Agglutination detection apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for analyzing reactants contained in a fluid and adapted for use with a device which will rotate the apparatus about a centrifugal axis comprising,at least one cuvette, said cuvette having at least one chamber, said chamber having a radially outward wall which provides a base upon which the reactants are pelleted when the apparatus is rotated about a centrifugal axis, means for introducing fluids into said chamber, and a channel for removing fluid from said chamber, said channel having an entrance hole positioned and arranged adjacent and radially inward relative to said radially outward wall, andmeans for applying differential pressure to said chamber to force said fluids from said chamber through said channel during centrifugation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for use with a centrifuge to analyze reactants. The apparatus includes at least one cuvette having at least one chamber. The chamber has a radially outward wall which provides a base upon which reactants can be pelleted when the device is rotated about a centrifugal axis. Each cuvette includes one or more openings for introducing fluids to the cuvette and includes a channel positioned adjacent to the radially outward wall for removing fluids from the chamber. Pressure is applied to the chamber to force fluids therefrom, through the channel. A hold down device is also provided through which fluid and/or pressure may be passed with respect to the cuvette. The invention also provides a method for determining the existence and degree of agglutination of reactants in a first fluid suspension and contained in a single reaction vessel using a photodetector.
215 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for analyzing reactants contained in a fluid and adapted for use with a device which will rotate the apparatus about a centrifugal axis comprising,
at least one cuvette, said cuvette having at least one chamber, said chamber having a radially outward wall which provides a base upon which the reactants are pelleted when the apparatus is rotated about a centrifugal axis, means for introducing fluids into said chamber, and a channel for removing fluid from said chamber, said channel having an entrance hole positioned and arranged adjacent and radially inward relative to said radially outward wall, and means for applying differential pressure to said chamber to force said fluids from said chamber through said channel during centrifugation.
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6. An apparatus for analyzing reactants contained in a fluid and adapted for use with a device which will rotate the apparatus about a centrifugal axis comprising,
at least one cuvette, including first, second and third chambers, said third chamber being located radially outward of said firs and second chambers, wherein said chambers are in selective fluid communication, and include means for preventing fluid flow between said chambers in the absence of a predetermined minimum centrifugal force, said third chamber including optical window means formed therein for photoanalysis of said reactants, said third chamber further including a radially outward wall which provides a base upon which the reactants are pelleted when the apparatus is rotated about a centrifugal axis, means for introducing fluids into said third chamber and a channel for removing fluid from said third chamber, said channel having an entrance hole positioned and arranged adjacent and radially inward relative to said radially outward wall, and means for applying differential pressure to said third chamber to force said fluids form said third chamber through said channel during centrifugation.
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16. A hold-down device for maintaining a plurality of cuvettes in proper position during centrifugation and for adding or withdrawing fluids from said cuvettes during centrifugation comprising,
a housing including, a pipe through said housing through which gas is introduced to or withdrawn from said plurality of cuvettes during centrifugation, a fluid dispensing tube through said housing, a basin for delivering said fluid to said plurality of cuvettes during centrifugation, said basin positioned and arranged in relation to said fluid dispensing tube so as to capture fluid dispensed by said fluid dispensing tube, and means for forming a seal between said hold-down device and said cuvettes.
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17. A hold-down device for maintaining a plurality of cuvettes in proper position during centrifugation and for adding a or withdrawing fluids from said cuvettes during centrifugation comprising,
a housing including, a pipe through said housing through which gas is introduced to or withdrawn from said plurality of cuvettes during centrifugation, a fluid dispensing tube through said housing though which fluid is introduced to said plurality of cuvettes during centrifugation, a basin to capture fluid dispensed by said fluid dispensing tube, a lip integral with said basin to facilitate fluid capture, an access port in said basin through which fluid exits said basin, and an access tube through which fluid flows from said basin through said access port to said plurality of said cuvettes; - and
means for forming a seal between said hold-down device and said plurality of said cuvettes. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An agglutination cuvette for analyzing reactants contained in a fluid, the cuvette adapted for use with a device which will rotate the cuvette about a centrifugal axis, said cuvette comprising;
at least one chamber with a radially outward wall providing a base upon which the agglutinated reactants are pelleted during centrifugation, means for introducing fluids into said cuvette, and at least one channel for removing said fluids from said chamber during centrifugation, said channel having an entrance hole positioned and arranged adjacent to and radially inward relative to said radially outward wall. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An agglutination cuvette for analyzing reactants, the cuvette adapted for use with a device which will rotate the cuvette about a centrifugal axis, said cuvette comprising;
first, second and third chambers, said third chamber being located radially outward of said first and second chambers, wherein said chambers are in selective fluid communication, and including means for preventing fluid flow between said chambers in the absence of a predetermined minimum centrifugal force, said third chamber including a radially outward wall providing a base upon which the agglutinated reactants are pelleted during centrifugation, means for introducing fluids into said cuvette, and at least one channel positioned adjacent to said radially outward wall for removing said fluids from said chamber during centrifugation, said channel having an entrance hole positioned and arranged adjacent and radially inward relative to said radially outward wall, said third chamber further including optical window means formed therein for photooptical analysis of the reactants. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for analyzing reactants contained in a fluid and adapted for use with a device which will rotate the apparatus about a centrifugal axis comprising,
at least one cuvette, said cuvette having at least one cuvette chamber, said cuvette chamber having a radially outward wall which provides a base upon which reactants are pelleted when the apparatus is rotated about a centrifugal axis, means for introducing fluids into said cuvette chamber, and a channel positioned adjacent to said wall for removing fluid from said cuvette chamber; -
means for applying differential pressure to said cuvette chamber to force said fluids from said cuvette chamber through said channel during centrifugation; and at least one fluid chamber for receiving said fluids forced by differential pressure from said cuvette chamber. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification