Biochemical analysis apparatus

• US 5,178,835 A
• Filed: 12/03/1990
• Issued: 01/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Koizumi, Takashi, Uekusa, Tadashi, Miyata, Yukihide
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trembley, Theresa A.
• Application Number:
  US07/620,447
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/63, 422/66, 436/44, 436/46
• US Class Current: 422/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00019 cassette structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00168 Manufacturing or preparing test elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00445 Other cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00455 Controlling humidity in analyser
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/110833 Utilizing a moving indicator strip or tape

Abstract

A biochemical analysis apparatus for applying a liquid sample onto a long test film, incubating the sample-applied film portion by an incubator, and measuring the degree of color formation at the sample-applied portion comprises a cutter provided upstream from the position of sample application for cutting the long test film to a length necessary for a single step of sample application, and a cut-film conveyor for conveying the sample-applied and cut portion of the long test film into the incubator, whereby the long test film is utilized efficiently and processing thereof is facilitated.

Claims

1. A biochemical analysis apparatus, comprising:

i) a sample accommodating means for storing a liquid sample,

ii) a test film accommodating means for housing a plurality of elongated, continuous test films in a side-by-side relationship, each containing a reagent which reacts with said liquid sample to give rise to a change in optical density,

iii) a test film conveyance means for sequentially pulling out said elongated, continuous test films housed in said test film accommodating means and linearly conveying said elongated, continuous test films to a sample application position,

iv) a sample application means for taking up said liquid sample stored in said sample accommodating means and applying a predetermined amount of said liquid sample onto at least one of said elongated, continuous test films at the sample application position to which said elongated, continuous test film has been pulled out of said test film accommodating means, wherein said elongated, continuous test films are positioned in a single horizontal plane perpendicular to the direction in which said predetermined amount of said liquid sample is applied to said at least one of said elongated, continuous test films,

v) an incubator for maintaining the sample-applied portion of said elongated, continuous test film at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, and

vi) a measurement means for irradiating light to said sample-applied portion of said elongated, continuous test film and measuring the optical density given rise to by said reaction, said measurement means being positioned in said incubator,

a cutter for cutting said elongated, continuous test film to a length necessary for a single step of said sample application, said cutter being positioned between said sample application means and said test film accommodating means,

said incubator including a cut-film conveyance means for conveying the sample-applied and cut portion of said elongated, continuous test film through said incubator, said cut-film conveyance means including a cover which prevents evaporation of said liquid sample during incubation and measuring, said cover being coupled to said cut-film conveyance means and being conveyed thereby so as to cover said sample-applied and cut portion of said elongated, continuous test film as said cut-film conveyance means conveys said cut and sample-applied portion through said incubator, wherein said sample application position is located in said incubator.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cut-film conveyance means comprises a drum-shaped member for supporting said sample-applied and cut portion of said elongated, continuous test film thereon and rotatable for conveying said sample-applied and cut portion of said elongated, continuous test film into said incubator.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said incubator is constituted by said drum-shaped member, a cover member having a hollow region therein and covering said drum-shaped member, and a heater provided in said hollow region.

4. A biochemical analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cut-film conveyance means comprises a plurality of springs and a rotatable drum for supporting said sample-applied and cut portion of said test film thereon, said rotatable drum having a plurality of corners with a spring corresponding to each corner, and a cover being coupled to said rotatable drum at each of said plurality of corners by said corresponding spring which urges said spring in a direction away from said rotatable drum, wherein said cover is moved downwardly to cover said sample-applied and cut portion of said elongated, continuous test film to prevent evaporation of said liquid sample as said rotatable drum is rotated.

5. A biochemical analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said measurement means is reciprocally rotatable and comprises a light projecting fiber and a light receiving fiber, said cut-film conveyance means having a window formed therein such that said light projecting fiber irradiates light through said window to said test film, wherein said light receiving fiber receives light reflected by said test film.

6. A biochemical analysis apparatus, comprising:

i) a sample accommodating means for storing a plurality of liquid samples,

ii) a test film accommodating means provided rotatably in a horizontal plane for housing a plurality of elongated, continuous test films, each of which contains a reagent reacting with each of said liquid samples to give rise to a change in optical density, on a circumference having its center at an axis of rotation of said test film accommodating means with leading edges of said elongated, continuous test film facing outward from said circumference,

iii) a test film conveyance means for linearly conveying a leading edge portion of the elongated, continuous test film that has been moved to a predetermined position among said elongated, continuous test films housed in said test film accommodating means, so that said leading edge portion is exposed outward from said test film accommodating means,

iv) a cutter for cutting said exposed leading edge portion of said elongated, continuous test film to form a test film piece,

v) a sample application means for taking up one of said liquid samples stored in said sample accommodating means and applying a predetermined amount of the liquid sample onto said leading edge portion of said elongated, continuous test film at said predetermined position before said leading edge portion is cut or onto said test film piece,

vi) an incubator provided rotatably in a horizontal plane for accommodating a plurality of test film pieces, on which said liquid samples have been applied by said sample application means, on a circumference having its center at an axis of rotation of said incubator, and maintaining said test film pieces at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time so as to incubate said plurality of test film pieces simultaneously,

vii) a measurement means for measuring the optical density of each of said test film pieces during or after the passage of said predetermined time, and

viii) a discharging means for discharging said test film piece on which the measurement of the optical density has been finished to the outside of said incubator, wherein said sample application position is in said incubator.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said measurement means is rotatable along said circumference having it center at the axis of rotation of said incubator.

8. A biochemical analysis apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said incubator includes an opening through which said sample application means applies said liquid sample to said elongated, continuous test film, and means for preventing air flow between a position inside of said incubator and a position outside of said incubator, said air flow preventing means being reciprocally movable to cover said opening.