Abstract:
Fluid analysis apparatus includes a sample chamber that has a constituent sensor in it and an inlet conduit connected to the sample chamber. A heater assembly surrounds the inlet conduit. The heater assembly includes a preheater stage, a final heater stage, and a heat supply stage disposed between the preheater and final stages. Tempering fluid is flowed sequentially through the preheater stage, the heat supply stage and final stage and around the sample chamber for maintaining the sample chamber and the constituent sensor at a stable temperature and heating the sample to that same temperature as it flows through the inlet conduit.
Abstract:
A blood analysis system includes a plasma analysis unit, a plasma separator, a first conduit for supplying whole blood to the plasma separator, and a second conduit for transferring plasma from the separator to the analysis cell for analysis. A controller operates the separator and the analysis unit concurrently for subjecting a plasma sample to analysis while the separator is preparing another plasma sample for analysis.
Abstract:
An electrochemical analyzer includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and electrolyte in the space between them. A selectively permeable membrane is disposed over the cathode electrode and in turn is covered by a porous hydrophobic membrane. The porous membrane has a substantially greater area than that of the cathode, and allows substantially unimpeded gaseous flow through it in both the lateral and longitudinal directions.
Abstract:
Microcalorimetry apparatus that includes structure defining a chamber, thermal insulation enclosing the chamber, and a plurality of sample support structures in the chamber. Each sample support structure includes a thermally insulated receptacle for receiving a sample to be analyzed, a sensor for sensing a sample container disposed therein and providing an output signal indicative thereof, and a temperature sensor disposed for sensing a change in temperature of the sample in the receptacle. One wall of the chamber has a plurality of spaced ports therein, each port being aligned with a corresponding sample support structure and permitting introduction and removal therethrough of a sample from the receptacle of the corresponding sample support structure. The apparatus also includes a plurality of sample container handling structures, each such structure including sealing structure for sealing a port in the wall and coupling structure for detachable connection to a sample container for inserting the sample container through the port for positioning in the receptacle with the sealing structure concurrently sealing the port. Each sample container includes a cylindrical body portion and a radially projecting cylindrical surface above the body portion which actuates the sensor when the container is disposed in the receptacle.
Abstract:
Incubation apparatus for use with a cuvette having a projecting processing control member and a plurality of chambers, at least one of which contains a stored chemical material includes a cuvette receptacle with adjacent heaters for incubating material in the cuvette, sensor circuitry responsive to the control member of the cuvette in the container receiving structure for producing an output signal as a function of the data provided by the control portion, and a timer responsive to the sensor circuitry for providing a control signal as an indication of the incubation of the cuvette. The receptacle also includes an interlock slot for receiving the projecting control member.
Abstract:
Apparatus for monitoring the integrity of a selectively permeable membrane in an electrochemical sensor system that includes two half cells, a monitoring electrode having a surface disposed in the sample chamber, and a monitoring circuit connected to a half cell on the opposite side of the selectively permeable membrane from the monitoring electrode for sensing current flow resulting from the difference in electric potential at the monitoring electrode and the galvanic potential genereated by the connected half cell for providing an output signal to indicate the integrity of the selectively permeable membrane.
Abstract:
A CUVETTE ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH PHOTOMETRIC INSTRUMENTATION INCLUDES A BODY PORTION THAT DEFINES A PLURALITY OF SAMPLE CHAMBERS AND INCLUDES TWO SPACED PARALLEL WALLS. EACH SAMPLE CHAMBER IS DEFINED IN PART BY THE TWO SPACED WALLS AND EACH WALL HAS AN OPTICAL WINDOW ASSOCIATED WITH EACH CHAMBER SO THAT AN OPTICAL PATH THROUGH EACH CHAMBER IS DEFINED, AND THE LENGTHS OF THE OPTICAL PATHS THROUGH THE CHAMBERS ARE EQUAL.
Abstract:
An analysis system includes a plural chamber cuvette assembly that holds chemical materials and is adapted to receive an unknown to be analyzed in one of the chambers, a record that specifies information as to the nature of the stored chemical material and the type of analysis to be performed, and photometric instrumentation for performing a chemical analysis that responds to the material in the sample chamber in the cuvette assembly and the record. The instrument is automatically calibrated in response to information specified by the record and an analysis is performed automatically merely in response to the operation of a single control.
Abstract:
FLUID SAMPLE ANALYZING APPARATUS INCLUDES A SAMPLE CHAMBER, A CONSTITUENT SENSOR IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE SAMPLE CHAMBER, A FIRST CONTROL FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID TO THE SAMPLE CHAMBER AND A SECOND CONTROL FOR CONTROLLING THE REMOVAL OF FLUID FROM THE SAMPLE CHAMBER. A SEQUENCER OPERATES THE FIRST AND SECOND CONTROLS TO SELECTIVELY CHANNEL CLEANING FLUID, CALIBRATING FLUID AND SAMPLE FLUID FOR SENSING BY THE SENSOR TO THE SAMPLE CHAMBER. A GASEOUS CONSTITUENT OF THE SAMPLE IS SENSED BY AN ELECTRODE HAVING A SELECTIVELY PERMEABLE MEMBRANE.