US3523756A - Process for evaluating a property of a discrete plurality of chemical substances - Google Patents

Process for evaluating a property of a discrete plurality of chemical substances Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3523756A
US3523756A US550876A US3523756DA US3523756A US 3523756 A US3523756 A US 3523756A US 550876 A US550876 A US 550876A US 3523756D A US3523756D A US 3523756DA US 3523756 A US3523756 A US 3523756A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
sample
samples
photometer
property
evaluating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US550876A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Herbert Loebl
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Joyce Loebl and Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Joyce Loebl and Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Joyce Loebl and Co Ltd filed Critical Joyce Loebl and Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3523756A publication Critical patent/US3523756A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
    • G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
    • G01N35/025—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
    • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
    • G01N21/251—Colorimeters; Construction thereof
    • G01N21/253—Colorimeters; Construction thereof for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
    • Y10T436/11—Automated chemical analysis
    • Y10T436/113332—Automated chemical analysis with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack

Definitions

  • the samples are then transferred in discrete containers to a treatment station, such as a centrifuging station, and then transferred in the discrete containers to a photometric measuring instrument, in which a recording pen is held stationary between sample tests, and for a period of time after the sample is transferred to the instrument, for evaluating a property of each sample.
  • a treatment station such as a centrifuging station
  • a photometric measuring instrument in which a recording pen is held stationary between sample tests, and for a period of time after the sample is transferred to the instrument, for evaluating a property of each sample.
  • Our invention is concerned with a discrete process for automatically evaluating a property such as the colour or density of a plurality of chemical substances such as biochemical samples.
  • the samples are placed in sequence in a first plurality of containers, a measured quantity from each sample is transferred automatically by one or more pipettes to a second plurality of containers located in a holder, together with the addition of a predetermined quantity of one or more reagents which are mixed with the samples, whereafter the prepared samples, with or without passage through treatment stages such as heating or centrifuging are manually transferred sequentially to an automatically operated measuring instrument which evaluates and displays or records a particular property of each of the said samples.
  • treatment stages such as heating or centrifuging
  • body fluid samples of the same kind are collected from a plurality of patients, in labelled tubes, the said tubes being placed in a circular container adapted to hold a plurality of 3,523,756 Patented Aug. 11, 1970 such tubes.
  • a similarly shaped container having a plurality of sample receptacles is located near the first on a rotary support, and the two are rotated at the same angular speed.
  • a pipette is caused to dip in the sample, suck up a predetermined quantity, transfer it to a receptacle and add a quantity of reagent or cleaning fluid which removes substantially all traces of the sample from the pipette.
  • the second container which may be suitable for mounting in a centrifuge, is then manually conveyed thereto, and components such as proteins settled out. Thereafter the container is replaced on a rotary support, and the fluid in the receptacles, with or without further treatment, is transferred sequentially to an automatic photometer.
  • a further pipette extracts each sample in turn from its receptacle and transfers it to a cuvette located in the photometer, which automatically evaluates a property such as the colour density of the sample, whereafter the cuvette is washed out and a further sample transferred to it.
  • the sample may be transferred to a plurality of cuvettes which are passed in sequence through the photometer and thereafter washed out.
  • the photometer may either draw a graph the height of which shows the required value of the sample, it may cause a display of the measured quantity in the form of a number, or it may print the said number, together with another number representative of the particular sample under test. Alternatively or additionally, the photometer may punch a card or tape for later statistical evaluation.
  • this is preferably of the comparator type, in which the colour or density measurement of the sample is compared by the photometer with a standard light beam, the latter having an automatically adjusted graduated wedge inserted in it. Movement of the wedge until equivalence of light from the sample and from the wedge occurs, sets the numerical portion of the photometer so as'to permit display, printing or punching of a signal corresponding to the sample being tested.
  • the process described above is particularly advantageous in that since the photometer is the most expensive part of the chain of apparatus involved, and since it operates with greater rapidity, two or more channels of sample collection and preparation may be operated simultaneously, thus keeping the photometer fully occuplied. It is envisaged that a sample evaluation room housing the photometer could be employed, the remaining steps of the process being carried out in or near the various wards of the hospital. This simplifies the channelling of the process and avoids any possibility of error in the associateion of each sample reading with the samle concerned.
  • the steps are performed by four rigs and a photometer-' evaluator, numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively.
  • the apparatus of the rigs is more fully described in my copending US. patent application, Ser. No. 547,290, filed on May 3, 1966, and the photometer-evaluator in my copending US. patent application, Ser. No. 547,247, filed on May 3, 1966.
  • a set of biological fluid samples is collected from hospital patents in labelled tubes 6, and these are placed sequentially in an outer ring container 7.
  • An inner ring 8 is furnished with a like number of empty receptacles such as 9 (rig 2) and the container and rig are located on a rotatable table 10 which is indexed from one tube position to the next by a pin-and-slot mechanism which drives the table, so that each pair of receptacles and tube remain opposite a predetermined position for a specified time. This start-stop movement continues until each such pair has been brought to and removed from the said position. Tongues on the table and slots in the container and ring ensure accurate location thereof with respect to one another.
  • a pipette 11 mounted on a cam-moved arm 12 dips into a tube and by means of a pump 13 and flexible pipes 14, 15, extracts an amount of sample fluid determined by the pump throw.
  • the pipette then withdraws and moves to the corresponding receptacle 9 on the inner ring whereupon the sample fluid is ejected together with the necessary quantity of reagent or cleaning fluid from the reservoir 16.
  • the table revolves to the next position, and the cycle is repeated until diluted samples occupy all the receptacles.
  • the ring is now removed by hand, and if necessary transferred to a centrifuge or even to promote clearing or reaction of the liquids.
  • the receptacle ring 8 may be returned to rig 2.
  • This rig has a pipette mechanism 17 and table similar to rig 1, except that the pipette is guided so as to enter each receptacle 9 in turn and inject a measured quantity of a further reagent from a reservoir 18 by means of a pump 19, the table being indexted in a rotary manner meanwhile.
  • This step in the process may be omitted if not required. More than one reagent may be added by the use of a multiple pump and reservoirs should this be necessary.
  • the inner ring 9 is now transferred to rig 3, and an outer ring 21 with empty tubes 22 is placed in position.
  • Rig. 4 is associated with the measuring device 5.
  • the ring and tubes are transferred to rig 4.
  • a pipette 26 is adapted to dip in sequence into the tubes 22 which are index-rotated with respect to the pipette, a considerable quantity of fluid being extracted from each tube.
  • This fluid passes via pipe 27 and pipe 29 to a sealed cuvette 30 located in the photometer 5.
  • Vacuum applied by rig 4 from a pump (not shown) to pipe 31 sucks part of the said liquid from a tube 22 into the cuvette and then to a sump, this part being used to wash out the cuvette.
  • a valve now closes to seal tube 31, and a lower vacuum applied to tube 28 fills the cuvette nearly full of the remainder of the fluid to be evaluated.
  • the photometer is of the comparator or double-beam type.
  • the colour or density of the liquid in the cuvette is compared by means of a photocell which receives light alternately through the sample and through a graduated motor-operated wedge.
  • the wedge is moved under control of the photocell until the two signals derived from the photocell are equal, whereupon a servo-motor operated pen 32 traces a line on a sheet of paper 33 moved beneath it.
  • a servo-motor operated pen 32 traces a line on a sheet of paper 33 moved beneath it.
  • To avoid unnecessary or misleading movement of the pen its operation is timed to begin about 1 second after the liquid has been drawn into the cuvette, and the paper, until then stationary, moves for about 4 seconds, recording a substantially straight line the level of which corresponds to the density or colour of the sample being measured.
  • the average level of the line is the actual measurement.
  • the mechanism of a digital print-out machine 34 may be actuated if this machine is provided, the machine printing a line of figures on a sheet of paper 34 giving digital information of the number of the sample, the number of the measurement and the value of the measurement, together with other particulars such as the date if required.
  • reagents 1 and 2 Although only a single reagent is shown as added in rigs 1 and 2, it is possible to add two or more reagents at each rig if required by the addition of reservoir, pipes, pumps and cam assemblies. Again, if different samples are to be evaluated, two or more pipettes with their reagent reservoirs may be provided at one or more rigs, a pipette previously in use being readily removed from its arm and replaced by another when a change is to be made. Finally, any one or more rigs may be omitted or added to the whole cycle described should this be desired; the cycle described is a normal and simple one, and it can be varied as required to suit the particular treatment steps and samples employed.
  • the process described can be carried out simultaneously in several channels if desired.
  • several pipettes may extract measured quantities simultaneously from one sample in say, a narrow trough, and transfer them, with the addition of different reagents, to separate receptacles so that different tests may be applied to the same sample fluids.
  • the said several pipettes may extract fluids from several different samples, and transfer them to different receptacles for subjection to the same test, this accelerating the sampling procedure.
  • Two or more pipettes may add or subtract fluid sequentially to each receptacle during its passage through a particular rig.
  • the container or support for the sample tubes and receptacles may be a ring, single or multiple, a long straight table or an endless belt.
  • a method for evaluating a property of a plurality of samples of chemical substances, and recording a representation thereof comprising the steps:

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
US550876A 1965-05-07 1966-05-03 Process for evaluating a property of a discrete plurality of chemical substances Expired - Lifetime US3523756A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB19305/65A GB1149382A (en) 1965-05-07 1965-05-07 A process for evaluating a property of a plurality of chemical substances

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3523756A true US3523756A (en) 1970-08-11

Family

ID=10127186

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US550876A Expired - Lifetime US3523756A (en) 1965-05-07 1966-05-03 Process for evaluating a property of a discrete plurality of chemical substances

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3523756A (fr)
DE (1) DE1598622A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR1479672A (fr)
GB (1) GB1149382A (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3625398A (en) * 1969-09-29 1971-12-07 Chemtrox Corp Automatic chemical reaction system
US3699336A (en) * 1969-08-15 1972-10-17 Hycel Inc Biological cell analyzing system
US3871826A (en) * 1971-12-23 1975-03-18 Bohdan Bakay Method and apparatus for transporting discretely samples to be analyzed in a gel
US3874794A (en) * 1972-04-21 1975-04-01 Bodenseewerk Perkin Elmer Co Method and apparatus for photometric analysis of substantially colorless components of sample
US20180169651A1 (en) * 2014-01-15 2018-06-21 Labcyte Inc. Roughly cylindrical sample containers having multiple reservoirs therein and being adapted for acoustic ejections

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IL40190A (en) * 1971-09-09 1975-08-31 American Monitor Corp Apparatus and method for preparing and analyzing serum samples

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3098719A (en) * 1960-06-16 1963-07-23 Technicon Instr Fluid processing system with continuous filter apparatus
US3151073A (en) * 1960-10-07 1964-09-29 Res Specialties Co Centrifuging apparatus
US3178266A (en) * 1960-10-07 1965-04-13 Warner Lambert Pharmaceutical Materials handling apparatus
US3415627A (en) * 1966-03-29 1968-12-10 Joseph M. Rait Chemical testing apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3098719A (en) * 1960-06-16 1963-07-23 Technicon Instr Fluid processing system with continuous filter apparatus
US3151073A (en) * 1960-10-07 1964-09-29 Res Specialties Co Centrifuging apparatus
US3178266A (en) * 1960-10-07 1965-04-13 Warner Lambert Pharmaceutical Materials handling apparatus
US3415627A (en) * 1966-03-29 1968-12-10 Joseph M. Rait Chemical testing apparatus

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3699336A (en) * 1969-08-15 1972-10-17 Hycel Inc Biological cell analyzing system
US3625398A (en) * 1969-09-29 1971-12-07 Chemtrox Corp Automatic chemical reaction system
US3871826A (en) * 1971-12-23 1975-03-18 Bohdan Bakay Method and apparatus for transporting discretely samples to be analyzed in a gel
US3874794A (en) * 1972-04-21 1975-04-01 Bodenseewerk Perkin Elmer Co Method and apparatus for photometric analysis of substantially colorless components of sample
US20180169651A1 (en) * 2014-01-15 2018-06-21 Labcyte Inc. Roughly cylindrical sample containers having multiple reservoirs therein and being adapted for acoustic ejections
US10981171B2 (en) * 2014-01-15 2021-04-20 Labcyte Inc. Roughly cylindrical sample containers having multiple reservoirs therein and being adapted for acoustic ejections
US11396019B2 (en) * 2014-01-15 2022-07-26 Labcyte Inc. Roughly cylindrical sample containers having multiple reservoirs therein and being adapted for acoustic ejections
US20220297118A1 (en) * 2014-01-15 2022-09-22 Labcyte Inc. Roughly cylindrical sample containers having multiple reservoirs therein and being adapted for acoustic ejections
US11731133B2 (en) * 2014-01-15 2023-08-22 Labcyte Inc. Roughly cylindrical sample containers having multiple reservoirs therein and being adapted for acoustic ejections

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1149382A (en) 1969-04-23
FR1479672A (fr) 1967-05-05
DE1598622A1 (de) 1970-07-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0089346B1 (fr) Systeme automatise d'analyse immunologique
US4287155A (en) Sample tray and carrier for chemical analyzer
US3504376A (en) Automated chemical analyzer
US3912456A (en) Apparatus and method for automatic chemical analysis
US6375898B1 (en) Analysis system
US5316726A (en) Automated immunoassay analyzer with pictorial display of assay information
US7855084B2 (en) Chemistry system for clinical analyzer
US3881872A (en) Automatic analyzing device
US4170625A (en) Automatic analyzer device for carrying out chemical-clinical and kinetic-enzymatic analyses on fluids, particularly biological fluids
US4634576A (en) Automatic analyzing apparatus
US4338279A (en) Automatic analyzing apparatus
US3644095A (en) Apparatus for performing chemical analyses
JP4374246B2 (ja) タイプに従って分析を仕分けることによって臨床検査用自動分析装置の処理能力を向上させること
US3565582A (en) Methods and means for handling blood test specimens
US3609040A (en) Automated system for performing sample measurements, dilutions and photometric measurements
GB1592297A (en) Chemical analyzer
US3484206A (en) Chemical sampling apparatus
US3712144A (en) Automated system for performing sample measurement, dilutions and photometric measurements
US3523756A (en) Process for evaluating a property of a discrete plurality of chemical substances
US4259288A (en) Automatic multichannel apparatus for performing analyses on fluids, in particular for performing clinical-chemistry analyses on biological liquids
US20040175840A1 (en) Method for automatically storing and reprocessing patient specimen's in an automatic clinical analyzer
JPH0580059A (ja) 自動分析装置
US3537794A (en) Apparatus for the automatic analysis of a plurality of blood samples with means for agitation of each sample
JPS61265570A (ja) 化学分析用器具
EP0336309A2 (fr) Appareil d'analyses à accès sélectif ou séquentiel pour analyses clinico-chimiques et tests immunologiques