Method and apparatus for chemical analysis
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of performing chemical analysis of a fluid comprising the steps of:
- (a) removing a slide from a stack of slides, each of said slides including means to effect the analysis of a fluid sample;
(b) transporting said slide to a metering position;
(c) metering a predetermined quantity of fluid on said slide;
(d) transporting said slide to incubator means, said incubator means having a plurality of conveyor means;
(e) depositing said slide in a selected one of said conveyor means;
(f) conveying said slide to a position to cooperate with an analysis means after an appropriate period of incubation; and
(g) sensing a characteristic of said slide resulting from the fluid deposited thereon.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing chemical analysis on selected fluids. The apparatus comprises a turntable which carries a plurality of cartridges containing test slides. A transfer mechanism is adapted to receive a slide from a selected cartridge, transport the slide to a metering device where a precise amount of fluid is deposited thereon, and then deliver the slide to a conveyor which moves the slide through an incubator. A radiometric reading of the slide is taken while it is in the incubator.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of performing chemical analysis of a fluid comprising the steps of:
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(a) removing a slide from a stack of slides, each of said slides including means to effect the analysis of a fluid sample; (b) transporting said slide to a metering position; (c) metering a predetermined quantity of fluid on said slide; (d) transporting said slide to incubator means, said incubator means having a plurality of conveyor means; (e) depositing said slide in a selected one of said conveyor means; (f) conveying said slide to a position to cooperate with an analysis means after an appropriate period of incubation; and (g) sensing a characteristic of said slide resulting from the fluid deposited thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. In an automatic chemical analyzer comprising sample supply means for receiving a plurality of containers of fluid sample, reagent supply means for receiving a stack of slides each of which contains a reagent, metering means adapted to dispense a predetermined quantity of fluid sample onto a slide, and incubator means, the improvement wherein:
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(a) conveyor means is provided in said incubator means, said conveyor means having a plurality of members for receiving slides bearing fluid sample and means for advancing the slides through said incubator means; (b) slide transporting means is provided for removing a slide from said stack, transporting said slide to a metering position where said quantity of fluid sample is deposited on the slide by said metering means, and delivering the slide to a selected one of said members; and (c) analysis means is operatively associated with said conveyor means. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18)
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9. A chemical analyzer for measuring a characteristic of a fluid, said analyzer comprising in combination:
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slide supply means for receiving at least one stack of slides, each slide including means to effect the analysis of a fluid; sample supply means for receiving a plurality of containers of fluids to be analyzed; metering means for depositing a predetermined quantity of fluid onto a slide supported in a metering position; incubator means for providing a controlled environment for slides bearing said fluid, said incubator means having a loading station for receiving slides; conveyor means operative in said incubator means, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of slide holding members each of which is adapted to receive and releasably hold a slide, said conveyor means further comprising means for advancing said slide holding members past said station; analysis means operative after a slide has been in the incubator means a predetermined time for sensing a characteristic of said slide resulting from the fluid deposited thereon; and slide transporting means for removing a slide from said stack, moving the slide to said metering position, and delivering the slide to a selected slide holding member in said conveyor means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An analyzer for measuring a characteristic of a fluid sample wherein the sample is deposited on a test slide which is analyzed after an appropriate period of time under controlled conditions, said analyzer comprising:
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slide supply means for receiving a plurality of stacks of slides, one of said stacks including slides to effect an analysis of a first type and another of said stacks including slides to effect an analysis of a second type; sample supply means for receiving a plurality of discrete samples; metering means adapted to deposit a predetermined quantity of fluid from a selected sample onto a slide in a metering position; incubator means including a plurality of temperature controlled chambers and conveyor means for advancing slides within the chambers, on of said chambers being adapted to accept slides of said first type and another of said chambers being adapted to accept slides of the second type; analysis means adapted to cooperate with each of said chambers, said analysis means being operative after a slide has been in a chamber for a predetermined time to sense a characteristic of the slide resulting from the fluid deposited thereon; and slide transport means for removing a slide from a stack, moving the slide to said metering position and delivering the slide to a selected one of said chambers. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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25. An analyzer for measuring a characteristic of a fluid sample wherein a sample is deposited on a test slide which is analyzed after an appropriate period of incubation, said analyzer comprising:
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sample supply means for receiving fluid samples to be analyzed; slide supply means for receiving a plurality of types of test slides and for delivering a selected type of test slide to a feed position; metering means for depositing a predetermined quantity of sample on a test slide; incubator means including a plurality of separate devices arranged to operate on individual slides; analysis means for sensing a characteristic of a slide resulting from the fluid sample deposited thereon, said analysis means being adapted to cooperate with each of said devices; means for transporting a slide from said supply means to said metering means and from said metering means to a selected one of said devices; and means for controlling the operation of said previously recited means in a preselected sequence to provide for the continuous analysis of fluid samples.
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28. Slide transporting means for use in a chemical analyzer of the type in which a fluid is metered onto a test slide which is analyzed after an appropriate period of incubation, said analyzer having a plurality of elements arranged along and outside of a circular path, said elements comprising slide supply means, sample supply means, metering means, and incubator means, said slide transporting means comprising:
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transfer means for receiving a slide from said slide supply means, moving the slide to said metering means, and delivering the slide to said incubator means, said transfer means being movable through said circular path; and control means for moving said transfer means in timed relation to said analyzer elements.
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Specification