Abstract:
916,373. Biological assay methods and apparatus. TECHNICON INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION. July 11, 1960 [July 14, 1959], No. 24079/60. Class 81 (1). The effect of a substance e.g. a vitamin or antibiotic on cells contained in a live liquid culture, e.g. of schizomycetes, saccharomycetes or bacteria, which evolve carbon dioxide, is determined by passing a stream containing said culture and said substance through a zone in which carbon dioxide is evolved therefrom and thence through a zone in which all or a predetermined portion of the carbon dioxide is separated to form a gas stream and measuring the quantity of carbon dioxide in said gas stream. The invention also comprises an apparatus for performing the determination which in the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprises conduit 62 for the mixed stream of sample substance and liquid culture, incubator 68, gas/liquid separator 80 and colorimeter 104. A flexible tube pump 10 withdraws the cell-containing liquid and a nutrient from vessels 26 and 24 in refrigerator 28 and these are formed into a stream segmented by inert gas, e.g. air, bubbles by device 46, said gas being carbon dioxide-free. The sample substance is removed in discrete amounts from a rotary supply device 30, mixed with a diluent and segmentised with an inert gas to form a stream which after passing through mixing coil 44 enters one side of dialyser 50 and is discharged therefrom. After mixing in coil 42 the liquid culture enters the other side of the dialyser and the sample substance diffuses thereinto. The culture then enters the incubator comprising a glass tube 68 of sufficient length to provide the required incubation period and thence via a further flexible tube pump 10A to gas/liquid separator 80. Liquid is discharged and the gas is pumped into line 95. An alkaline colour reagent for carbon dioxide from source 99 is mixed therewith in coil 98 and the liquid segments are formed into a liquid column in blender 102 for transmission to the colorimeter. Specifications 817,070, 827,925, 834,635 and 852,615 are referred to.
Abstract:
846,171. Colorimeters. TECHNICON INTERNATIONAL Ltd. May 5, 1958 [June 5, 1957], No. 14340/58. Class 40(3). [Also in Group XX] In a colorimeter in which light from a source 34 is focused on a portion 152 of a flow cell 78, through which liquid is passed, and then falls on a photo-cell 110, the flow cell 78 is adjustable in position and comprises input and output arms 136, 138 which are connected by U-tubes 148, 162 and straight tubes 168, 164 to an intermediate arm 150 which includes the viewing portion 152; it is mounted in a holder 70 by means of a ball and socket joint l72, 180 wit a liquid outlet 182, a ball 186 and a disengageable socket 192 carried by a toggle 192, 206, and a spring 190 and abutment 188. The holder 70 is guided by pins 132 and slot 134 for adjustment in the direction 130 and the socket member 192 is adjustable laterally by a screwed bolt 198 on which it is pivoted. Light from the source 34 is focused at 68 by concave mirrors 62, 64 provided with central apertures 66, 67. A light filter assembly 92 is provided. The portion 152 of the flow cell may be of flat rectangular or of circular cross-section. Specification 774,711 is referred to.