Luminometer
US5686046A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 11, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/114165
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A luminometer for determining the composition of a specimen sample includes an annular guide path for sample containing cuvettes within a light tight housing. A rotor moves spaced segments through the guide path with the cuvettes positioned between the segments. The luminometer further includes one or two detector assemblies coupled to the housing and positioned to view and detect light emitted by cuvettes as they pass along the guide path between segments. A cuvette is advanced around the housing via the rotor and rotor segments and when the cuvette reaches a predetermined position on the housing, a reagent, such as a base, is added to the cuvette to initiate a chemiluminescent reaction within the cuvette and provide an emission of light energy in a predetermined spectral range. The luminometer has a waste aspiration probe to remove the contents of the cuvette after it passes the detector. A cuvette elevator moves a sample containing cuvette into the guide path between segments and an exit chute removes cuvettes after their contents have been aspirated. The luminometer permits continuous uninterrupted sample testing when coupled to an incubation chamber in which the cuvettes recei…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.