Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Means for analyzing liquid or solid sample
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-09-18
Warden, Jill (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Means for analyzing liquid or solid sample
C422S082080, C422S082090, C422S091000, C356S317000, C356S318000, C356S436000, C250S564000, C250S573000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290912
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to sample analysis systems and more particularly to a novel read head for a luminometer employed in a sample analysis system, which read head permits easy installation and removal of an analytical line of the sample analysis system.
Automated sample analysis systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,268,167 and 5,399,497 perform a variety of different tests on a test subject, such as a serum sample, in a relatively short period of time. The serum used in the disclosed sample analysis systems is divided into a series of sample segments that move through a transparent analytical line for analysis. Consecutive sample segments in the analytical line are segregated from each other by air spaces as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,466.
One aspect of sample analysis includes providing respective sample segments with different reagents to produce reactions with analytes in the serum. These reactions are the basis for a battery of test information relating to the characteristics of the serum sample. During sample analysis the reaction between an analyte in a test sample segment and a reagent produces relatively low levels of light known as chemiluminescence.
A luminometer employs chemiluminescence to identify and quantify an analyte in a test sample segment. One type of luminometer as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,388 includes an apparatus for collecting and transmitting chemiluminescence. The disclosed collecting and transmitting apparatus includes a read head with a core that supports optic fibers at their free ends to form a central passageway of the core. A transparent analytical line, which houses moving test sample segments, extends through the central passageway of the core. When reacting segments in the analytical line move through the central passageway of the core, the chemiluminescence from such segments is transmitted through the transparent wall of the analytical line to the ends of the optic fibers in the core for detection and analysis at other portions of the luminometer.
Occasionally the analytical line, which can be several meters long, must be removed from the read head to permit repair or replacement of the read head or the analytical line. Line removal is typically accomplished by snaking the analytical line through the central passageway of the read head core, which can be a tedious, time consuming and expensive operation.
It is thus desirable to provide a read head for a luminometer which permits removal of an analytical line from the read head without the need to snake the analytical line through the read head. It is also desirable to provide a read head that can be easily opened and closed to permit quick and simple installation and removal of an analytical line.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a novel read head, a novel read head including a housing and a core that permits easy installation and removal of an analytical line, a novel read head with a through opening that can be split to facilitate removal of an analytical line, a novel read head including a housing in two sections, a novel read head with a core in two half sections that are respectively secured to two sections of a read head housing, a novel read head wherein two sections of a housing and two sections of a core are convergeable toward each other to a closed position to secure an analytical line and are divergeable away from each other to an open position to permit removal or installation of an analytical line, and a novel read head with an actuator to actuate simultaneous converging movement or diverging movement of two housing sections and two core sections to permit installation and removal of an analytical line from the read head.
Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
In accordance with the invention, a read head for a luminometer includes a housing that encloses a cylindrical core. The housing has a through opening that aligns with a central passageway of the cylindrical core.
The housing is composed of a pair of housing portions pivotally joined together at a pivot member to permit converging and diverging movement of the housing portions about the pivot member. The housing portions are thus divergeable away from each other a predetermined amount to a predetermined open position and convergeable from the open position to a closed limit position.
The through opening in the housing is sized to confine an elongated analytical line, preferably formed of a flexible transparent plastic material. Serum segments that are being tested in a sample analysis system move within the analytical line through the read head.
Sections of the through opening in the read head housing are located in each housing portion. Thus when the housing portions are diverged to the predetermined open position the through opening splits into two spaced through opening sections. The analytical line can then be installed (dropped in) or removed (lifted out) from the two spaced through opening sections in a direction perpendicular to the direction of a longitudinal axis of the through opening.
Each of the housing portions are in the form of a hollow shell. The cylindrical core is formed in two sections with one of the core sections being mounted within one of the housing shells and the other core section being mounted within the other housing shell. The core sections define the central passageway that aligns with the through opening of the housing. The core sections are in a closed limit position when the housing portions are in their closed limit position. The central passageway of the core and the through opening of the housing thus confine and secure an analytical line therein when the housing portions are in the closed limit position.
The core sections are also divergeable away from each other when the housing portions are diverged from each other. Each of the core sections includes a section of the central passageway such that divergence of the core sections splits the central passageway into two spaced passageway sections. When the housing portions and the core sections are in their diverged open position the analytical line can be installed in or removed from the two spaced passageway sections of the core and the two spaced through opening sections of the housing in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the pivot member is also supported on a support member outside the housing such that the housing portions are convergeable and divergeable relative to the support member. Actuator means are provided on the support member and the housing for actuating simultaneous converging movement or diverging movement of the housing portions relative to the support member.
The actuating means includes a moving means engageable with the housing portions for simultaneously converging or diverging the housing portions, and an actuator member for actuating movement of the moving means. The moving means include a pair of motion transfer members, with one of the motion transfer members being fixed to one of the housing portions and the other motion transfer member being fixed to the other housing portion. The moving means further include a moving member that is movable in opposite directions with respect to the housing portions, such as upwardly and downwardly with respect to the housing portions. The moving member is engageable with the motion transfer members such that movement of the moving member causes simultaneous movement of each of the motion transfer members and corresponding converging or diverging movement of the housing portions in response to the direction of movement of the moving member.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the motion transfer members include a pin projecting from each of the housing portions and the moving member includes a bar with a horizontal slot formed at each end of the bar to permit sliding engagement of the bar
Bayer Corporation
Gordon Brian R
Klawitter, Esq. Andrew L.
Rodman & Rodman
Warden Jill
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