Instrument for independently and kinetically measuring light transpassion through a plurality of samples
First Claim
1. A kinetic analytical instrument having a plurality of independent channels for obtaining output data from a plurality of photodetectors resulting from changes in light transmission through a plurality of samples, said instrument comprising at least a first module, said first module comprising:
- a stationary first housing;
first test tube support means substantially fixedly mounted within said first housing and having formed therein a plurality of wells disposed in a substantially circular array and a first plurality of light passages respectively disposed transversely of and intersecting said plurality of wells, each of said plurality of wells being adapted to receive a test tube, said first test tube support means comprising means for respectively fixedly supporting a plurality of test tubes in said plurality of wells and in a substantially circular array wherein said test support means comprises an incubator of a substantially annular shape centered on a center of curvature of said circular array of wells, said incubator including a heater block and further comprising heater means for heating said incubator block, said incubator further including a test tube rack having said wells formed therein and being in the form of a substantially annular block, said heating block having formed therein a receiving opening receiving said test tube rack and wherein said means for fixedly supporting said plurality of test tubes comprises biasing means for biasing test tubes in said wells against interior walls of said wells, said biasing means comprising an elastic ring-like member disposed radially outside said circular array of wells;
a single first measurement constant output light source centrally mounted within said first housing and being so disposed that light radially emitted therefrom passes through each of said first plurality of light passages and traverses each of said plurality of wells, said first measurement light source being disposed substantially equidistant from each of said plurality of wells;
a plurality of measuring photodetectors disposed in said first housing and respectively fixedly mounted with respect to each of said first light passages so as to each receive light from said first measurement light source after said light has traversed said plurality of wells and said plurality of samples and for independently and kinetically measuring light transmission through said plurality of samples while controlling a plurality of variable; and
instrument control means programmed to provide a series of channel select signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An analytic instrument for kinetically measuring light absorption characteristics of a plurality of independent samples contained in disposable test tubes arranged in a circular pattern about a single light source. The instrument is designed to be used with a host personal computer and is not specific to any particular type of assay. The instrument obtains and temporarily stores raw data in the form of digitized output signals from the plurality of photodetectors and periodically passes them to the host computer. An incubator has test tube wells arranged in a circular array equidistant from a single incandescent light source. The circular symmetry controls the thermal gradients in the incubator such that all of the samples are disposed on the same isotherm and all of the photodetectors are disposed on the same isotherm. The instrument is designed for use with disposable test tubes, and sources of error arising from optical variation in such test tubes are minimized by providing a separate detector for each tube and by holding the tube fixed with respect to the detector. The light output from the single light source is continuously monitored and is kept constant.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A kinetic analytical instrument having a plurality of independent channels for obtaining output data from a plurality of photodetectors resulting from changes in light transmission through a plurality of samples, said instrument comprising at least a first module, said first module comprising:
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a stationary first housing; first test tube support means substantially fixedly mounted within said first housing and having formed therein a plurality of wells disposed in a substantially circular array and a first plurality of light passages respectively disposed transversely of and intersecting said plurality of wells, each of said plurality of wells being adapted to receive a test tube, said first test tube support means comprising means for respectively fixedly supporting a plurality of test tubes in said plurality of wells and in a substantially circular array wherein said test support means comprises an incubator of a substantially annular shape centered on a center of curvature of said circular array of wells, said incubator including a heater block and further comprising heater means for heating said incubator block, said incubator further including a test tube rack having said wells formed therein and being in the form of a substantially annular block, said heating block having formed therein a receiving opening receiving said test tube rack and wherein said means for fixedly supporting said plurality of test tubes comprises biasing means for biasing test tubes in said wells against interior walls of said wells, said biasing means comprising an elastic ring-like member disposed radially outside said circular array of wells; a single first measurement constant output light source centrally mounted within said first housing and being so disposed that light radially emitted therefrom passes through each of said first plurality of light passages and traverses each of said plurality of wells, said first measurement light source being disposed substantially equidistant from each of said plurality of wells; a plurality of measuring photodetectors disposed in said first housing and respectively fixedly mounted with respect to each of said first light passages so as to each receive light from said first measurement light source after said light has traversed said plurality of wells and said plurality of samples and for independently and kinetically measuring light transmission through said plurality of samples while controlling a plurality of variable; and instrument control means programmed to provide a series of channel select signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification