Luminometer

Claim 3

An apparatus for analyzing the constituents of a sample held in a vial as recited in claim 1 wherein said holding means is a tubular-shaped optical chamber for receiving said vial, said chamber having a window for establishing a light path between said vial and said sensing means.

Claim 4

An apparatus for analyzing the constituents of a sample held in a vial as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensing means is a photomultiplier tube.

Claim 5

An apparatus for analyzing the constituents of a sample held in a vial as recited in claim 1 further comprising a pumping system for injecting reagents into said vial to cause said sample to luminesce.

Claim 6

An apparatus for analyzing the constituents of a sample held in a vial as recited in claim 4 wherein said pumping system comprises a first pump for injecting a reagent into said vial to prepare said sample and a second pump for subsequently injecting a reagent into said vial to initiate said luminescence.

Claim 7

An apparatus for analyzing the constituents of a sample held in a vial as recited in claim 1 wherein said determining means determines a steady state background signal indicative of light in said chamber when said sample does not significantly luminesce.

Claim 8

An apparatus for analyzing the constituents of a sample held in a vial as recited in claim 6 wherein said summing means subtracts said background signal from the sum of said instantaneous intensities to generate said descriptive signal.

Claim 9

An apparatus for analyzing the constituents of a sample held in a vial as recited in claim 7 wherein said determining means further comprises sampling means for periodically sampling light in said chamber to generate sample signals and begin determination of said background signal when consecutive sample signals are substantially equal.

Claim 10

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial which comprises: an optical chamber for receiving and holding said vial in a dark environment; a sensor positioned relative to said chamber for sensing luminescence from said sample; a detector electrically connected with said sensor for determining a substantially constant background signal and a plurality of intensity signals, said intensity signals corresponding to the instantaneous intensity of said luminescence at set intervals of less than one second during a preselected time period; and a summer for adding a sufficient number of said plurality of intensity signals within said time period and subtracting said background signal therefrom for determining total luminescence from said sample and for generating a descriptive signal indicating the constituents of said sample.

Claim 11

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial which comprises: an optical chamber for receiving and holding said vial in a dark environment; a sensor positioned relative to said chamber for sensing luminescence from said sample; a detector electrically connected with said sensor for determining a substantially constant background signal and a plurality of intensity signals, said intensity signals corresponding to the instantaneous intensity of said luminescence at set intervals of less than one second during a preselected time period; and a summer for adding a sufficient number of said plurality of intensity signals within said time period and subtracting said background signal therefrom for determining total luminescence from said sample and for generating a descriptive signal indicating the constituents of said sample.

Claim 12

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial as recited in claim 9 wherein said optical chamber is tubular-shaped and has a window for establishing a light path between said vial and said sensor.

Claim 13

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial as recited in claim 9 wherein said sensing means is a photomultiplier tube.

Claim 14

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial as recited in claim 9 further comprising a pumping system for injecting reagents into said vial to cause said sample to luminesce.

Claim 15

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial as recited in claim 12 wherein said pumping system comprises a first pump for injecting a reagent into said vial to prepare said sample and a second pump for subsequently injecting a reagent into said vial to initiate said luminescence.

Claim 16

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial as recited in claim 9 wherein said determining means further comprises sampling means for periodically sampling light in said chamber to generate sample signals and begin determination of said background signal when consecutive sample signals are substantially equal.

Claim 17

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial as recited in claim 9 further comprising a shutter disposed in said chamber for normally covering said window, said shutter being displaceable by a vial placed in said chamber for exposing said window to light from the interior of said chamber.

Claim 18

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial which comprises: an optical chamber for receiving and holding said vial in a dark environment; a window in a wall of said chamber and a shutter disposed in said chamber for normally covering said window, said shutter being displaceable by a vial placed in said chamber for exposing said window to light from the interior of said chamber; a detector for detecting the displacement of said shutter from said window for indicating the presence of a vial in said chamber and generating and sending an initiation signal for initiating an operational cycle; a sensor positioned relative to said chamber for sensing luminescence from said sample; a detector electrically connected to said sensor for determining a substantially constant background signal and a plurality of intensity signals corresponding to the instantaneous intensity of said luminenscence at set intervals during a preselected time period; and a summer for adding said plurality of intensity signals and subtracting said background signal therefrom to generate a descriptive signal indicating the constituents of said sample.

Claim 19

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial which comprises: an optical chamber for receiving and holding said vial in a dark environment; a window in a wall of said chamber and a shutter disposed in said chamber for normally covering said window, said shutter being displaceable by a vial placed in said chamber for exposing said window to light from the interior of said chamber; a detector for detecting the displacement of said shutter from said window for indicating the presence of a vial in said chamber and generating and sending an initiation signal for initiating an operational cycle; a sensor positioned relative to said chamber for sensing luminescence from said sample; a detector electrically connected to said sensor for determining a substantially constant background signal and a plurality of intensity signals corresponding to the instantaneous intensity of said luminenscence at set intervals during a preselected time period; and a summer for adding said plurality of intensity signals and subtracting said background signal therefrom to generate a descriptive signal indicating the constituents of said sample.

Claim 20

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial which comprises: a substantially cylindrical optical chamber for receiving and holding a vial in a dark environment; a photo multiplier tube positioned relative to said chamber for sensing light from said chamber and generating a light intensity signal in response thereto; a window disposed in a sidewall of said optical chamber for establishing a light path between said chamber and said photo multiplier tube; a shutter disposed in said chamber for normally covering said window, said shutter being displaceable by a vial placed in said chamber for exposing said window to light in the interior of said chamber; a detector for detecting the displacement of said shutter from said window and generating an operational signal in response thereto; a pumping system for injecting reagents into said vial for causing said sample to luminesce; and operating means including microprocessor means electrically connected with said photo multiplier tube for receiving said light intensity signal for periodically sampling light in said chamber for a first period of time in response to an operational signal after a vial containing a sample is inserted in said chamber for determination of when consecutive sample signals are substantially equal for determining a substantially constant background signal, and for receiving a plurality of intensity signals over a second period of time following the injection of reagents into said vial, said intensity signals corresponding to the instantaneous intensity of said luminescence at set intervals of approximately one-thirtieth of a second during a preselected time period of approximately two-seconds, said operating means operative for adding said plurality of intensity signals and subtracting said background signal therefrom for generating a descriptive signal indicating the constituents of said sample.

Claim 21

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial which comprises: a substantially cylindrical optical chamber for receiving and holding a vial in a dark environment; a photo multiplier tube positioned relative to said chamber for sensing light from said chamber and generating a light intensity signal in response thereto; a window disposed in a sidewall of said optical chamber for establishing a light path between said chamber and said photo multiplier tube; a shutter disposed in said chamber for normally covering said window, said shutter being displaceable by a vial placed in said chamber for exposing said window to light in the interior of said chamber; a detector for detecting the displacement of said shutter from said window and generating an operational signal in response thereto; a pumping system for injecting reagents into said vial for causing said sample to luminesce; and operating means including microprocessor means electrically connected with said photo multiplier tube for receiving said light intensity signal for periodically sampling light in said chamber for a first period of time in response to an operational signal after a vial containing a sample is inserted in said chamber for determination of when consecutive sample signals are substantially equal for determining a substantially constant background signal, and for receiving a plurality of intensity signals over a second period of time following the injection of reagents into said vial, said intensity signals corresponding to the instantaneous intensity of said luminescence at set intervals of approximately one-thirtieth of a second during a preselected time period of approximately two-seconds, said operating means operative for adding said plurality of intensity signals and subtracting said background signal therefrom for generating a descriptive signal indicating the constituents of said sample.

Claim 22

A luminometer for analyzing the constituents of a sample of material held in a transparent vial as recited in claim 17 wherein said pumping system comprises a first pump for injecting a reagent into said vial to prepare said sample and a second pump for subsequently injecting a reagent into said vial to initiate said luminescence.