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Sample-scanning photometer

  • US 4,580,895 A
  • Filed: 10/28/1983
  • Issued: 04/08/1986
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1983
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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.

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