Sample processor card for centrifuge
First Claim
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1. A sample processor card for carrying out chemical tests under centrifugal force, said centrifugal force being applied in at least two directions relative to said card by the orientation of the card on a centrifuge rotor, said card comprising:
- means defining an outer enclosure having a plurality of walls defining therein;
(a) inlet means for supplying a sample to the card, sample measuring chamber means communicating with said inlet means to measure a volume of sample, and a sample overflow means communicating with the inlet means and the sample measuring chamber means, said sample measuring chamber means and said sample overflow means being disposed such that centrifugal force acting in a first direction relative to said card moves sample into said sample measuring chamber means, with excess sample moving into said sample overflow means;
(b) reagent containing means for supplying at least one reagent;
(c) mixing chamber means communicating with said sample measuring chamber means and said reagent containing means and disposed such that centrifugal force acting on the card in a second direction relative to the card admits said measured volume of sample and said reagent into said mixing chamber means; and
(d) cuvette means communicating with the mixing chamber means;
wherein said sample measuring chamber means, said reagent containing means, said mixing chamber means and said cuvette means are arranged in said enclosure such that movement of sample or reagent among said sample measuring chamber means, said reagent containing means, said mixing chamber means and said cuvette means can be accomplished solely by changing the orientation of the processor card relative to a centrifuge rotor without substantially lowering the magnitude of centrifugal force.
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Abstract
A sample processor card for use with a centrifuge in which the direction of centrifugal force can be altered at will, wherein the card includes a supply of chemical reagent and inlet means for supplying a chemical sample to the card. The sample is advanced under centrifugal force through capillary means to sample measuring means, and the measured sample is then mixed with reagent to permit a chemical test to be carried out on the reagent, all under centrifugal force.
89 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A sample processor card for carrying out chemical tests under centrifugal force, said centrifugal force being applied in at least two directions relative to said card by the orientation of the card on a centrifuge rotor, said card comprising:
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means defining an outer enclosure having a plurality of walls defining therein; (a) inlet means for supplying a sample to the card, sample measuring chamber means communicating with said inlet means to measure a volume of sample, and a sample overflow means communicating with the inlet means and the sample measuring chamber means, said sample measuring chamber means and said sample overflow means being disposed such that centrifugal force acting in a first direction relative to said card moves sample into said sample measuring chamber means, with excess sample moving into said sample overflow means; (b) reagent containing means for supplying at least one reagent; (c) mixing chamber means communicating with said sample measuring chamber means and said reagent containing means and disposed such that centrifugal force acting on the card in a second direction relative to the card admits said measured volume of sample and said reagent into said mixing chamber means; and (d) cuvette means communicating with the mixing chamber means; wherein said sample measuring chamber means, said reagent containing means, said mixing chamber means and said cuvette means are arranged in said enclosure such that movement of sample or reagent among said sample measuring chamber means, said reagent containing means, said mixing chamber means and said cuvette means can be accomplished solely by changing the orientation of the processor card relative to a centrifuge rotor without substantially lowering the magnitude of centrifugal force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for carrying out chemical tests under centrifugal force on a centrifuge rotor, comprising the steps of:
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(a) supplying a sample to be tested to a sample processor card having (1) inlet means for supplying a sample to the card, sample measuring chamber means communicating with said inlet means to measure a volume of sample, and a sample overflow means communicating with the inlet means and the sample measuring chamber means, said sample measuring chamber means and said sample overflow means being disposed such that centrifugal force acting in a first direction relative to said card moves sample into said sample measuring chamber means, with excess sample moving into said sample overflow means; (2) reagent containing means for supplying at least one reagent; (3) mixing chamber means communicating with said sample measuring chamber means and said reagent containing means and disposed such that centrifugal force acting on the card in a second direction relative to the card admits said measured volume of sample and said reagent into said mixing chamber means; and (4) cuvette means communicating with the mixing chamber means; (b) subjecting the card to a substantially uniform and continuous centrifugal force acting in a first direction relative to the card to move sample into said sample measuring chamber means, with excess sample moving into said sample overflow means; (c) reorienting the card relative to a centrifuge rotor to change the effective direction of centrifugal force acting thereon to a second direction, thereby to contact the sample with reagent and effect a chemical reaction therebetween, said contact being accomplished solely by changing the relative direction of centrifugal force and without substantially lowering the magnitude of centrifugal force; and (d) measuring the reaction product of the sample and reagent. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification