Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Sample mechanical transport means in or for automated...
Patent
1994-04-26
1995-08-29
Housel, James C.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Sample mechanical transport means in or for automated...
422 52, 422 65, 422 67, 422 8205, 422103, 422104, 436 43, 436 47, 436 48, 436172, 436805, G01N 2113
Patent
active
054457947
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a luminescence measuring system and a luminometer device, i.e. a device which is designed for making bioluminescence and chemiluminescence measurements and in which test tubes with the substances to be analysed by luminescence are conveyed, in a series of test-tube holders, past a measuring station having a light detector, such as a photomultiplier.
EP-A-0 226 374 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,690, for instance, disclose luminescence measuring systems. The former publication describes a complex rotary device for removing the test tubes from the holders one after the other and introducing them into a measuring chamber, which itself is of complex design. The latter publication describes a measuring system having special holders for the test tubes.
The objects of the invention are to provide a luminescence measuring system and a luminometer device which is simple, does not require any special holders for the test tubes, and is reliably lightproof during the measurements.
According to the invention, these objects are achieved by a luminescence measuring system and a luminometer device as defined in the appended claims.
The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inside of a movable component of the device;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outside of a fixed component;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the outside of the movable component;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of the fixed component;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the fixed component taken along the line V--V in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the operation of the inventive device in association with a chain conveyor for test tubes, forming a luminescence measuring system.
The luminometer comprises a cup-shaped component 1 which is fixedly mounted on a frame, and a cup-shaped component 2 which is rotatable round the fixed component 1 about a common axis and which forms a lid for the fixed component 1 when an annular flange or shell wall 3 of the fixed component has been fitted into an annular groove 4 in the movable component 2. The annular flange 3 encloses a measuring chamber 5 in the fixed component 1. This chamber can be accommodated in a space 6 in the movable component 2. The measuring chamber 5 is fitted in the space 6 with sliding fit, as is the flange 3 in the annular groove 4. The components are made in one piece.
At the outside, the component 1 has a threaded hole 7 in which the head of a photomultiplier (not shown) can be screwed. The bottom wall of the hole 7 defines a smaller circular hole 8 having a diameter Just about equal to the diameter of the test tube (such as 25 in FIG. 6) whose content is to be analysed by luminescence measurement. The hole 8 opens in the measuring chamber 5, which is defined by a closed peripheral wall 9 and a top 10. The flange 3 and the peripheral Wall 9 are provided with through holes 11, 12, 11', 12', which all are located on a common diameter of the component 1, the diametral line passing through The centre of the hole 8. The diameter of the through holes 11, 12, 11', 12'; slightly exceeds that of the test tubes. A dome-shaped recess 13 extends from the hole 12 to the hole 12' so as to guide the lower sample-containing part of a test tube to a position opposite to the hole 8. The distance between the holes 12 and 12' equals the length of the test tube.
The component 2 is also provided with holes 14, 15, 16, 17 in its outer shell wall and in the flange or inner shell wall 18 which, together with the outer shell wall, defines the annular groove 4 and which defines the space 6 for the measuring chamber 5. The holes 14, 15 are aligned along a common diameter, as are the holes 16, 17. However, the axes of the pairs of holes 14, 15 and 16, 17 form an angle of about 70.degree. with one another.
It will now be appreciated that, when the components 1 and 2 engage one another, the holes 14, 15 and 16, 17 can be brought into alignment with the holes 11, 11' and 12, 12'
REFERENCES:
patent: 4366118 (1982-12-01), Bunce et al.
patent: 4863690 (1989-09-01), Berthold et al.
patent: 5316726 (1994-05-01), Babson et al.
Rawlins and Peacock, Design principles for a modern luminometer, International Laboratory, vol. 12 (5), pp. 48-56, 1982.
Housel James C.
Le Long V.
Perstorp Analytical AB
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