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 chambers, arranged in a side by side fashion. All but the final reaction chamber have upwardly sloping sides, so that liquid placed in one reaction chamber can flow to the next reaction chamber when the apparatus is tilted. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction wells are supported in a plate that is structurally integral with the wells but separates the wells from each other. The test plate is retained in the exposure apparatus, and liquid is controllably flowed from one reaction chamber to the next by tilting the exposure apparatus. 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.
Abstract:
The present invention intends to generally maintain the microplate having added test samples in wells therein at even temperature for measuring biochemical or biological reaction accompanying changes in absorbance such as enzyme reaction. Monochromatic lights with various wave lengths from a light source 3 are transmitted through the test samples added to a plurality of wells in a microplate 1 to measure absorbance of the test sample. For this end, a metal plate 2 with good heat conductivity is substantially contacted with the bottom of each well in the microplate 1 and a perforated board 7 is disposed with an air space over the microplate 1 at the starting position thereof. Warmed air heated by a heater 17 is blown onto the microplate 1 through the perforated board 7 and is circulated along the metal plate 2 within a chamber 9.
Abstract:
An aggregation pattern detecting apparatus includes a microplate having a plurality of reactive vessels in which aggregation patterns are formed, a light source arranged above the microplate, and a light sensor arrangement positioned below the microplate. The microplate is removably fastened to a main body, and a movable frame is movably supported on the main body. The light source and light sensor arrangement are carried on the movable frame for movement therewith. A driving mechanism effects movement of the movable frame and is controlled by a main control section. A reference plate is provided separately from the microplate, and has a plurality of through holes therein which correspond to the reactive vessels of the microplate. The reference plate is removably fastenable to the main body at the normal operative position of the microplate. With the reference plate in this position, the distance from a starting point of the driving mechanism to the through holes of the reference plate is measured and stored in the main control section. Based on these stored distances, the main control section determines appropriate operational positions for the light sensor.
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 chambers, arranged in a side by side fashion. All but the final reaction chamber have upwardly sloping sides, so that liquid placed in one reaction chamber can flow to the next reaction chamber when the apparatus is tilted. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction wells are supported in a plate that is structurally integral with the wells but separates the wells from each other. The test plate is retained in the exposure apparatus, and liquid is controllably flowed from one reaction chamber to the next by tilting the exposure apparatus. 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.
Abstract:
An apparatus for the calibration and quality assurance of a multichannel spectrophotometer, particularly an ELISA spectrophotometer, comprises a series of filters having a known first color and linearly increasing optical density. The response of the spectrophotometer is measured against the known color and linearly increasing optical density. Additional filters of at least one additional color permit checking the color response of the spectrophotmeter. An algorithm determines whether the response conforms to predetermined conditions. An output is produced to provide a record of the calibration and quality assurance of the spectrophotometer. The invention has particular utility for conducting calibration and quality assurance of ELISA spectrophotometers used in clinical laboratory screening for infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis B and the AIDS viruses.
Abstract:
A multiwell plate suitable for use in a spectrometer which uses a vertical beam of light comprising a first plate having a plurality of wells for receiving sample, wherein the wells have transparent bottom surfaces to allow for the transmission of a vertical beam of light, and a unitary insert comprising a biochemically compatible microporous surface capable of binding biological materials shaped to fit into at least one well of the plate without interfering with the vertical beam of light.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for reading agglutination tests and other procedures by scanning the contents of a microtest well or other sample-holding vessel to determine a certain charactersitic of the contents, such as the size of an agglutination button or other solid mass in the well.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.
Abstract:
The method of analyzing absorbance of one or more liquid samples (3) arranged in the wells (2) of a microplate (1) comprises the steps of setting a desired wavelength falling within the wavelength range of 380 nm-750 nm for absorbance measurement (101), illuminating the samples (3) using electromagnetic radiation having a bandwidth of at most 20 nm around the set wavelength (102), measuring radiant flux transmitted through each sample (3) (103), on the basis of measured radiant flux values, determining an absorbance value for each sample (3) (104), and visualizing the absorbance values on a display (12) as a matrix comprising a plurality of cells (23), each cell (23) corresponding to a well (2) of the microplate (1) (105). The set wavelength is used as an input for determining the visual properties of the cells (23).
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.