Chemical analysis apparatus

• US 5,154,889 A
• Filed: 08/05/1987
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Muraishi, Katsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trembley, Theresa A.
• Application Number:
  US07/081,516
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 422/63-67, 436/46
• US Class Current: 422/65
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/00 Heating or cooling apparatus autoclaves B01J3/04; Heat insulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00049 for loading/unloading a carousel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00752 bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0463 in incubators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1083 with one horizontal degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller

Abstract

A chemical analysis apparatus is provided with an incubator having compartments for housing and incubating a chemical analysis slide having a reagent layer with a sample material applied thereon, and a read-out head moveable along the housing compartments to stand facing the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slide housed in the housing compartment via a read-out opening formed in the housing compartment, thereby to emit measuring light to the reagent layer and to measure an optical density of light reflected by the reagent layer. The chemical analysis apparatus comprises a temperature-controlled chamber for housing the incubator therein, a first temperature adjustment system provided with a heater and a temperature sensor secured to the incubator for maintaining the temperature in the housing compartment at a predetermined value, and a second temperature adjustment system provided with a heater disposed in the temperature-controlled chamber and a temperature sensor secured to the read-out head or disposed in the temperature-controlled chamber, thereby to maintain the temperature in the temperature-controlled chamber at the predetermined value.

Claims

1. A chemical analysis apparatus provided with an incubator having a plurality of housing compartments for respectively housing a chemical analysis slide having a reagent layer with a substance, which is to be measured, applied thereon, and for incubating the chemical analysis slide, and a read-out head moveable along said housing compartments to stand facing the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slide housed in one of said housing compartments via a read-out opening formed in each of the housing compartments, thereby to emit measuring light to the reagent layer and to measure optical density of light reflected by the reagent layer,

wherein the improvement comprises the provision of:

i) a temperature-controlled chamber for housing said incubator therein,

ii) a first temperature adjustment means provided with a heater and a temperature sensor secured to said incubator, thereby to maintain the temperature in each of said housing compartments at a predetermined value,

iii) a second temperature adjustment means provided with a heater disposed in said temperature-controlled chamber and a temperature sensor secured to said read-out head, said temperature sensor generating a temperature detection signal, thereby to maintain the temperature in said temperature-controlled chamber at said predetermined value, and

further comprising means for calculating a mean value of a plurality of sampled temperature detection signals equal in number to said plurality of housing compartments, such that temperature control is effected so that a mean temperature represented by said mean value coincides with said predetermined value.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said temperature-controlled chamber is supported in a main body of said chemical analysis apparatus via heat insulating materials, and said incubator is supported in said temperature-controlled chamber via heat insulating materials.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a slide conveyance system for feeding said chemical analysis slide into said housing compartment is accommodated in said temperature-controlled chamber.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a fog measuring section for measuring optical density of light reflected by said chemical analysis slide before said chemical analysis slide is provided with said substance to be measured is accommodated in said temperature-controlled chamber on the lateral side of said incubator, said read-out head is moveable to face said fog measuring section, and said chemical analysis slide is made to pass through said fog measuring section before said chemical analysis slide is provided with said substance to be measured, whereby fog measurement is carried out by said read-out head at said fog measuring section.

5. A chemical analysis apparatus provided iwth an incubator having at least one housing compartment for housing a chemical analysis slide having a reagent layer with a substance, which is to be measured, applied thereon, and for incubating the chemical analysis slide, and a read-out head disposed for standing face to face with the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slide housed in the housing compartment via a read-out opening formed in the housing compartment, thereby to emit measuring light to the reagent layer and to measure optical density of light reflected by the reagent layer,

wherein the improvement comprises the provision of:

i) a temperature-controlled chamber for housing said incubator therein,

ii) a first temperature adjustment means provided with a heater and a temperature sensor secured to said incubator, thereby to maintain the temperature in said housing compartment at a predetermined value,

iii) a second temperature adjustment means provided with a heater and a temperature sensor disposed in said temperature-controlled chamber, thereby to maintain the temperature in said temperature-controlled chamber at said predetermined value,

wherein said temperature-controlled chamber is supported in a main body of said chemical analysis apparatus via heat insulating materials, and said incubator is supported in said temperature-controlled chamber via heat insulating materials, and

wherein a slide conveyance system for feeding said chemical analysis slide into said housing compartment is accommodated in said temperature-controlled chamber.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein a fog measuring section for measuring optical density of light reflected by said chemical analysis slide before said chemical analysis slide is provided with said substance to be measured is accommodated in said temperature-controlled chamber on the lateral side of said incubator, said read-out head is moveable to face said fog measuring section, and said chemical analysis slide is made to pass through said fog measuring section before said chemical analysis slide is provided with said substance to be measured, whereby fog measurement is carried out by said read-out head at said fog measuring section.