Analytical apparatus and process
First Claim
1. An apparatus adapted for chemical analysis comprising a cuvette having therein a first porous barrier which serves to compartmentalize said cuvette, and a first test reagent fluid in a first reagent compartment in the cuvette, said barrier being in direct contact therewith, a second porous barrier and a second test reagent fluid being present, the second test reagent being disposed in a second compartment on the side of said second barrier away from said first reagent compartment, the second barrier being in direct contact with the two test reagents.
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Abstract
A low load analytic system is proposed, comprising a cuvette divided into separate chambers by a porous barrier which may be free to move inside the cuvette, and a test reagent in one compartment. The barrier may be floating on the reagent. The barrier may be microporous or be a semipermeable membrane, hydrophobic or hydrophilic, depending on the test. In one mode, the cuvette is the barrel of a hypodermic syringe and the test reagent is held in the far compartment, in the barrel of the syringe. Numerous modifications of the system are also disclosed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus adapted for chemical analysis comprising a cuvette having therein a first porous barrier which serves to compartmentalize said cuvette, and a first test reagent fluid in a first reagent compartment in the cuvette, said barrier being in direct contact therewith, a second porous barrier and a second test reagent fluid being present, the second test reagent being disposed in a second compartment on the side of said second barrier away from said first reagent compartment, the second barrier being in direct contact with the two test reagents.
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2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said porous barriers are maintained in an axially spaced-apart relationship by at least one spacer extending from said first barrier to said second barrier.
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3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said spacer comprises a hollow tube.
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4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein there is provided a generally cylindrical sled surrounding at least part of said tube, said sled having at least one sealing portion disposed circumferentially around said sled and adapted to substantially seal against the inner wall of said cuvette.
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5. An apparatus adapted for chemical analysis comrising a cuvette having therein a first porous barrier which serves to compartmentalize said cuvette, and a first test reagent fluid in a first reagent compartment in the cuvette, said barrier being in direct contact therewith, said cuvette having at least one lens located in an area through which test results are sensed, said cuvette having a curvature in said area, said lens compensating for distortion caused by said curvature.
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6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein there are two said lenses and a source of light directed through both of said lenses.
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7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said two lenses are on opposite sides of said cuvette, and have their axes substantially in alignment, and a third lens having its axis at substantially a right angle to the other axes.
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8. A METHOD OF CARRYING OUT CHEMICAL TESTING COMPRISING INTRODUCING A FLUID SAMPLE TO BE TESTED INTO A CHAMBER, SAID SAMPLE BEING IN CONTACT WITH A FIRST POROUS BARRIER AND A SECOND POROUS BARRIER, PERMITTING AT LEAST SOME CONSTITUENTS OF SAID SAMPLE TO PASS THROUGH SAID FIRST BARRIER AND CONTACT A FIRST FLUID REAGENT, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID CONSTITUENTS PASSING THROUGH SAID SECOND BARRIER TO CONTACT A SECOND FLUID REAGENT
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9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said first reagent and said second reagent are the same.
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10. The method according to claim 8 wherein said first reagent and said second reagent are different.
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11. An apparatus adapted for chemical analysis comprising a cuvette having therein a first porous barrier which serves to compartmentalize said cuvette, and a first test reagent fluid in a first reagent compartment in the cuvette, said barrier being in direct contact therewith, said apparatus having means to provide an electromotive force across said cuvette in the axial direction towards said barrier, whereby said first reagent is driven across said first barrier.
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12. An apparatus adapted for chemical analysis comprising a cuvette having therein a first porous barrier which serves to compartmentalize said cuvette, and a first test reagent fluid in a first reagent compartment in the cuvette, said barrier being in direct contact therewith, said cuvette comprising the barrel of a hypodermic syringe having a needle point extending from one, the test reagent being in the far compartment relative to the needle point, the first reagent compartment being in the plunger of said syringe.
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13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein there is provided a second reagent compartment containing a second reagent, a second porous barrier in contact with said second reagent compartment and said reagent therein, a sample chamber in said syringe adjacent said point, both said first barrier and said second barrier in contact with said sample chamber and the sample contained therein.
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14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said reagents are different, whereby two different tests can be run simultaneously on said sample.
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15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein there is provided a second compartment in said plunger, said second compartment containing a reference fluid.
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16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said plunger is of reduced cross-section adjacent the end of said plunger nearest said point, said barrier being on the reduced cross-section of said plunger, the plane of said barrier being parallel to the axis of said plunger.
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17. An apparatus adapted for chemical analysis comprising a cuvette having therein a first porous barrier which serves to compartmentalize said cuvette, and a first test reagent fluid in a first reagent compartment in the cuvette, said barrier being in direct contact therewith, said cuvette comprising the barrel of a hypodermic syringe having a needle point extending from one end, the test reagent being in the far compartment relative to the needle point, there being a chamber in the plunger of said syringe, said chamber containiNg a reference fluid.
Specification