公开(公告)号：EP0975958A1

公开(公告)日：2000-02-02

申请号：EP98915352.3

申请日：1998-04-09

Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIES

Inventor： ALLMARAS, Brian, R. ,  STOKESBURY, Elwood, L. ,  WANG, Jianjun

IPC: G01N29/02 ,  G01N29/28

CPC classification number: G01N29/02 ,  G01N29/223 ,  G01N29/225 ,  G01N29/28 ,  G01N2291/101 ,  G01N2291/2695

Abstract: The apparatus includes a conveyor assembly having a conveyor belt and an agitator. The conveyor belt is constructed to deliver a unit of liquid product from the agitator to an analysis position. The agitator is constructed to impart motion to a unit of liquid product. The apparatus further includes an ultrasound transmissive pad assembly having a pad defining a chamber therein. A liquid acoustical couplant is contained in the chamber. The ultrasound transmissive pad assembly further includes an ultrasonic transducer in ultrasonic contact with said liquid acoustical couplant. The pad is positioned to contact a unit of liquid product at the analysis position. The pad has an upper portion and a lower portion and is orientated such that the upper portion contacts a unit of liquid product delivered to the analysis position before the lower portion contacts the unit of liquid product delivered to the analysis position.