Sample-scanning photometer
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining the presence or absence, size and pattern of an agglutination button or other solid mass in the bottom of a microtest well or other sample-holding vessel comprising first means for measuring the optical density of the contents of a microtest well or other sample-holding vessel, and second means for electrically processing the optical density measurements made by the first means for determining a certain characteristic of said button or other mass, said first means comprising means providing a light beam, with a discrete focal point adapted to be focused on the contents of the well or other structure, means for causing said beam to scan across said well or other sample-holding vessel by moving said beam and well relative to each other, and a photodetector for sensing the energy level of the beam after it passes through the contents of the well or other sample vessel to produce an output signal which is proportional to the transmittance of the contents in the well or other sample-holding vessel as the beam moves relative to the well or other sample-holding vessel, and said second means being electrically connected to said photodetector for electrically processing said output signal by sampling said signal at a plurality of mutually spaced points diametrically across the well or other vessel to produce an output signal proportional to the transmittance at each of said points and by analyzing said signals to determine the change in optical density across the well or other vessel as a measure of the presence and size of an agglutination button or other solid mass in the bottom of a well or other vessel.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for reading agglutination tests and other procedures by scanning the contents of a microtest well or other sample-holding vessel to determine a certain charactersitic of the contents, such as the size of an agglutination button or other solid mass in the well.
-
Citations
13 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for determining the presence or absence, size and pattern of an agglutination button or other solid mass in the bottom of a microtest well or other sample-holding vessel comprising first means for measuring the optical density of the contents of a microtest well or other sample-holding vessel, and second means for electrically processing the optical density measurements made by the first means for determining a certain characteristic of said button or other mass, said first means comprising means providing a light beam, with a discrete focal point adapted to be focused on the contents of the well or other structure, means for causing said beam to scan across said well or other sample-holding vessel by moving said beam and well relative to each other, and a photodetector for sensing the energy level of the beam after it passes through the contents of the well or other sample vessel to produce an output signal which is proportional to the transmittance of the contents in the well or other sample-holding vessel as the beam moves relative to the well or other sample-holding vessel, and said second means being electrically connected to said photodetector for electrically processing said output signal by sampling said signal at a plurality of mutually spaced points diametrically across the well or other vessel to produce an output signal proportional to the transmittance at each of said points and by analyzing said signals to determine the change in optical density across the well or other vessel as a measure of the presence and size of an agglutination button or other solid mass in the bottom of a well or other vessel.
-
8. A method for determining the presence or absence, size and pattern of an agglutination button or other solid mass in the bottom of a microtest well or other sample-holding vessel comprising the steps of:
-
providing a light beam having a discrete focal point adapted to be focused on the contents of the well or other vessel and a photodetector therefor; directing said light beam through said well or other vessel and the contents thereof; moving said well or other vessel and said beam and detector relative to each other such that said beam scans diametrically across said well or other vessel; producing an output signal from the detector proportional to the light absorbance of said beam as it passes through the well or other vessel and contents thereof; sampling said signal at each of a plurality of discrete points spaced across the diameter of the well or other vessel; and determining the change in optical density, from said signals, across the well or other vessel to compute the presence or absence, size and pattern of an agglutination button or other solid mass in the well or other vessel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification