Reagent test strip reading instrument
First Claim
1. In combination, at least two spaced generally parallel and horizontal, stationary rails extending to a reading station platform where a test strip is read by reflectance photometry and adapted to support a test strip disposed transversely thereon;
- a movable test strip advancing member in the form of a removably mounted tray having spaced generally vertically extending pegs, means for guiding movement of said strip advancing member along an orbital path in a generally vertical plane aligned with said rails, said orbital path including a rectilinear generally horizontal advancing extent parallel with said rails wherein said pegs intersect the plane of a test strip on said rails and are adapted to engage and to advance such test strip along said rails, said orbital path also having a generally circular return extent wherein said pegs are withdrawn from said plane; and
drive means for moving said strip advancing member along said orbital path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple reagent test strip-reading instrument having rails extending from a loading area to one or more reading station platforms and then to a waste receptacle, a reciprocating blotter arm which contacts individual reagent strips sequentially placed transversely on the rails in the loading area, moving individual strips along the rails to an indexing strip advancing mechanism which intermittently advances the strips along the rails in spaced parallel relation, and after each advance, allows the strips to dwell for a predetermined time period; individual test strips being thereby sequentially delivered to reading position on the reading station platform where, during the dwell period, they are read by reflectance photometry. After reading, the strips are moved to the waste receptacle. Means is provided for insuring that each test strip is delivered to reading position in registration with the read head of the photometer, and means is also provided for pressing each test strip flat against the reading station platform. The indexing mechanism employs a strip advancing member provided with parallel rows of equally spaced upstanding pegs or fingers, there being guiding and drive means for imparting movement to said member along a vertical orbital path having a generally circular extent and also having a rectilinear extent parallel with the rails, said pegs intersecting the plane of the reagent strips on the rails when said member moves forwardly along said rectilinear extent and being withdrawn from said plane when said member moves rearwardly along said circular extent.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. In combination, at least two spaced generally parallel and horizontal, stationary rails extending to a reading station platform where a test strip is read by reflectance photometry and adapted to support a test strip disposed transversely thereon;
- a movable test strip advancing member in the form of a removably mounted tray having spaced generally vertically extending pegs, means for guiding movement of said strip advancing member along an orbital path in a generally vertical plane aligned with said rails, said orbital path including a rectilinear generally horizontal advancing extent parallel with said rails wherein said pegs intersect the plane of a test strip on said rails and are adapted to engage and to advance such test strip along said rails, said orbital path also having a generally circular return extent wherein said pegs are withdrawn from said plane; and
drive means for moving said strip advancing member along said orbital path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a movable test strip advancing member in the form of a removably mounted tray having spaced generally vertically extending pegs, means for guiding movement of said strip advancing member along an orbital path in a generally vertical plane aligned with said rails, said orbital path including a rectilinear generally horizontal advancing extent parallel with said rails wherein said pegs intersect the plane of a test strip on said rails and are adapted to engage and to advance such test strip along said rails, said orbital path also having a generally circular return extent wherein said pegs are withdrawn from said plane; and
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13. Reflectance photometry apparatus for moving a driven member which is in the form of a removably mounted tray having parallel rows of spaced, upstanding projections from an initial position along a generally planar orbital path having a generally circular extent and also having a generally rectilinear extent thereby to advance a test device to a reading station platform, comprising at least one first shoulder means comprising two spaced shoulder members having coplanar rectilinear surface;
- second shoulder means comprising a pair of spaced rollers respectively cooperable with said coplanar rectilinear surfaces on said driven member;
means for biasing said driven member in a direction tending to cause engagement of said rectilinear surface by said second shoulder means;
at least one driving member mounted for rotation on an axis generally normal to the plane of said orbital path and having a radially offset actuating member; and
third shoulder means comprising a pair of parallel slots formed in the driven member, extending at an acute angle with respect to said rectilinear surface, and within which said actuating members are respectively slidable, said slots having a width generally the same as the diameter of the cylindrical actuating members therein and having a length greater than their width, on said driven member engageable by said actuating member upon rotation of said driving member to cause movement of said driven member against the bias of said biasing means along a generally circular path causing movement of said second shoulder means out of contact with said rectilinear surface at said initial position and subsequent return thereof into contact with the rectilinear surface at a second position thereon spaced from said initial position, said third should means being shaped such that, upon continued rotation of said driving member, engagement of the actuating member with the third should means causes rectilinear movement of the second shoulder means along said rectilinear surface from said second position to said initial position to thereby complete one cycle of orbital movement of said second shoulder means and said driven member. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- second shoulder means comprising a pair of spaced rollers respectively cooperable with said coplanar rectilinear surfaces on said driven member;
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19. In a reflectance photometry reagent test reading instrument having a reading station platform, the combination of at least two spaced generally parallel, horizontal, stationary rails adapted to support a test strip disposed transversely thereon, a blotter member mounted adjacent and extending transversely across said rails for reciprocating movement along said rails between retracted and advanced positions, said blotter member being adapted during advancing movement thereof to contact an edge portion of a test strip on said rails and to remove excess liquid therefrom, as well as to advance said test strip along said rails from a first to a second position;
- means for driving said blotter member;
spaced upstanding pegs extending from a removably mounted tray, said pegs having a first position in which they are engageable with a rear edge portion of a test strip moved to said second position by said blotter member; and
means for moving said pegs to their said first position in timed relation with movement of said blotter member to its advanced position, said pegs in their first position preventing movement of a test strip from its second position with said blotter member on return of the latter toward its retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- means for driving said blotter member;
Specification