GB1598883A

GB1598883A - Container suitable for use in analysis

Info

Publication number: GB1598883A
Application number: GB1660578A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SCLAVO INST SIEROTERAPEUT
Current assignee: SCLAVO INST SIEROTERAPEUT
Priority date: 1977-05-09
Filing date: 1978-04-26
Publication date: 1981-09-23
Also published as: IT1115523B; JPS53138791A; FR2390730A1; DE2819820A1

Description

(54) CONTAINER SUITABLE FOR USE IN ANALYSIS (71) We, ISTITUTO SIEROTERA PICO E VACCINOGENO TOSCANO "SCLAVO" SPA, an Italian company, of Via Fiorentina 1, Siena, Italy, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a container which is suitable for use in qualitative and/or quantitative analysis, for example the analysis of components of iluids.

According to the present invention there is provided a container suitable for use in qualitative and/or quantitative analysis, the container comprising a housing having the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, being formed of a transparent material and being provided with a plurality of chambers in side-by-side relationship, with the chambers opening onto the top face of the housing, the openings being frustopyramidal widening upwardly.

Preferably the chambers each have the form of a generally rectangular parallelepiped, and preferably the chambers have a square or oblong cross section. Preferably those regions defining side walls of the chambers are perpendicular to that region of the housing defining the top of the housing.

The volume of the chambers can be selected so as to allow satisfactory stirring of the contents of the chambers without risk of spilling, together with the possibility of clearly ascertaining the optical density of the fluid contained in the chambers.

Conveniently the form of the chambers and/or the nature of the material from which the container is formed are such that when a reaction takes place within the chambers and a product settles from solution, the product which is settling does not adhere to the walls defining the chambers.

To save material and to make less material of the housing along the optical path, hollow zones may be provided in the housing between a region defining a side wall of a chamber and a region defining a side wall of an adjacent chamber; similarly, hollow zones may be provided in the housing in regions parallel to external side walls of the housing.

The chambers may contain one or more reagents which are specific for a substance to be analysed; thus it is possible to distribute in the individual chambers one or more reagents, in appropriate concentrations, which are involved in the reaction for the determination or detection of the substance being analysed. Such reagents may be distributed in the chambers by the manufacturer of the apparatus and, if they are in the form of a liquid or suspension, they can possibly be dried, for example by freeze-drying, drying in a vacuum, or drying in a gaseous stream.

Conveniently the chambers are arranged in a single row, as this facilitates observation and the taking of readings (by an appropriate instrument) of the appearance or the optical density, respectively, of the fluid contained in the individual chambers. Readings effected transversely enable measurements to be taken in those cases in which there is present a corpusculate component which settles out, such erythrocytes or latex particles. In such cases, as is clear, readings could not be taken perpendicularly to the top face of the apparatus.

The transparent material from which the container is formed may be selected from ureic resins, polystyrene, styrene copolymers, methacrylic resins, nitrates of cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, esters and ethers of cellulose, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonates, polyvinyl butyrates, polyethylene, polyvinylcarbazol and glass.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of one embodiment of the container in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view, also from above, but from a different angle, of the same embodiment of the container; and Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line III--III of Figure 2.

Referring to all three drawings, the container has a body generally indicated by the reference 1, which constitutes a housing. Provided in the body or housing 1 are seven chambers 3 each provided with an opening or mouth 2 which opens onto the upper face of the body 1 and which has the form of the frustum of a pyramid, diverging upwardly. As is clear from the drawings, the body 1 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, as also do the chambers 3. Between the walls defining adjacent chambers 3 are hollow zones 4 and between the chambers 3 and the longer side walls of the body 1 are two further hollow zones 5.

The zones 5 reduce the amount of transparent material in the optical path when transverse readings are taken, and the hollow zones 4 not only save on material but also lighten the overall weight of the body 1. Although seven chambers 3 are shown, it will be appreciated that the number of chambers may be varied.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A container suitable for use in qualitative and/or quantitative analysis, the container comprising a housing having the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, being formed of a transparent material and being provided with a plurality of chambers in side-by-side relationship, with the chambers opening onto the top face of the housing, the openings being frustopyramidal widening upwardly.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the chambers each have the form of a generally rectangular parallelepiped.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the chambers have a square or oblong crosssection.

4. A container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein those regions defining side walls of the chambers are perpendicular to that region of the housing defining the top of the housing.

5. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein hollow zones are provided in the housing between a region defining a side wall of a chamber and a region defining a side wall of an adjacent chamber.

6. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein hollow zones are provided in the housing in regions parallel to external side walls of the housing.

7. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the chambers contain one or more reagents which are specific for a substance to be analyzed.

8. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the transparent material is selected from ureic resins, polystyrene, styrene copolymers, methacrylic resins, nitrates of cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, esters and ethers of cellulose polyvinyl chloride, polycarbenates, polyvinyl butyrates, polyethylene, polyvinylcarbazol and glass.

9. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the chambers are arranged in a single row.

10. A container according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. above, but from a different angle, of the same embodiment of the container; and Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line III--III of Figure 2. Referring to all three drawings, the container has a body generally indicated by the reference 1, which constitutes a housing. Provided in the body or housing 1 are seven chambers 3 each provided with an opening or mouth 2 which opens onto the upper face of the body 1 and which has the form of the frustum of a pyramid, diverging upwardly. As is clear from the drawings, the body 1 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, as also do the chambers 3. Between the walls defining adjacent chambers 3 are hollow zones 4 and between the chambers 3 and the longer side walls of the body 1 are two further hollow zones 5. The zones 5 reduce the amount of transparent material in the optical path when transverse readings are taken, and the hollow zones 4 not only save on material but also lighten the overall weight of the body 1. Although seven chambers 3 are shown, it will be appreciated that the number of chambers may be varied. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A container suitable for use in qualitative and/or quantitative analysis, the container comprising a housing having the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, being formed of a transparent material and being provided with a plurality of chambers in side-by-side relationship, with the chambers opening onto the top face of the housing, the openings being frustopyramidal widening upwardly.