Method and apparatus for measurement of samples by luminescence
First Claim
1. An apparatus for automatically measuring the bio-and chemi-luminescence in a plurality of samples, comprising:
- means for making successive sample wells in a non-transparent, light-reflecting tape, means for transporting the tape along a path, means for delivering a measured volume of a liquid sample into each well at a first location along said path, means for dispensing a measured volume of at least one reagent into said liquid sample in each well in said tape in at least one further location along said path to generate luminescence, light-detector means adjacent said tape along said path and spaced from said dispensing means along said path and adapted to detect light generated in situ from the mixture of the liquid and said at least one reagent in each respective well, said detector means generating a corresponding electrical signal, said detector means engaging the outer periphery of successive wells and provided with resilient means for forming a light tight seal between said detector means and said wells thereby excluding ambient light from entering said detector means during measurement of a sample, shutter means synchronized to exclude ambient light from said detector means during movement of said tape from one of said wells to the next. Means for processing said signal, and control means for synchronizing the operation of said transporting means, said delivering means, dispensing means, said light detector means, and said processing means.
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Abstract
The invention relates to automatic transportation, processing and measurement of chemiluminescence and bioluminescence in discrete samples contained in depressions on a light-reflecting tape. The tape may have either one row of sample wells for measurement of luminescence with a single light detector, or consecutive rows of 2-10 samples or more for simultaneous measurement of luminescence with a multi-detector array having an equal number of individual detectors as there are samples in one row. Processing and measurement of up to 500 samples per hour with a single detector and up to several thousands of samples per hour with the multi-detector system is possible.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for automatically measuring the bio-and chemi-luminescence in a plurality of samples, comprising:
means for making successive sample wells in a non-transparent, light-reflecting tape, means for transporting the tape along a path, means for delivering a measured volume of a liquid sample into each well at a first location along said path, means for dispensing a measured volume of at least one reagent into said liquid sample in each well in said tape in at least one further location along said path to generate luminescence, light-detector means adjacent said tape along said path and spaced from said dispensing means along said path and adapted to detect light generated in situ from the mixture of the liquid and said at least one reagent in each respective well, said detector means generating a corresponding electrical signal, said detector means engaging the outer periphery of successive wells and provided with resilient means for forming a light tight seal between said detector means and said wells thereby excluding ambient light from entering said detector means during measurement of a sample, shutter means synchronized to exclude ambient light from said detector means during movement of said tape from one of said wells to the next. Means for processing said signal, and control means for synchronizing the operation of said transporting means, said delivering means, dispensing means, said light detector means, and said processing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification