US3847486A — Automated spectrophotometer apparatus and compute…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 145 words

An apparatus for making automated kinetic measurements comprising a standard light source, a standard light sensitive detector and a cuvette wheel assembly disposed between said light source and light sensitive detector, and mounted for rotation about an axle assembly, said cuvette wheel assembly containing a plurality of cuvettes containing the samples to be analyzed, means for rotating the axle assembly, thereby providing the sequential positioning of the samples in the light path of the light source, an idler gear assembly associated with the axle assembly and in synchronous phase with the cuvette wheel assembly, a ''''peak-picker'''' means associated with the detector indicating when a sample is in the proper position for recording transmittance readings received by the detector and an electronic computer system associated with the peak-picker means and the idler gear assembly for generating a final digital printout of multiple analytical reaction rate results.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 145 words

An apparatus for making automated kinetic measurements comprising a standard light source, a standard light sensitive detector and a cuvette wheel assembly disposed between said light source and light sensitive detector, and mounted for rotation about an axle assembly, said cuvette wheel assembly containing a plurality of cuvettes containing the samples to be analyzed, means for rotating the axle assembly, thereby providing the sequential positioning of the samples in the light path of the light source, an idler gear assembly associated with the axle assembly and in synchronous phase with the cuvette wheel assembly, a ''''peak-picker'''' means associated with the detector indicating when a sample is in the proper position for recording transmittance readings received by the detector and an electronic computer system associated with the peak-picker means and the idler gear assembly for generating a final digital printout of multiple analytical reaction rate results.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the axle assembly is provided with a standard axle drive gear and the idler gear assembly is provided with a standard idler gear, said axle drive gear and said idle gear being substantially the same size and being in engaging relationship with each other.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the peak-picker means is an interval timing device which forms part of the electronic computer system, said interval timing device functioning to close the circuit between the detector and the computer-system at constant time intervals, Delta T for recording signals received from the detector.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the peak-picker means comprises a plurality of trip-pins associated for rotation with the idler gear assembly, each of said trip-pins corresponding to a sample or blank cuvette and being adapted to sequentially engage a micro-switch which momentarily closes the circuit between the detector and the computer system for recording signals received from the detector.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the peak-picker means is an electronic switch which forms part of the electronic computer system, said electronic switch functioning to close the circuit between the detector and the computer system when a maximum signal is received from the detector.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 140 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a signal generator which generates differential readings for each revolution of the cuvette wheel, a storage channel for storing said differential readings for the first of said revolutions, a double differential generator for receiving the differential readings from said storage channel and said signal generator corresponding to The second revolution of the cuvette wheel, means for simultaneously releasing said stored differential readings, means for converting the double differential readings to a final digital printout of multiple analytical reaction rate results and means for using the differential readings corresponding to the second revolution of the cuvette wheel with subsequent differential readings corresponding to a third revolution of the cuvette wheel to generate another digital printout, and means for continuing this process until the desired number of analytical measurements have been made.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein revolution indicator means are associated with the idler gear assembly for indicating to the computer system which differential readings are to be stored and which differential readings are to be sent directly to the double differential generator.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein revolution indicator means are associated with the idler gear assembly for indicating to the computer system which differential readings are to be stored and which differential readings are to be sent directly to the double differential generator.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said revolution indicator means comprises a trip pin on the idler gear assembly operatively associated with a revolution indicator switch.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 109 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a signal generator which generates differential readings for each revolution of the cuvette wheel, a storage channel for storing said differential readings for the first of said revolutions, a double differential generator for receiving the differential readings from said storage channel and said signal generator corresponding to the second revolution of the cuvette wheel, means for simultaneously releasing said stored differential readings from said storage channel to said generator thereby generating double differential readings, means for converting the double differential readings to a final digital printout of multiple analytical reaction rate results and means for clearing the storage circuit.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for clearing the storage circuit comprises an alternate revolution indicator means associated with the idler gear assembly for indicating to the computer system which differential readings are to be stored and which differential readings are to be sent directly to the double differential generator.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cuvette wheel is provided with a hollow axle-bearing-conduit system for the introduction and removal of said thermostating liquid into and out of a cuvette wheel.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 117 words

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein thermostating fluid from a standard recirculating liquid thermostating means enters the hollow axle-bearing-conduit system through a first conduit means axially communicating with the bottom end of the hollow axle-bearing system for introducing a thermostating liquid thereto, second conduit means provide communication between said hollow axle-bearing and the hollow cuvette wheel assembly for introducing said thermostating liquid thereto, third conduit means provide communication between said hollow cuvette wheel and said hollow axle-bearing system for removing said thermostating liquid from said cuvette wheel and fourth conduit means axially communicating with the top end of the hollow axle-bearing system for removing said thermostating liquid therefrom back to the said standard recirculating liquid thermostating means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is utilized for standard clinical enzyme reactions.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 183 words

A method for making automated kinetic measurements comprising placing a plurality of samples (S) and blanks (B) to be analyzed in a cuvette wheel, passing said samples and blanks in a circular path sequentially through the light path of a spectrophotometer, measuring the transmittance readings for each S vs B as they pass through said light path and generating a plurality of (S-B) differential readings for the first revolution of the cuvette wheel, storing the (S-B) differential readings, generating a plurality of (S-B) differential readings for the second revolution of the cuvette wheel and generating double differential readings Delta (S-B) through the sequential release of said previously stored (S-B) differential readings from said first revolution, converting the Delta (S-B) differential readings to a digital concentration printout of multiple analytical reaction rate results, using the (S-B) differential readings from the second revolution of the cuvette wheel with the (S-B) differential readings from the third revolution of the cuvette wheel to generate new double differential readings and subsequent digital concentration printouts, and continuing this procedure until the desired number of analytical measurements have been made.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 183 words

A method for making automated kinetic measurements comprising placing a plurality of samples (S) and blanks (B) to be analyzed in a cuvette wheel, passing said samples and blanks in a circular path sequentially through the light path of a spectrophotometer, measuring the transmittance readings for each S vs B as they pass through said light path and generating a plurality of (S-B) differential readings for the first revolution of the cuvette wheel, storing the (S-B) differential readings, generating a plurality of (S-B) differential readings for the second revolution of the cuvette wheel and generating double differential readings Delta (S-B) through the sequential release of said previously stored (S-B) differential readings from said first revolution, converting the Delta (S-B) differential readings to a digital concentration printout of multiple analytical reaction rate results, using the (S-B) differential readings from the second revolution of the cuvette wheel with the (S-B) differential readings from the third revolution of the cuvette wheel to generate new double differential readings and subsequent digital concentration printouts, and continuing this procedure until the desired number of analytical measurements have been made.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 15, wherein said method is utilized for standard clinical enzyme reactions.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 15 wherein the signals for each of the samples and blanks are recorded when the cuvette is rotated into proper alignment with the optical axis of the spectrophotometer as indicated by the momentary completion of an electrical circuit for each of said samples and blanks in synchronism with the alignment of said samples and blanks with the optical axis.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 15, wherein the signals received from the detector for each of the samples and blanks are recorded at constant time intervals, Delta T.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 15, wherein the signals for each of the samples and blanks are recorded when the cuvette is rotated into proper alignment with the optical axis of the spectrophotometer as indicated by a maximum signal received from the detector.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 186 words

A method for making automated kinetic measurements comprising placing a plurality of samples (S) and blanks (B) to be analyzed in a cuvette wheel, passing said samples and blanks in a circular path sequentially through the light path of a spectrophotometer, measuring the transmittance readings for each S vs B as they pass through said light path and generating a plurality of (S-B) differential readings for the first revolution of the cuvette wheel, storing the (S-B) differential readings, generating a plurality of (S-B) differential readings for the second revolution of the cuvette wheel and generating double differential readings Delta (S-B) through the sequential release of said previously stored (S-B) differential readings from said first revolution, converting the Delta (S-B) differential readings to a digital concentration printout of multiple analytical reaction rate results, using the (S-B) differential readings from the third revolution of the cuvette wheel with the (S-B) differential readings from the fourth revolution of the cuvette wheel to generate a second set of double differential readings and subsequent digital concentration printouts, and continuing this procedure until the desired number of analytical measurements have been made.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 186 words

A method for making automated kinetic measurements comprising placing a plurality of samples (S) and blanks (B) to be analyzed in a cuvette wheel, passing said samples and blanks in a circular path sequentially through the light path of a spectrophotometer, measuring the transmittance readings for each S vs B as they pass through said light path and generating a plurality of (S-B) differential readings for the first revolution of the cuvette wheel, storing the (S-B) differential readings, generating a plurality of (S-B) differential readings for the second revolution of the cuvette wheel and generating double differential readings Delta (S-B) through the sequential release of said previously stored (S-B) differential readings from said first revolution, converting the Delta (S-B) differential readings to a digital concentration printout of multiple analytical reaction rate results, using the (S-B) differential readings from the third revolution of the cuvette wheel with the (S-B) differential readings from the fourth revolution of the cuvette wheel to generate a second set of double differential readings and subsequent digital concentration printouts, and continuing this procedure until the desired number of analytical measurements have been made.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-11-11	1978-05-13	1978-11-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-11-11	1982-05-13	1982-11-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-11-11	1986-05-13	1986-11-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automated spectrophotometer apparatus and computer system for simulataneous measurement of a plurality of kinetic reactions

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