Luminescence test and exposure apparatus

• US 5,159,197 A
• Filed: 08/14/1990
• Issued: 10/27/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Difco Laboratories, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Difco Laboratories, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wannlund, Jon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIELDS, CAROLYN
• Application Number:
  US07/567,383
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 250/361 C, 250/328, 250/526, 422/52, 422/102
• US Class Current: 250/328
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50255 Multi-well filtration
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0325 Cells for testing reactions, e.g. containing reagents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0328 Arrangement of two or more cells having different functions for the measurement of reactions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0357 Sets of cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1768 using photographic film
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0446 Multicell plate, sequential

Abstract

Apparatus for performing and measuring chemical reactions includes a reaction test apparatus having reaction wells wherein reactants are controllably mixed, and exposure apparatus which receives and positions the reaction test apparatus adjacent a photographic film. Each of the reaction wells includes at least two reaction cups, arranged one above the other. The uppermost reaction cups have orifices in the bottoms, so that liquid can be mixed and reacted in the uppermost cup, and then controllably transferred to the lower cup to be mixed with additional reactants. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction cups are supported in plates that are structurally integrated with the cups, and are superimposed to make a test block. The test block is retained in the exposure apparatus, and liquid is forced from the upper cup to the lower cup by application of pressure to the top of the upper cup. The apparatus of the invention is particularly suited for measuring reactions that produce luminescence of short duration, as the reactants can be conveniently mixed in darkness, while the film is being exposed.

Claims

1. Luminescence exposure apparatus for conducting luminescence reaction tests on specimens contained within test wells in a reaction test apparatus, comprising:

a lower housing having

a flat, upwardly facing internal surface comprising means for receiving a piece of light-sensitive film thereupon,

a mask covering said upwardly facing surface and having a plurality of openings therethrough positioned to correspond to the locations of said test wells in the reaction test apparatus,

biasing means on said mask for resisting the downward movement of the reaction test apparatus, when the reaction test apparatus is placed upon said mask, and

a movable shutter between said internal surface and said mask; and

an upper housing including

translation means for controllably urging said reaction test apparatus downwardly against the resistance of said biasing means, thereby contacting the bottoms of the reaction wells in the reaction test apparatus with the piece of light-sensitive film in said lower housing, and

pressure application means for applying a pressure to the top of the reaction wells in said reaction test apparatus responsive to a force applied externally to said exposure apparatus, said upper housing and said lower housing being configured so as to fit together so as to exclude light from the interior thereof.

3. The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said translation means includes a cam contactable to the reaction test apparatus to urge said reaction test apparatus toward said mask against the resistance of said biasing means, and an external lever connected to said cam and operable to turn said cam.

4. The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure application means includes a rubber diaphragm in the underside of said upper housing and positioned so as to be directly over the top of the test well of the reaction test apparatus, and an externally extending pressure bar attached to said rubber diaphragm, whereby the rubber diaphragm is moved downwardly by an external force applied to said pressure bar, thereby applying pressure to the top of the reaction well contacted by said diaphragm.

5. The exposure apparatus of claim 1, further including

locking means for preventing improper operation of said apparatus, said locking means including

a movable shutter lock, said movable shutter lock preventing the opening of said movable shutter when said reaction test apparatus is not in contact with the light-sensitive film in said lower housing, and

a pressure application means lock, said pressure application means lock preventing the operation of said pressure application means when said reaction test apparatus is not in contact with the light-sensitive film in said lower housing.

6. The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper housing is joined to the lower housing with a hinge.

7. The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piece of film is instantly developing film.

2. The exposure apparatus of claim 2, wherein said reaction test apparatus includes

a plurality of test wells, each of said test wells including

a lower reaction cup having a final reactant therein,

an upper reaction cup positioned above said lower reaction cup and having a penultimate reactant therein, said upper reaction cup further having an orifice in the bottom thereof disposed such that liquid flowing through said orifice is discharged into said lower reaction cup;

a support for said test wells and the cups thereof, said support including

an upper plate supporting said upper reaction cup,

said plates being keyed to register with each other.