support for each of said test wells and the cups thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein said viscous solid plug is grease.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein said lower reaction cup is contoured with the bottom thereof having a diameter smaller than the top thereof, whereby light generated in the bottom reaction cup is concentrated in the region below the bottom reaction cup.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The article of manufacture of claim 6, further including a top test cup positioned above said upper reaction cup, and having a first reactant therein, said top reaction cup further having means for defining an orifice in the bottom thereof disposed such that liquid flowing through said orifice is discharged into said upper reaction cup, whereupon liquid flowing from said top reaction cup into said upper reaction cup intermixes with the penultimate reactant and then flows into said lower reaction cup.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of manufacture of claim 9, wherein said first reactant is a solid comprising the enzyme apyrase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein said final reactant is a solid comprising a luminescent enzyme.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-29 | 1995-01-28 | 1995-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-29 | 1999-01-28 | 1999-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-29 | 2003-01-28 | 2003-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |