System for detecting the particular chemical constituent of a fluid

• US 3,918,910 A
• Filed: 07/24/1974
• Issued: 11/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Isao Soya, Katsuhiko Kimura, Tooru Nobuto, Yawara Nagai
• Original Assignee: Isao Soya, Katsuhiko Kimura, Tooru Nobuto, Yawara Nagai
• Inventors: Kimura, Katsuhiko, Nagai, Yawara, Soya, Isao, Nobuto, Tooru
• Primary Examiner(s): Serwin, R. E.
• Application Number:
  US05/491,521
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 23/253TP,253R,259,23R 235/151.35
• US Class Current: 422/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00039 Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00118 for multiple tests
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for detecting the particular constituent of a fluid which comprises a cassette for holding a plurality of chemical reaction-testing strips each provided with a plurality of carriers containing reagents; means for drawing out said chemical reaction-testing strips one after another from the cassette and bringing a test fluid filled in a container into contact with the respective reagent carriers of the strip; means for producing an electric signal corresponding to the degree of a chemical reaction between the test fluid and any of said reagent carriers; and means for printing out data denoting the degree of said chemical reaction.

Claims

1. A SYSTEM FOR DETECTING THE PARTICULAR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENT OF A FLUID, COMPRISING:

A TEST SHEET SUPPORT HAVING A ROLLER FIXED THERETO FOR SUPPORTING A CHEMICAL REACTION TEST SHEET PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF CARRIERS CONTAINING DIFFERENT REAGENTS, PHOTOELECTRIC DETECTION MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT FOR EMITTING A LIGHT ON A SELECTED ONE OF SAID REAGENT CARRIERS, AND A FIRST PHOTOELECTRIC ELEMENT FOR RECEIVING A REFLECTD LIGHT FROM SAID SELECTED REAGENT CARRIER TO GENERATE AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL CARRESPONDING TO THE DEGREE OF CHEMICAL REACTION BETWEEN THE TEST FLUID AND THE REAGENT CONTAINED IN SAID SELECTED CARRIER, A MEASURING CIRCUIT CONNECTED TO RECEIVE SAID ELECTRICAL SIGNAL GENERATED BY SAID FIRST PHOTOELECTRIC ELEMENT, A STEPPED CAM HAVING A PLURALITY OF STEPS WHICH ARE AN OPERATING SURFACE HAVING A PLURALITY OF STEPS WHICH ARE LOCATED WITH A PREDETERMINED CORRESPONDENCE TO SAID SIGNAL HOLES, DRIVING MEANS COUPLED TO SAID STEPPED CAM FOR ROTATING SAID STEPPED CAM, MEANS FOR PRESSING SAID ROLLER OF SAID TEST SHEET SUPPORT AGAINST SAID STEPPED OPERATING SURFACE OF SAID STEPPED CAM SO AS TO INTERMITTENTLY SHIFT THE TEST SHEET ACCORDING TO THE ROTATION OF SAID STEPPED CAM, AND A SIGNAL GENERATOR COUPLED TO SAID MEASURING CIRCUIT AND HAVING A SECOND LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT FOR EMITTING A FIGHT THROUGH SAID SIGNAL HOLES, AND A SECOND PHOTOELECTRIC ELEMENT FOR RECEIVING LIGHT TRANSMITTED THROUGH SAID SIGNAL HOLES AND FOR GENERATING A MEASURING COMMAND SIGNAL, SAID MEASURING COMMAND SIGNAL BEING APPLIED TO SAID MEASURING CIRCUIT IN RESPONSE TO SAID SECOND PHOTOELECTRIC ELEMENT RECEIVING LIGHT TRANSMITTED THROUGH SAID SIGNAL HOLES.

2. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein said chemical reaction test sheet has carriers provided with a predetermined spacing therebetween and has transparent portions formed between two adjacent carriers;

and said system further comprises a third photoelectric element for receiving a light penetrating said transparent portions of the test sheet to generate an output signal actuating said first photoelectric element.

3. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein said test sheet support comprises an upper block having an inclined surface bored with a rectangular slit;

an inclined cradle having a plurality fo narrow grooves extending in the direction of inclination of said cradle; and

a dish for collecting an excess amount of test fluid flowing to said cradle from said reagent carriers of the test sheet placed on said test sheet support.

4. A detection system according to claim 1 wherein said first light-emitting means comprises a lamp and a first light guide for conducting a light from the lamp to the surface of each reagent carrier;

and said first photoelectric element comprises a second light guide for leading a reflection from each reagent carrier to said first photoelectric element.